eXtensible Markup Language (XML) is a new technology that is currently being extolled by many industry experts and software vendors. Potentially it represents a platform independent language for sharing information over networks in a way that is much more seamless than with previous technologies. It is extensible in that XML serves as a "meta"…

Implementing a complex business intelligence (BI) system at a small school or one with limited resources can seem daunting. For small to midsize schools and community colleges, a strategic BI initiative may still be an elusive goal. This article discusses how schools with limited resources are making the dream a reality.

Expectations and roles of institutional researchers in higher education institutions are considered, as well as the question of what a research office should expect from its institution. A performance monitoring system for the assessment and continuous improvement of institutional research is also proposed. Ways that institutional research can be…

The roles and responsibilities of the library systems officer continues to change as libraries move beyond the automation of library functions to offering resources in electronic formats and electronic access to information about collections beyond the walls of the home institution. This survey was designed to collect data and document some of the…

In January 1994, Arizona's Maricopa Community College District issued a request for proposals to develop new administrative software applications to solve problems related to high maintenance costs for existing systems and difficulties in updating software. The result was the Apollo Project, in which the District contracted with Oracle Corporation…

Once a community college foundation is well established, an alumni program can be developed, although the focus should be on making contacts and gaining supporters rather than raising funds. The following steps can help establish a successful alumni program: (1) conduct a feasibility study on campus; (2) form a committee to establish program…

At Humber College (HC) in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, the Digital Electronics (DE) program utilizes a computerized learning infrastructure called Computer Managed Learning (CML). The program, which has been under development for several years, is flexible enough to build a unique program of studies for each individual student and allows for the…

This paper provides an introduction to a particular systems-theoretical approach to problem-solving in the management of education usually referred to as soft-systems methodology (SSM), developed by Peter Checkland in the 1970s. SSM should provide a powerful tool for managers in education at any level who have a strategic role because it can be…

This practice manual is intended to provide an organized approach to strategic planning for human resource professionals at all organizational levels, regardless of their familiarity with strategic planning. Chapter 1 provides a brief introduction and chapter 2 describes the strategic planning process. The rationale for pursuing a strategic…

This book explains how to implement a Total Quality Management (TQM) program within an organization focusing in particular on ways to sustain the effort. Part 1 of five offers an overview of the TQM approach and the rationale for adopting it. Topics of discussion include signs of the need for change, what TQM is and what it is not, the basics of…

Materials are provided for "Maytown In-Basket," a case study in agricultural leadership. This activity is described as one in which students in the agricultural education undergraduate leadership course at the Oklahoma State University are placed in the role of director of a rural rehabilitation district. Ten "in-basket" items…

This booklet is written for the general reader who wants to understand important trends in vocational education and training. The first part is a description of the subject matter in a manner intended to be clear to any interested layperson. It defines quality and then discusses these changes in organizations to respond to the demand for good…

This paper reports on a study aiming to develop a metadata model for e-learning coordination based on semantic web languages. A survey of e-learning modes are done initially in order to identify content such as phases, activities, data schema, rules and relations, etc. relevant for a coordination model. In this respect, the study looks into the…

Implan (Impact Analysis for Planning) is a microcomputer-based system for constructing regional economic accounts and input-output tables. It is currently maintained by the U.S. Forest Service at the Fort Collins Computer Center (Colorado) with assistance from the University of Minnesota. It provides software capabilities and a data base for…

This report presents many of the typical questions with which college deans of instruction will be confronted in planning a competency-based technical education (CBTE) system. Under each of 10 major questions that explore the issues of CBTE, a number of more specific questions are listed. The 10 major questions concern the overall approach,…