Examines studies that evaluate public access systems spanning experiments, field tests, and prototypes, and discusses quality control, cost-effectiveness, and issues for future research. Results suggest that system designers and developers need to be more selective in the type of evaluations they conduct; and there is a need for comparative…

Outlines a cornerstone in the development of adventure programming--the establishment of program accreditation standards (developed by the Association for Experimental Education and the Council for Outdoor Education). Describes the accreditation process and the design of an accreditation manual, and program accreditation services and accreditation…

Presents the quality-focused management (QFM) system and explains the departure QFM makes from established community college management practices. Describes the system's self-directed teams engaged in a continuous improvement process driven by customer demand and long-term commitment to quality and cost control. (13 references.) (MAB)

Suggests activities using large samples to simulate quality control processes in industry (specifically, manufacturing camera film). A series of small-group activities investigate the relationship of sample size to percent defective in batch sampling. Efficiency, cost of sampling, company reputation, and public relations are business factors…

Presents issues from a debate about interlibrary loan (ILL) policies and the use of union lists on the OCLC (Online Computer Library Center) ILL subsystem. Highlights include library funding, costs of maintaining serials holdings on a utility, borrowing procedures, quality service, workload leveling, staffing, and problems with OCLC system…

The goals of authors and readers must be satisfied in order for electronic publishing to succeed. Requirements include timely and widespread dissemination, low creation and distribution costs, peer review, and feedback. The goals of communication, collaboration, interactive publication, and quality can be met with e-mail, listservs, bulletin…

Although student-activity funds usually represent a small portion of school-system monies, their very nature makes them a high risk. Outlines three steps for maintaining an efficient and effective system of controls over student-activity funds: (1) identifying control issues; (2) designing a control system; and (3) using checks and balances.…

This article examines strategies to foster and evaluate research and scholarship in Hong Kong's higher education sector. It addresses the definition of performance indicators, the role of governmental policy initiatives, performance indicators in the academic research context, possible research indicators, application of indicators, and other…

The history and main features of organizational behavior management (OBM) are compared and integrated with those of total quality management (TQM), with emphasis on W.E. Deming's 14 points and OBM's operant-based approach to performance management. Interventions combining OBM, TQM, and statistical process control are recommended. (DB)

This paper outlines a framework for documenting the impact of the Administration on Developmental Disabilities' University Affiliated Programs (UAP) on three domains: clients and their families, systems of services or higher education, and leveraging of resources. The paper identifies characteristics associated with successful UAP development and…

At Case Western University (Ohio), medical students critically analyze the quality and cost of asthma care in the community by studying patients in primary care practices. Each writes a case report, listing all medical charges and comparing them with guidelines for asthma care. Several recommendations for improved care have emerged. (MSE)

Describes the Total Quality Management (TQM) effort undertaken three years ago by Jackson Community College (JCC), in Michigan. Discusses the history of JCC, its early TQM efforts, the basic tenets of TQM, steps taken by JCC to integrate TQM practices into its evaluation methods, and benefits of TQM. (MAB)

Describes Yoji Akao's concept of quality function development (QFD), a strategic tool that translates the customers' quality requirements into organizational language. Examines how El Camino College's (California) application of QFD matches constituent needs to college functions. Includes an 11-item bibliography and lists El Camino College's…

The practice of "franchising" higher education programs, or provision of educational programs through vendors, is examined as it occurs in the United Kingdom as a result of recent educational policy changes. A set of principles for assuring the quality of such programs is proposed. (MSE)

A discussion of concerns about quality in higher education focuses on the use of performance indicators as measures of quality. Great care is advised in the use of performance indicators because available indicators are not sufficiently substantive in relation to higher education's goals, processes, and outcomes. (MSE)