In 2006, when the author joined the staff at Dominican College (New York), he discovered that the network, computers, and IT contracts were in sorry shape. He also found that this kind of condition is common in small colleges. Such a state of affairs is usually brought about by the unrelenting demands placed on small IT staffs. IT staffers at…

Colleges are facing a growing deferred-maintenance problem, which at many public institutions adds up to repair bills in the hundreds of millions of dollars. Sometimes state legislatures have not supported those colleges at levels needed to maintain campus infrastructure. But at the same time, colleges continue to expand their campuses even as…

Upright vacuums, like cars, vary in quality, features and performance. Like automobiles, some uprights are reliable, others may be problematic, and some become a problem as a result of neglect or improper use. So, how do education institutions make an informed choice and, having done so, ensure that an upright vacuum goes the distance? In this…

As students and teachers return to the classroom for the start of a new school term, building managers and maintenance staff already have been hard at work preparing facilities for another year of art and science projects, cafeteria lunches, sports and other activities. As building managers are aware, a school may start out looking clean and…

Guidelines for school maintenance techniques and operational procedures in which consideration is given to the following aspects of school maintenance and operation--(1) importance and responsibilities of the school custodian, (2) custodial personnel policies, (3) housekeeping duties in the school plant, (4) cleaning restrooms in the school plant,…

Describes how educational institutions are recognizing the short-sightedness of deferred maintenance. Discusses the challenges facing schools as they confront maintenance costs and what they must do to address the problem. Offers advice on proactive stances toward maintenance such as computerized work control processes, maintenance zones, and…

THIS REPORT IS A STATISTICAL ANALYSIS OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN INITIAL SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION COSTS AND FUTURE MAINTENANCE COSTS. WHILE THE STUDY IS RESTRICTED TO THE LOS ANGELES CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT, THE RESULTS ARE TO SOME EXTENT GENERALIZABLE. THE STUDY SHOWS AN INVERSE RELATIONSHIP IN THESE COSTS--WHERE INITIAL CONSTRUCTION COSTS ARE LOW…

Novel preventive maintenance program sends traveling teams out on tightly scheduled, minor repair missions. (Author)

Presented are methods of preventive maintenance for brass band instruments. (KC)

Replacing small worn areas can prolong the life of an entire carpet or floor. (Author)

Discusses how some college administrators have found "over-the-counter" cures for deferred maintenance problems resulting from budgeting shortfalls. Catch-up approaches discussed include those involving planning, prioritizing, partnering, and gift giving. (GR)

This paper draws on ethnographic case-study research conducted amongst a group of first and second generation immigrant children in six inner-city schools in London. It focuses on language attitudes and language choice in relation to cultural maintenance, on the one hand, and career aspirations on the other. It seeks to provide insight into some…

This paper reports on the multilingual background, language education policies and practices in Lebanon. Specifically, it shows how the multilingual make-up in the country is translated into language policies in schools. A survey of 30 private school principals, middle managers and teachers was administered online to obtain their views on school…

This report presents findings from the Asian regional module of the International Civic and Citizenship Education Study (ICCS), sponsored by the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA). ICCS studied the ways in which young people in lower-secondary schools are prepared to undertake their roles as citizens.…

In a multiracial and multilingual society where bilingualism is adopted as the cornerstone of education policy, mother tongue maintenance is a significant issue. An innovative initiative termed as "modular curriculum" was introduced in Singapore primary schools to cater to Chinese students, the major ethnic group, with varying Chinese…