Discussion of the future of educational technology focuses on an organizational analysis of the scenarios presented in the articles in this issue. Categories of organizational dynamics include the environment; goals, including values and objectives; structures, including authority and finance; methods, or technologies; and personnel issues,…

A national survey of colleges and universities found that investment returns on endowment funds continued to be healthy and were slightly higher than the previous year. Market value of endowment assets and life income fund assets for 435 institutions in 1993 are detailed in tables, with some narrative analysis. (MSE)

Alumni continuing education programs can be self-supporting, but they will not thrive unless faculty and administration appreciate their intrinsic value. Garnering ideas and support from the campus community can be invaluable. The alumni program director's goal is to show that continuing education is an extension of the institution's primary…

Bull markets and increased giving boosted the total value of major college endowments more than $8-billion in fiscal 1993. In addition, despite financial pressures, colleges are enforcing budgetary discipline and restraining spending from their endowment income. A table details the market value of 437 major institutional endowments for June 30,…

Describes the experiences of the American Library Association in implementing an Internet gopher to make information more available to members. Topics discussed include an explanation of gopher software; organizational considerations, including organizational values; training to improve staff familiarity with the Internet; preparing documents for…

Based on experience with the 1994 earthquake, staff members of California State University at Northridge offer advice on coping with the aftermath of a crisis. Suggestions focus on early information dissemination both on and off campus, follow-up communication, finding things to celebrate, and remaining flexible and psychologically prepared for…

Strategic planning for public libraries as advocated by the PLA (Public Library Association) in the Public Library Development Program is likely to be met with resistance due to changes it requires in traditional public library planning and services. Conflicts that may arise are discussed, as well as methods for preventing, minimizing, and…

Traces the history of the Earth over four billion years, and shows how climate has had an important role to play in the evolution of humans. Posits that the world's rapidly growing human population and its increasing use of energy is the cause of present-day changes in the concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. (Author/JRH)

Integrates findings of nine studies on workplace experiences of lesbian, gay, and bisexual people into five themes: pervasiveness of discrimination, informal and formal types of discrimination, fear of discrimination, worker openness about sexual orientation, and degree of openness versus concealment. (SK)

The ethos of a college or university is a belief system widely shared by faculty, students, administrators, and others. Colleges with an ethos of learning share three themes: (1) a holistic institutional philosophy of learning; (2) an involving campus culture; and (3) a climate encouraging free expression. A learning ethos must be cultivated…

A national survey shows that, although colleges and universities averaged a return of 2.9% on endowment investments in fiscal 1994, some earned substantially more and some suffered considerable losses. Data on the market value of 446 endowments on June 30, 1993, and June 30, 1994, are presented and ranked. (MSE)

Research indicates that colleges and universities that encourage hiring of diverse faculty and staff, promote diversity as an educational excellence issue, and reward faculty and staff for their efforts to foster diversity are institutions that have integrated diversity and quality issues. A comprehensive institutional approach to diversity is…

Court decisions concerning Indiana University and the University of Rhode Island conflict on whether college fraternities are to be held responsible for individual assaults on their premises. The responding parties see both cases as showing that students who really want to get drunk can elude the best efforts to regulate them. (MSE)

While conventional wisdom says that college and university endowment spending policies must retain the real economic value of their endowments over the long term, senior administrators and trustees should review endowment spending regularly and determine what excess dollars are available for investment in programs, infrastructure, and other high…

This article theorizes that white college faculty are relatively uninvolved in institutional responses to racial diversity because of ambivalence, and that behavioral responses will thus be unstable and dependent on institutional context that either arouse or regulate positive and negative affect. Implications for institutional interventions are…