The growing demand for access to degrees in Canada is well documented. Until recently, Canada has never felt the need to elaborate on the meaning and value of the Canadian "degree" credential because all baccalaureates have been delivered by university or university-type institutions. From the perspective of degree holders, the value of…

On August 30, 2006, Montana state educational and policy leaders participated in the Montana Education Forum to discuss ways to improve student transition from high school to postsecondary education and careers. The forum was sponsored by the League for Innovation in the Community College and the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) and…

Despite the important role the personal statement plays in the graduate school application processes, little research has been done on its functional features and little instruction has been given about it in academic writing courses. The author conducted a multi-level discourse analysis on a corpus of 30 medical/dental school application letters,…

This paper presents a perspective of the various types of academic corruption that is currently running rife in society, a theoretical analysis of the roots of academic corruption, and proposals for a number for countermeasures to put a stop to academic corruption. (Contains 3 notes.) [This article was translated by Ted Wang.]

Attaining a post-secondary credential has become increasingly important for securing opportunities to get high-return jobs in the United States in the 21st century. Students from low-income families are underrepresented at every milestone in the educational pipeline, limiting their ability to attain post-secondary credentials and break the…

States need strong higher education systems, now more than ever. In the tumultuous, highly competitive 21st century economy, citizens and workers need knowledge, skills, and credentials in order to prosper. Yet many colleges and universities are falling short. To give all students the best possible postsecondary education, states must create…

This paper examines the organization and representation of time in certain kinds of undergraduate programs, here represented by a sociology program in a US university. Written requirements for the major are analyzed as constituting a "chart" that defines academic time in terms of units of before-after relationships. The paper shows how students…

In January of 1994 the Addictions Training Center at the University of Nevada, Reno surveyed the treatment staff and directors at 46 publicly supported addictions training centers located in the state of Nevada. Four hundred twenty-nine surveys were mailed, and 189 were returned. In addition to demographic information, respondents were surveyed on…

During the past 20 years, alternative professional preparation and certification programs have expanded within the field of physical education. Societal trends, the media, and demographics have dictated these changes. This digest examines factors leading to an increase in the scope of career opportunities for physical education professionals and…

The author challenges National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) criteria for professional certification and outlines basic competencies on which qualifications should be based for all financial aid professionals and for directors and assistant directors. (JT)

With the establishment of the Professional Improvement Record System (PIR) in 1974, members of the home economics profession can now have approved educational experiences computer recorded by an accredited association. (MW)

In the United States, early childhood educators are confronted with a chaotic "non-system" of preservice and in-service employment education requirements. Within this non-system, teachers and caregivers who work most autonomously, and have the most extensive responsibilities for the greatest number of hours with the youngest and most…

A study investigated the value of professional certification within the context of Massachusetts manufacturing companies with reported sales of at least $10 million but no more than $25 million. The specific certification evaluated was that of Certified in Production and Inventory Management (CPIM) as awarded by the American Production and…

This report identifies major issues associated with licensure, certification, and other qualifications for practice or employment of health personnel. Chapters are: (1) Credentialing and the Public Interest, (2) An Overview of Health Personnel Credentialing, (3) The Organizational Setting of Licensure, (4) The Disciplinary Function of State…

A discussion concerning international recognition of degrees, diplomas, and other academic credentials focuses on such things as the range of diplomas awarded in that system, information on the diploma, its external public and vocational worth, and program access. (MSE)