The costs of producing an alumni magazine led to the establishment of the Alumni Magazine Consortium by John Hopkins, Rensselaer Polytechnic, Franklin and Marshall College, Worcester Polytechnic, and Hartwick College. A 16-page core of material in the center of each magazine is wrapped with a client school manuscript. (MLW)

The Pacific Northwest International/Intercultural Education Consortium includes two-year and four-year public and private colleges as well as world affairs organizations in Alaska, British Columbia, Idaho, Oregon and Washington. Its formation, goals, organization, and activities are described. (BW)

CLEO is a telephone referral service that provides adults with counseling, assessment, admissions, and other information about its 38 member colleges. An innovative postsecondary business partnership, it seeks to help adults realize self-directed development goals. (SK)

Consortia have much to offer higher education but are often unappealing because of undue emphasis on reducing costs, inadequate attention to the range of possibilities, and mismatching of membership and mission. Four types of consortia exist according to purposes (special and general) and membership (heterogeneous or homogeneous). (MSE)

The mineral springs resort of Zzyzx in California is the site of a unique academic research center in high desert studies. It is being developed into a Desert Studies Center for seven southern campuses of the California State University and College System, and will provide field work opportunities for geology, geography, and anthropology students.…

In collaboration with the U.S. Department of Education, federal legislators, the North Central Regional Educational Laboratory, the Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS), and local businesses and community members, a consortium of 20 suburban Chicago school districts formed learning networks to master Goal 5 of the Goals 2000…

Describes partner institutes as nonprofit organizations that provide training to member organizations in an industry. Presents a competency-based needs assessment model for assessing training and development needs of the industry, incorporating a variety of data-gathering techniques, eliminating redundancy, and forestalling role conflict. (SK)

Describes the Sloan Consortium, called Sloan-C, as a non-profit consortium for higher education institutions that offers online programs that are regionally accredited. States that Sloan-C is a platform for collaboration, for information on what online programs are available, and for the development and spread of best practices in online education…

Provides a comprehensive bibliography on the preservation of educational films and other educational media formats. Lists significant Web meta-sites then lists resources under the subject headings of film preservation, including standards and consortia; film archives; and legal issues, including copyright. (Author/LRW)

Describes the development of an online learning program being developed by the University of the Highlands and Islands Millennium Institute, a consortium of colleges and research institutes in Scotland. Highlights include staff development; theories of learning and teaching; principles of course design; conversation theory; and paradigm shifts in…

Discusses how colleges and universities are becoming increasingly involved in economic development, with the formation of strategic alliances that have led to programs that benefit business and higher education. Discusses example programs from the Valley of Virginia Partnership for Education, and the outreach program of James Madison University.…

Discusses how higher education consortia can be instrumental in developing community leaders to address social, economic, and environmental issues that face most communities and regions. Offers the example of the Leadership Jackson program involving Western Carolina University and Southwestern Community College. (EV)