Questions and answers concerning accreditation of postsecondary institutions are presented, along with a list of personal/organizational sources and bibliographical sources of information. Information is provided on the following: accreditation and its origin, the Council on Postsecondary Accreditation, the U.S. Department of Education, the…

A study was conducted to examine the application of quality standards developed by the International Standards Organization (ISO) to colleges in England and Wales. The British Standards Institution (BSI) has applied these standards to service industries, thus providing a framework for case studies in colleges. Six colleges in England and Wales…

A primer on strategic planning related to institutional self-studies and attempts at assessment is outlined. The refinement of a strategic plan and the preparation for continued accreditation are major events in an institution's life, but the two processes are too often kept separate. Strategic planning requires that an institution know who it is;…

The responsiveness of the University of Massachusetts at Amherst to its adult undergraduates is measured as part of an examination of the American higher education system's response to this type of student. One purpose of the study is to adapt to this university the Commission on Higher Education and the Adult Learner's "Postsecondary…

Designed as a forum for the exchange of information among members of the National Council for Research and Planning, these two journal issues offer 10 articles concerning community college research and planning. The first issue presents: (1) "Just Testing," by Arthur M. Cohen; (2) "Enrollment Patterns of Adult Learning in a Community College," by…

This handbook is designed to provide educators with the procedures and resources necessary to achieve compliance with Federal nondiscrimination regulations. The components of procedural compliance are examined as follows: (1) designation of a responsible coordinator; (2) institutional self-evaluation; (3) notification of nondiscrimination policy;…

The Academic Program Evaluation Paradigm (APEP) is a five-stage process for participating institutions and their faculties to structure inquiry into their academic programs and develop concrete procedures to effect institutional changes. APEP was developed and implemented by 10 member institutions of the American Association of State Colleges and…

From October 1982 through May 1984, the Council for Community Services--a private, not-for-profit community planning council--carried out an Institutional Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Project, in close cooperation with the state of Rhode Island's Office of the Child Advocate. The project approach relied heavily on monitoring teams of…

A handbook on accreditation is presented by the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. After providing an overview on accreditation, explanations are provided on General Institutional Requirements concerning the institutional program and college organization, operation, and public…

In the 1980's, branch campuses, which may be extension centers of universities or colleges, semi-autonomous residential institutions, two-year public colleges, or parts of multi-campus institutions, will need to develop governance structures and processes to enhance their status and improve the quality of education in the communities they serve.…

A study was conducted in 1979 to determine the organizational factors that influence the growth or decline of community college Research, Evaluation, and Planning units (REP's) and to assess the impact of Proposition 13 (California tax limitation measure, 1978) on these units. A historical analysis of REP development at a single community college…

Educational assessment tools are used for accountability; selection and licensure, and to measure the effects of instruction for student diagnosis and treatment. Psychometric instruments currently in use are flawed in two ways: they attempt to rank people on fundamentally multidimensional traits, and the problem of the validity of these…

School board members, district superintendents, and building principals in 170 districts in 16 western states were surveyed to determine the role of school boards in school self-study evaluations. Analysis of the questionnaires resulted in the following conclusions: (1) board members seldom assisted in the evaluation process, especially in larger…

A summary is presented of the findings of a reseach team contracted to conduct a study of the evaluation process of the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). Criticism is leveled at the lack of in-depth examination of how well the NCATE standards are being implemented in the education programs of colleges, and a question…

This study of the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) examines how NCATE applies its standards and the effect of its process on the quality of programs in professional education. The accreditation procedures are examined and criticism is leveled at the prevalence of an evaluation approach that frequently examines…