Americans are increasingly concerned about academic quality (Hauptman & Kim, 2009). This concern about academic quality is a product of the relative decline of the American economy, American Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) test scores, American baccalaureate attainment rates, and various other indicators of national…

Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) programs are growing in popularity in higher education settings and a key component is the use of work groups, which require active employee involvement. The problem addressed in this research was the lack of employee engagement in the Quality Review Process (QRP), which is a statewide CQI model developed by…

The topic of quality in higher education in the United States has received much research attention in the last several years. Specifically, how traditional higher education can benefit from commencing on a quality journey. Subsequently, many colleges and universities have adopted and employed total quality concepts into their day-to-day management…

This paper examines the research from within and outside of higher education on the practices of high-performance organizations. It assesses the extent to which community colleges generally are following these practices and evaluates current reform efforts in light of models of organizational effectiveness that emerge from the research literature.…

This article examines the extent of neoliberalism's influence within US community colleges during the last decade. It argues that such influence is changing non-profit, publicly funded community colleges into consumer colleges, serving the needs of corporations and "customers" at the expense of civic responsibility. Educating 46% of all…

This qualitative study identified the best practices utilized by community colleges to achieve systemic and cultural agreement in support of the integration of institutional effectiveness measures (key performance indicators) to inform decision making. In addition, the study identifies the relevant motives, organizational structure, and processes…

The effectiveness model focuses the institution on mission achievement through assessment and improvement planning. Eleven mission criteria, measured by key performance indicators, are aligned with the accountability interest of internal and external stakeholders. A Web-based performance assessment application supports the model, documenting the…

Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) measures such as Total Quality Management (TQM), Strategic Planning, Six Sigma, and the Balanced Scorecard are often met with skepticism among leaders of higher education. This study attempts to fill a gap in the literature regarding the study of relationships among specific variables, or building blocks,…

Instructors at community colleges around Virginia have been assessing student learning informally and formally since their opening, but recently, with renewed emphasis on accountability and documentation, a group of faculty and administrators were brought together to study the assessment process and develop procedures to ensure that…

The Academic Council at Hazard Community College in Kentucky applied the Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) process to improve the college's method for class scheduling. Four specific CQI steps were applied: Focus, Analyze, Develop, and Execute. The first step was for the Quality Action Team (QAT) to focus on making a clear written statement of…

A plan was developed by Fort Scott Community College (Kansas) to implement continuous improvement with technology integration. In addition to ensuring that college employees acquired and used high-tech computer skills, faculty had to use and incorporate technology in the classroom. (JOW)

Describes Total Quality Management (TQM) techniques implemented at Waukesha County Technical College (Wisconsin). The CAUSES program focuses on customers, accountability, understanding, self-improvement, education, and searching. Describes application of TQM to the fixed-asset team project. Four figures are included. (LMI)

Published by the Ohio Association of Two Year Colleges, this journal provides a medium for sharing concepts, methods, and findings relevant to the classroom and an open forum for the discussion and review of problems. This volume consists of the fall 1995 and spring 1996 issues and provides the following articles: (1) "FOCUS: OMI College of…

The Association of Community College Trustees' (ACCT's) Member Communications Committee commissioned SunGard Collegis to conduct an environmental scanning initiative to identify the top social, political and other environmental challenges which are, or will be affecting colleges and communities in the near future. The initiative included a…

This study attempted a comprehensive, critical assessment of Total Quality Management (TQM) initiatives in higher education. A survey of 25 institutions (including community colleges, private four-year colleges and universities and public colleges) with experience with TQM was developed and used. The survey utilized , attitude scales designed to…