Polish legislation concerning higher education since 1990 has focused on increasing institutional autonomy, but brought with it an unrealistic reliance on market mechanisms for positive change. This has resulted in a non-integrated system and inadequate public policy for science and higher education. It is the institutions themselves that have…

Reviews the history of two-year colleges in Alabama, arguing that the colleges lack a focus on mission and purpose and have not generally met the state's need for a technically trained workforce. Describes initiatives of the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama, formed to develop linkages between colleges and industry. (AJL)

Rethinking and expanding the theory of change underlying systems of care are recommended to support development of the knowledge base for understanding what systems of care can be expected to accomplish. Three domains of knowledge are presented as necessary to understanding the relationship between systems-level change and services. (Contains…

Despite positive outward signs, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is seen by some as resting on its reputation. Faculty and alumni complain that intrusive regulation by the state, lack of respect by the university system administration, and inadequate financial support are endangering its quality. (MSE)

With motivational insight, educational understanding, and independence, a maverick educator transformed an East Los Angeles high school previously on a disaster course. In the process, one of his most gifted and imaginative teachers, Jaime Escalante, became a media celebrity. (Author/MSE)

Four articles discuss pre-order and pre-cataloging searching in libraries that have implemented the Northwestern Online Total Integrated System (NOTIS). The discussions cover the impact of integration on the workflow and organization of library technical services departments. (CLB)

Higher education should respond to the accreditation crisis by making evaluation/accreditation sector-specific, developing a common sense of mission and standards for each sector, working with the federal government to define a supportive federal role, structuring the evaluation/accreditation process to stimulate institutional change, focusing on…

The process of reengineering the administrative information system at the University of Idaho required careful planning, development of a set of philosophies, and several strategies for ensuring success. The latter included a humorous symbol (a jitter bug) to express concern, improved institutional communications, and a focus on logistical issues.…

Discusses changes in academic libraries shifting from collection-based to access-based measures of effectiveness and considers the role of library administrators as change agents. A competing values framework of organizational and managerial leadership performance is presented, and a user-centered model of organization is discussed. (Contains 13…

Examines issues of leadership as they relate to the new organizational structure in the University of Arizona library precipitated by the current economic crisis, changing information technology and automation opportunities, and changing user needs and expectations. Implications for user services are discussed, including needs assessment and…

Discusses the characteristics of transformational leadership and its impact on the organizational culture and effectiveness of schools. Outlines its role in school culture, bureaucratic mechanisms, staff development, communication, responsibility, and power and recognition, asserting that vision of the future and empowerment of others are crucial…

Explores ways in which the current governance structure of U.S. schools detracts from their ability to solve educational problems. Self-managed leadership is proposed as an alternative that does not restrict the problem-solving capabilities of teachers. Implications for teacher and principal behavior are examined. (SLD)

A discussion of the response of George Mason University (Virginia) to economic decline in 1989-92 looks at four stages in the downturn and examines a variety of planning and policy issues, including management of both unplanned and planned reductions, continued uncertainty, politics of decline, organizational communication and morale,…

A survey indicates that declining resources, merging of programs, and loss of faculty positions characterize the changes in programs in higher education as a field of study and suggest an uncertain future. However, most programs see themselves as strong and programs that were prominent in the last decade remain so. (Author/MSE)

It is not enough for university governing boards and chief executives to decide the system must change; leadership must convince constituents that everyone has something to gain. When the University of Maryland's campuses could not reach consensus in paring programs, the system board stepped in to foster collaboration and cooperation. (Author/MSE)