Over the past several decades, strategic planning has become ubiquitous in higher education. Yet, there are varying perceptions of its overall value. Perceptions of value are critically important as they can influence the effectiveness and breadth of participation in the strategic planning process, and such participation is widely held to be…

Patron-driven acquisition has been an important, if contentious, topic for decades, with numerous programs having been piloted, adopted, and reported on, largely favorably, in the library literature. Still, questions and doubts persist for academic libraries, especially where the composition of vendor plans and packages and the judgment of patrons…

The goal of this study is to further corroborate a hypothesized population parameter for the frequencies of social presence versus the sum of teaching presence and cognitive presence as defined by the community of inquiry model in higher education asynchronous course forums. This parameter has been found across five variables: academic institution…

A human society that aspires to more than survival must search continuously for new knowledge; we are all the beneficiaries of the scholar's insatiable desire to know. Graduate study must be nurtured, and cannot ever be the sole preoccupation of academe. Today the crucial balance of things and humans is threatened by the erosion of support for and…

Papers in this volume are the first working papers produced by the Council of Ontario Universities. Issue 1, "The Role and State of Ontario Graduate Education" by Dennis Forcese, advocates the reinforcement of graduate education in Ontario institutions to maintain the overall quality of the institutions and to secure the future. The paper outlines…

In 1995, doctoral degrees were granted to over 26,000 individuals in the sciences and humanities; however, many other individuals began graduate work with the same aspirations. There are no national estimates to indicate how many students make the decision each year to cease graduate work, but studies at a few selected academic institutions…

Examined why graduate students take longer to complete humanities and social sciences degrees than natural sciences degrees. Found that field differences in knowledge structures and the organization of research have significant implications for research training. "Hard" fields have a directed supervision model and close relationship…

Examined the submission rates of PhD theses by 3579 doctoral students at the University of Birmingham (England) from 1984 through 1993. The only reliable predictor of successful submission within either a 4-year or 10-year period was whether a student was researching a science-based or an arts and humanities-based subject with science students…

Variations in the number of doctoral degrees awarded by Swedish universities since 1890 are being studied. Within a certain field of study, variations are found both at a national level between different periods, and at an institutional level between different universities. The focus is on the faculties of liberal arts, divinity, social science,…

This book of nine essays was written to honor Frank H. T. Rhodes, President Emeritus of Cornell University (New York) and addresses ways in which research universities can respond to current challenges. An introductory chapter, "The American University: Dilemmas and Directions" (Ronald G. Ehrenberg), identifies key issues raised in the following…

Thirteen essays describe the interdisciplinary approach of the graduate liberal studies program from the point of view of each of the disciplines involved: philosophy, history, art, literature, social science, psychology, science, and theology. The following are included: "Graduate Liberal Studies Programs: Origin and Aims" (Phyllis O'Callaghan);…

A bibliography of approximately 160 materials authored, coauthored, or edited by Earl J. McGrath from 1931 through 1980 on principle and practice in general education is presented. Specific topics include the following: student enrollments at church-related colleges; values and American higher education; careers, values, and general education; the…

A compilation of federal legislation that pertains to higher education is presented. The sections of this volume cover the general higher education programs, Native American higher education, museums, arts and humanities, and the National Science Foundation. The text of the Higher Education Act of 1965 is presented, covering Titles I-XIII. The…

A compilation of federal higher education laws is presented that covers: general higher education programs; Native American higher education; museums, arts and humanities, and the National Science Foundation; and assistance to specified institutions. The following legislation is included: Higher Education Act of 1965, Titles I, II, III, and IV;…

Early career experiences of a sample of 233 University of Washington doctorates were studied. Doctorates were initially grouped into seven degree areas (physical science, biological science, social science, humanities, education, engineering, and other). As hypothesized, significant differences were found between the genders in their distribution…