In response to an accreditation team's concern over the status of affirmative action, the campus atmosphere toward women and ethnic minorities, and involvement of staff in decision-making at San Joaquin Delta College (SJDC), in California, the college conducted a survey of staff attitudes. A questionnaire was distributed to all 942 full- and…

Despite the widespread attention given to education reform, no substantial knowledge base has existed for identifying and implementing effective reforms for at-risk student populations. This document, the third of three volumes, describes the research design for a study that identified the essential mechanics of effective reforms for students at…

This study examined organizational climate at the University of Cyprus 4 years after its establishment in order to obtain the perceptions of employees and promote more open and constructive communication among faculty, clerical and professional staff, and the university leadership. The Personal Assessment of the University Climate Survey was…

As state governments and the public demand greater accountability from community and technical colleges, increasing focus is placed on the concept of assessing student academic achievement. To be effective, assessment processes should provide institutions with information that helps develop specific plans for improving operations. While processes…

Trust, respect, and caring are crucial components in achieving or maintaining school effectiveness. This paper presents findings of a case study that examined the ways in which one urban school manifested particular characteristics of community--those of respect, caring, and trust. The one-year case study at an elementary school in Los Angeles…

This qualitative study examined the perceived impact of the president on organizational change at five community colleges in one state, and is part of a multiple case study which is addressing organizational change in community colleges. The methodology for the study was based on the literature of organizational change which suggests four…

This digest, based on a larger report of the same title, summarizes principles for improving quality in higher education institutions. Emphasis is on the effect of the principles when they are used holistically to create a culture of academic excellence. The quality principles are based on the conceptual framework of total quality management (TQM)…

This step-by-step guide, developed by the Global ReLeaf organization, presents tree-planting advice and simple steps to organizing a successful community tree-planting and tree-care program. The text is divided into three parts. Part 1 introduces trees and discusses the role they play as components of the living urban environment. Distinctions are…

Over the past 10 years computer technology has come to occupy a central place in American life and has caused a redefinition of the level of literacy skills needed to participate effectively in American society. At the same time, some 20 to 30 million adults have serious problems of basic literacy. Within this context, the Office of Technology…

This paper presents findings of a study that examined the effect of school restructuring on teacher "plateauing" and teacher resiliency. "Plateauing" occurs when an individual perceives his or her situation as stagnant and devoid of challenge. Data were gathered through: (1) observations of a school district undergoing restructuring under the…

This study used grounded theory methodology to investigate the institutional and departmental climates of women engineering faculty. Seven female engineering faculty from two universities completed semi-structured interviews that were coded for common themes. All the participants indicated that they had had a natural interest or talent for science…

This book examines how academic staff at one British university respond to a period (1991-96) of rapid change, including rapid expansion in the number of students and new systems and structures, and especially to institution of the "credit framework" structure. Chapter 1 presents background information on the higher education system and…

An on-going study of the performance of high-poverty schools in Texas is revealing entire school districts where such schools are achieving high academic results. Instead of isolated pockets of excellence, a few large and medium-sized districts have been identified in which a cluster of high-poverty schools is achieving at the top levels of the…

The relationship between effective schools research and the cultural aspect of school organizations are examined in this paper. The first part discusses how effective schools projects are designed and implemented as opposed to what is actually practiced. Differences between "tinkering" with existing structures, a strategy to maintain the status…

This study examined a new measure of ecological dissonance (ED), whether different degrees of ED existed within levels of a university's power hierarchy, the relationship between ED and worker morale as a function of administrative power levels, and ED theory. Ninety-four faculty members at Mississippi State University completed the Index of Power…