Merrimack College (Massachusetts) has abandoned conservative strategies for investing its $16-million endowment, investing more in international stocks and bonds, real estate projects, and small companies to raise annual returns and increase endowment value. The small, Catholic college is heavily dependent on tuition. The diversification plan…

Argues that within English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) classrooms many identities are hidden. Discusses how these identities may affect the classroom and its participants and suggests what ESL administrators and faculty members might do in response to these identities, and their ramifications for the classroom. (five references) (Author/CK)

Describes an observational study on the future of European universities that analyzed how university systems in Germany, the United Kingdom, France, and the United States currently structure curricula and certification. Proposes three models for Europe, which were submitted for comment to 30 university leaders in eight countries. Lists the nine…

The principal's role in rural school reform is to create a climate for implementing change, to remove barriers to reform, and to establish the need for school improvement. Committing to the reform effort; linking curriculum development to systemic change; and facilitating collaboration among staff, parents, students, and the community are tactics…

Describes and evaluates the progress of the Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, School District's efforts to meet the needs of its students requiring some level of English-as-a-Second-Language instruction. Findings reveal that the program has an excellent track record for achieving its goal of English fluency and knowledge and skills at an appropriate level…

Examines attempts of the foreign language teaching profession to implement reforms, focusing on the "Standards for Foreign Language Learning" (1996). (48 references) (Author/CK)

Discusses an English-as-a-Second-Language high school program that serves as a catalyst for a schoolwide commitment to helping all students, especially Latinos, achieve their full potential. Emphasizes the importance of staff development and a schoolwide team effort to serve language minority students effectively. (20 references) (Author/CK)

A male student analyzes high school teachers' sexist behavior toward female students. Many females learn to accept poor treatment as a fact of life and don't file complaints. Many women lose self-confidence due to discrimination, but a few appear to be strengthened by it. The author suggests that fighting for justice is the only way to change…

Explores the key benefits and costs of implementing Total Quality Management (TQM) in student affairs. Discusses the experiences of early innovators and uses specific criteria to analyze TQM. Outlines effects on financial aid, costs, goal achievement, time and resource commitment, long-term focus, leaders as models, and clarity of mission. (RJM)

This article examines the kinds of changes undergraduate colleges are making in their curricula in response to the ongoing debate about the quality of undergraduate education. The authors detail responses to a survey of 226 institutions on educational change, noting that most adopted a wide variety of recent changes that had a positive impact on…

Outlines the characteristics of standards-based, worthy uses of new technologies in education and describes characteristics of an effective school district change process that engages teachers in adult learning that is curriculum-rich and focuses on enhancing student performance. Topics include engaged learning; professional development; and…

This article highlights strategies used at various Kentucky universities to recruit, retain, and mentor minority educators. Recruitment strategies include making staff diversity an institutional priority, involving enrolled minority students in recruiting others, and establishing a separate budget for minority candidate recruitment. Retention…

Discusses the collaborative efforts of educators, parents, the program coordinator, and a consultant in a bilingual child care setting in Montreal to find solutions to the poor fit between a preschool-age child's behavior, educator expectations, and the classroom setting. Includes discussion of the educators' strategies, the team approach, the…

In this interview, Dr. Abraham Tannenbaum, an author and leader of numerous research projects concerning gifted and talented students, discusses homeschooling, the impact of charter schools, magnet schools, and school choice on gifted education, the Ganiech psychosocial definition of giftedness, and the development of gifted programs. (Contains 7…

This article summarizes findings presented in a report by the Audit Commission on the provision for children with disabilities. It discusses widespread dissatisfaction with student assessment, development of statements, resource allocation to support children with special educational needs, and procedures to ensure services are effective.…