This article examines demographic and sociological trends in terms of their impact on future planning for the education of visually impaired students. Prevalence figures (and their scarcity), prevalence of visually handicapped multiply handicapped children, special educational needs, and the teacher shortage are discussed. Suggestions are made for…

Traces the history of futuristic predictions of environmental changes. Focuses on particular documents published on environmental change predictions. Identifies particular instances of environmental change, such as the rate of species loss and the greenhouse effect. Maintains that predictions of future environmental changes are fraught with…

Five principal products of an integrated academic, fiscal, and facility planning process are discussed: an academic plan, a physical development plan, institutional priorities, a capital budget, and an operating budget. Criteria for successful implementation of a planning process that integrates these five plans are offered. (Author/MLW)

Describes a long range program for library development in Illinois utilizing Library Services and Construction Act funds. For each area of development, the discussion covers the identification of needs, activities to meet needs, and criteria for funding. Policies and procedures for funding applications are also reviewed. (CLB)

Reviews the adoption of a three-part program for statewide library automation and the appointment of planning committees by the Board of Regents of the New York State Department of Education. The discussion addresses the recommendations of the committees covering general issues, databases, linking, training and consulting, and operational…

Discusses the need for and qualifications of a long-range planning coordinator for school districts. Suggests performance responsibilities of a long-range planning coordinator. (MS)

Describes the development of CONSER, a cooperative effort by libraries to create, maintain, and distribute quality bibliographic and cataloging information that conforms to national standards for serial cataloging. Issues involved in each phase of the project are discussed. (16 references) (CLB)

Identifies the strengths of North Carolina's community college system (i.e., community good will, high caliber faculty and staff, its willingness and ability to police itself, the long-range planning process, and the system's Commission on the Future). Looks at future directions and challenges. (DMM)

This paper suggests methodologies and guidelines appropriate for evaluating projects in the Jacob K. Javits Gifted and Talented Program. The paper aims to help projects carry out their evaluations, assist the Javits staff in determining the success of the evaluations, and aid in long-range program planning. (JDD)

Contends that at the level of curriculum construction, futures studies encourage early childhood practitioners to address curriculum concerns and content in relation to the long-term needs and skills of children and, in so doing, lay the foundations for lifelong learning. Questions whether a national curriculum at the early childhood level would…

After a period of rapid expansion, two-thirds of the branch campuses of United States universities in Japan have closed. A study suggests that the branch campuses were established largely to capitalize on short-term political, demographic, and financial factors, with little benefit. A deeper commitment to sustaining the overseas program and to…

The best-prepared college crisis managers go beyond planning and networking to compiling information on what the campus does to avoid and cope with problems, including (1) keeping lists of key campus individuals and establishing rapid access to media; (2) cultivating campus connections; (3) gathering information on contingencies; and (4)…

Effective college planning in a period of reduced resources requires that a comprehensive long-range plan, based on consensus, be in place before budgeting begins, so essential resources will not be damaged. The starting point for planning is a well-stated conception of the institution and of its subsystems and their interactions. (MSE)

Four university joint big decisions committees (JBDCs) were investigated to learn why they were established, their relationship with the traditional governance structure, functions within standard models of campus organization, and impact on institutional planning. The JBDC is seen as a growing governing force on campus, especially during periods…

Presents excerpts from selected state-of-the-art reports on initiatives for educational technology that were received from individual states in response to a request from the yearbook editors. The 16 states represented are California, Connecticut, Florida, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, North…