The deferred maintenance problem on college and university campuses is addressed. Deferred maintenance refers to larger or more expansive maintenance work that can be delayed and is not performed when needed or reported, usually because its cost is beyond the annual maintenance and operating budget of the physical plant department. Eventually…

Computer adaptive testing systems are feasible for certification and licensure testing. This is in part due to the availability of extensive yet inexpensive computers. Modern item response theory, combined with computerized adaptive testing, yields a powerful new method of testing which provides greater accuracy and efficiency and less boredom for…

Completion and cost data for six courses delivered in two different modes--home study and paced package--through Athabasca University were analyzed. Students in a home study course received tutorial support via the telephone and progress through the course was at the discretion of each individual learner. Students in a paced package course…

The feasibility of reducing scoring costs for the Test of Spoken English (TSE) by using one rater was investigated. Currently, two raters are used. It was found that, because of the possibility of different standards used by potential raters, it does not appear feasible to use a single rater as the sole determiner of speaking proficiency under the…

The costs of education are usually shared by governments and students. Cost benefit analyses have failed to indicate how these costs should be apportioned, since such analyses measure only economic benefits and leave out the psychological, sociological, and political benefits governments and educators must consider in financial planning.…

One of seven guides developed to assist vocational-technical institutions in conducting a systemized approach to local evaluation, this follow-up and cost effectiveness guide provides a suggested procedure for conducting a needs assessment from the external sources of former students. This guide also suggests various uses of extant enrollment and…

The costs of education continue to increase, despite education's uncertain effectiveness in curing social and economic ills. A wise cost and resource allocation policy can help control runaway educational spending, but cannot bridge the widening gap between educational costs and funding. State support of education is required on two grounds:…

The Joint Educational Project (JEP) is a partnership started in 1972 between the University of Southern California and eight public schools. It has achieved a number of purposes ranging from development of new curricula and conduct of applied research to making the university and community a friendlier place. A project description tells how JEP…

This paper reports on a study of the evaluative perceptions of people who had worked with Teacher Corps in 12 regional networks. Respondents to the study questionnaire included 155 project directors, 11 executive secretaries, 120 deans of colleges of education, three national program officers, and 38 individuals who had been involved with Teacher…

This report assesses the economic viability of micro-computer assisted basic skills instruction at Los Angeles Southwest College, an institution in which 96% of the students are from minority groups, the majority are from low-income families, and most have low levels of academic achievement (averaging a seventh-grade level in reading skills).…

This report on Compensatory Education (CE) examines the effect of home environment on academic achievement. Part one presents findings on the home environment and student achievement, parental awareness and participation in CE, parental involvement in the educational process, parent attitudes toward the child's education, school CE fund receipt…

Two articles are presented relevant to media and adult learning. In the first article, "The Pedagogy of Communication: Conscientization through Mass Media," David G. Gueulette sets forth ideas derived from Freire's theory of literacy training and suggests means by which effective teaching strategies can be developed through popular mass…

Two major areas of concern to vocational education are cost benefit and job and task analysis. In recent years vocational education has broadened its outlook in terms of general human development, but the historical context of vocational education and concerns for accountability require evaluation of vocational education programs to consider cost…

Through support from the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education, a model for providing graduate programs to full-time employed adults residing in remote locations of southern West Virginia was designed by the West Virginia College of Graduate Studies, a college that does not have a campus. The essence of the delivery model was to…

This guide is intended as an aid in producing effective institutional publications. It addresses: communicating through publications; organizing the publications office; editing and writing techniques; buying printing; the catalog; recruiting and career materials; publications; organizing the annual report; faculty, student, and other handbooks;…