This book contains seven exploratory research papers from a conference on diversity and workplace teams. The authors examine diversity in terms of a variety of attributes, including race and sex. The book is divided into three sections. The first contains three papers that deal with the management of diverse teams. The following papers are…

The self-examination process used by Sinclair Community College (SCC), in Dayton, Ohio, is designed to improve student learning and the processes that contributes to effective and efficient learning. In 1988, SCC created a college-wide Assessment Steering Committee (ASC) charged with reviewing the status of assessment practices at SCC and making…

Action research, which, broadly defined, was one of the activities in which educators following in the footsteps of John Dewey engaged, emerged as a systematic approach for improving educational practice in the two decades following World War II. Action research then passed into relative obscurity. It has recently re-emerged in the educational…

Total Quality Management (TQM) is "a system of continuous improvement employing participative management and centered on the needs of customers." Key components of TQM are employee involvement and training, problem-solving teams, statistical methods, long-term goals and thinking, and recognition that the system, not people, produces…

Professional-development schools are collaborations between universities and public schools to improve the nation's teaching force. Prospective teachers are assigned to K-12 schools for formal instruction, planned experiences in classrooms, and mentoring from master teachers. This paper presents findings of a qualitative study that described the…

In the face of reduced resources, increased levels of competition, and rapid technological advancement, it is critical that colleges learn how to plan for the future. There are four main phases of effective planning: development, implementation, evaluation of results (audit), and standardization. The Hoshin Planning model, which incorporates these…

There has been a rapid increase over the past 5 years in both the number of charter schools in the United States and the enthusiasm for the concept. Most research about charter schools has not addressed how charter schools create and sustain high-quality learning communities. This paper presents findings of a study that investigated how learning…

This strategic plan for Tennessee's Chattanooga State Technical Community College (CSTCC) presents background information on the college and specific strategies to be implemented between 1994 and 1998. Following a message from the president, the history and purpose of CSTCC is described and vision and values statements are presented. Next,…

Focusing on accreditation recommendations and outcomes for Florida's Pensacola Junior College (PJC), this document presents abstracts of five Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) accreditation site visit reports prepared in 1956, 1966, 1976, 1987, and 1997. Each abstract presents actions suggested by the SACS; recommendations, or…

Each year since 1994, the 52 community colleges in Illinois prepare priority statements detailing specific college objectives for the current fiscal year (FY). This report provides the third update of the colleges' statements, covering FY 1998. Brief statements, from one to four pages, are provided for the following colleges: Belleville Area…

Most community colleges are involved in some sort of staff development program and are also undergoing constant change involving restructuring, rightsizing, or developing new missions and objectives. In general, the more institutionalized and integrated a staff development program is, the more effective the organization will be. Organizations are…

Organized around eight institutional standards, this report describes outcomes of a self-study conducted at California's Los Angeles City College (LACC) between 1994 and 1997. Introductory materials present a summary of outcomes for each standard, a description of the self-study process, lists of committee members, descriptions of survey…

The Cumberland Valley Girl Scout Council is funded primarily by the United Way of Middle Tennessee. Approximately 5 years ago, the United Way of Middle Tennessee adopted an "outcome-based investment model" whereby agencies receive funding based on their ability to specify and monitor program outcomes based on genuine client and community…

This document contains 21 papers: "Benchmarking Training--The Road to Continuous Improvement" (Bolin); "Systematic Mentoring: A Crucial Addition to Leadership Development" [abstract only] (Brennan, Pevoto); "Monkey Wrenches in the Team Clockwork" (Daman); "Multiculturalism: Curriculum and Practice" (Dean et al.); "Personal Computer Training…

If they are to be effective, organizations must acquire and create new knowledge in order to achieve their goals. Service organizations, such as schools, must employ the concept of organizational learning. Organizational learning is an intentional process directed at improving organizational effectiveness. The process involves four…