Analysis of 642 slang terms that college students use to characterize peers at Holy Cross College (Massachusetts) and University of California, Davis suggests that undergraduate slang usage is socially complex, the language is reflective of campus and academic life, and that it portrays undergraduate life from the perspective of dominant student…

Maintains that open and distance education represents contemporary education forms that respond to the shift to late-modernity, especially in educational technology and student-teacher relationships. Drawing on the work of Anthony Giddens, uncovers relationships among distance education, late-modernity, and the self. (CFR)

A study of Brigham Young University (Utah) graduates, 1980-88, looked at patterns in change of major among transfer students and those entering as freshmen. Results are reported concerning early statement of major, open vs. specified major, gender differences, academic achievement, frequency of change, and time to graduation in each year's cohort.…

Describes the University of California, Berkeley's current undergraduate population, affirmative action and diversity programs, and retention programs targeting minority students, including the Summer Bridge program and Student Learning Center. Identifies factors critical to successful retention: understanding and overcoming student resistance to…

Implications of 1992 Australian freedom of information legislation for higher education in Queensland are discussed, based in part on the outcomes of specific requests. Issues addressed include student and staff records, supervisor comments and recommendations, research theses, and the impact on universities in other states. Statistical data on…

Discussion of current applications of and future possibilities for electronic text, or e-text, focuses on activities in the area of higher education. Topics covered are input technology, including optical scanners and keyboarding; standardization; copyright issues; access to e-text through networks; user interface; hypertext; software; shareware;…

Discusses the collaborative use of learning materials in distance education based primarily on experiences at the Open Learning Institute (OLI) of Hong Kong. Topics addressed include curriculum issues; instructional design; academic standards; technical factors; copyright regulations; costs; product evaluation; readability; and ethical…

A description of the recent development of Florida State University's administrative information services looks at the role of faculty input, the strategic plan, underlying administrative principles and considerations, networking and telecommunications, integration of instructional and research computing, and centralization of computing service…

An overview of the evolution of the innovative University of California, Santa Cruz, looks at its origins, campus organization, curriculum and instructional philosophy, campus design, leadership and faculty, student population, campus life, and curriculum design. Strategies for and obstacles to effective change are highlighted. (MSE)

Forms and characteristics of small group physics instruction in the Russian university are examined and in some cases, compared to those used in Britain. Topics discussed include the lecture method, classroom communication during lectures, postlecture discussion, specialized small-audience lectures, problem solving, individual research projects,…

The three great federal policy initiatives concerning higher education, the land-grant movement of the 1860s, the World War II-era decision to rely on universities for basic and applied research, and the GI Bill of 1944, have affected development of the American system of higher education more than any others. (MSE)

The University of Amsterdam (Netherlands) uses self-study and peer review to enhance its required, periodic external quality assessments. Lessons learned include these: change must be tailored to the discipline; mutual trust, respect, understanding of the principles, and involvement among all parties is crucial to success; and management…

Examines the possibilities for cooperation between universities and tribal colleges to meet the research needs of American Indian communities. Discusses the responsibility of universities and describes important areas of American Indian research, including the high dropout rate, parent involvement, low Indian involvement in science/mathematics…

Virginia Commonwealth University has implemented some pilot improvement programs using the Total Quality Management approach. These have included improvement of a personnel action processing form, creation of a campus computing service request tracking system, and development of an alumni program database. The pilot programs have taught lessons…

A study used data from 548 classes on student evaluations of faculty at a state university to examine, from an equal opportunity perspective, the practice of using those evaluations for personnel decisions. Analysis of faculty gender and ethnic background as they related to teacher ratings suggests possible unfair discrimination warranting further…