Government-appointed education commission reports are seriously flawed and have resulted in misleading impressions that significant reforms have occurred as a result of commission efforts. The commission approach to educational change and improvement is compellingly reasonable but deceptively simplistic and general. (Author/CB)

Establishing advisory boards composed of corporate executives is recommended as a means of bringing new ideas and direction to liberal arts colleges. Suggestions for maximizing the value of the relationship between executives and the college are outlined. (MSE)

Lessons learned in buying 185 micros and associated peripheral hardware are shared, and a set of dos and don'ts for others planning to buy micros are provided. Advice on the purchasing agent, testing and evaluating hardware, and examining the computer for reliability, durability, and ease of repair is offered. (MLW)

The author discusses why an advisory vocational committee (AVC) is a necessary tool within the Ontario (Canada) school system and within the community. Also examines the importance of establishing an ongoing channel of communication among AVCs within provinces to the Canadian Vocational Association. (CT)

Guidelines for avoiding negative side effects of committee work include reasons for forming or not forming a committee, advantages and disadvantages of committees, and questions to help establish a committee in which members understand their role, task, and relationship to the administrator. (MJL)

The report on proposed reorganization of the American Occupational Therapy Association details historical developments, demands for change, and a general rationale for reorganization, as well as specific recommendations for action. (GW)

Author investigated the crisis in community work that has developed in Liverpool. (Editor/RK)

The Effective Committees set of booklets comprises publications on the following committees: investment, buildings and grounds, academic affairs, student affairs, finance, development, trustees, audit, compensation, and executive. It is part of the AGB Board Basics Series. This report describes the primary role of an audit committee. The primary…

Sunshine laws are designed to make meetings and records of public entities visible so that a state can help ensure accountability of decision making affecting public resources. The laws often pit the news media's desire for greater public disclosure of information on public college and university governance against institutional leaders' desire to…

The purpose of this document is to encourage school boards to take another critical step in improving schools, specifically by focusing on how the district and each school addresses barriers to learning and teaching. The discussion explores: 1) why school boards need to increase their focus on addressing barriers to learning and teaching 2) the…

The Montana Commission of Higher Education put forth this report on the best practices in two-year colleges and operational recommendation in November 2002. The report describes the practices used in the best community colleges as the following: (1) responsiveness of the community college to the ever expanding needs of those they serve; (2) full…

The selection of faculty in academic institutions is an important process--one that has long-lasting effects on an institution's ability to fulfill its mission. Faculty influence the quality of the education delivered, the effectiveness of the programs and activities offered, and the financial efficiency of the delivery processes. Failed searches…

This report summarizes the deliberations and recommendations of Minnesota's School Bus Safety Advisory Committee (SBSAC). The committee, which operates under the auspices of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, is charged to study issues affecting the safety of students on school buses, arrive at consensus on ways to improve student safety…

This document summarizes the activities of the University of California, Los Angeles's (UCLA's) Department of Library and Information Science (DLIS) Doctoral Program Committee, 1996-97. These activities are organized into two main areas: Operations and Students. Doctoral Program Committee (DPC) operations outlined include: preparing major policy…

A study revealed that many faculty and administrators believe most decisions are made in informal meetings that occur at times other than in the formally convened and formally conducted business meetings. The concept of meeting is expanded to include any gathering of members of an organization who assemble together informally and deliberately in…