Widely viewed today by many taxpayers, business leaders, and elected officials as inefficient, ineffective, bureaucratic, public education is losing its once-noble brand position as the cornerstone of American democracy. According to Laura Ries, a marketing guru, the first problem is the name, it is called public education. It is because the…

This paper presents the results of a study that examined the relationship between parental income and students' college choice process, and identified factors influencing enrollment decisions of students from different income levels. The study found several statistically significant relationships between students' income and the college choice…

External resource acquisition was investigated as one factor associated with the development of the University of New Mexico from an undergraduate teaching institution toward becoming a nationally-ranked graduate research university. A longitudinal, ethnohistorical study was undertaken for the 1967-1978 period. The qualitative research methodology…

The behavior of universities is considered from an economic perspective. It is assumed that both the administration and the faculty pursue goals consistent with their own self-interests. In addition to reviewing studies from other disciplines, the market in which institutions compete is described, and a formal model of the university as a…

Features of the matrix model of the research university and myths about the academic enterprise are described, along with serious dissonances in the U.S. university system. The linear model, from which the matrix model evolved, describes the university's structure, perceived mission, and organizational behavior. A matrix model portrays in concise,…

Applicant selections by elite institutions, and specifically Harvard University, is considered, with attention to admissions, selection objectives, predictions, academic performance and later-life contributions, nonacademic predictors of later-life contributions, and representation of certain groups. For six Harvard schools/departments, selection…

This study of the federal government's evaluation of social programs indicates that it is virtually impossible to establish a bias-free, valid, and reliable system of inquiry to determine the effects of social programs. Divided into five chapters, the document examines the aspirations and limitations of evaluations, methodology, evaluation in the…

This ISCPET study set out to determine the effect that various approaches to teaching literature to prospective high school English teachers might have on their literary knowledge and later teaching competencies. The curricular patterns used to teach literature at three colleges--survey approach (University of Illinois), author and historical…

Asserts that variance between a university's reputation as an institution and its commitment to research have a greater impact on political science department rankings than any internal factors within the department. Includes several tables showing statistical variables of department and university rankings. (MJP)

Presents a lesson plan that accentuates honesty as a central tenet of moral behavior. The first handout requires written answers to open-ended questions based on the students' personal convictions. Subsequent handouts contain quotes, arguments, and "Six Reasons for Being Honest." A class discussion follows. (MJP)

Studies how an urban school, the George A. Lewis Middle School, of the Roxbury section of Boston (Massachusetts) is changing its reputation. Under the process of controlled choice, the school is an example of how teacher professionalization can be a force for overall school improvement. (SLD)

In a survey, 150 individuals evaluated 7 professions on prestige, honesty and ethical standards, importance to society, and interesting and challenging nature of occupation. Overall, university professors were rated lower than doctors, dentists, pharmacists, and clergy; the same as lawyers; and higher than bankers. Respondent income, age, and…

The influence of the college entrance examination (CEE) on social cohesion in Japanese society is considered, based on a 1976-1977 study in Nagoya, Japan. Attention is focused on socialization of adolescents and educational practice at the secondary level, and specifically cognitive and motivational orientations that are affected by CEE practice,…

U.S. research-doctorate programs in the social and behavioral sciences were assessed by a committee of the Conference Board of Associated Research Councils. Attention was focused on 639 research-doctorate programs in seven disciplines in the social and behavioral sciences: anthropology, economics, geography, history, political sciences,…

A study investigated the relative importance of certain college attributes to the freshmen of Ashland University, a small, private univeristy in Ohio. Five institutional characteristics were examined: availability and variety of financial aid, dorm life (living conditions and food quality), quality of education (quality of teaching, career…