Critics feel education scholarship lacks rigor and a practical focus on achievement, wasting substantial resources. Research on effectiveness of educational reforms is often weak, inconclusive, or simply inadequate, and good scholarship may have little influence on classroom practice. Popular policies often persist despite strong research evidence…

The principles of ratio analysis can help measure use of financial resources to achieve college mission by quantifying status, sources, and use of resources and the institution's relative ability to repay current and future debt. Business officers and boards can use these measures to measure institutional performance; ratios can also help focus…

College trustees have a responsibility to institute investment policies that preserve real endowment value. The chief financial officer's responsibility varies, but at a minimum should provide the board with essential information and ensure that trustees understand the importance of policy decisions. Critical tasks include establishing and…

Role of boardroom table shape in college/university governing board decision making is considered. Boards are urged to consider whether boardroom table and room design accurately reflect institutional/group culture and whether they lead to information sharing and collaboration. A semicircular table design is seen as directing energy toward a…

Explores how the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in the "Grove City" court case triggered a four-year battle in Congress between the civil rights coalition and the Reagan administration. Explains that the battle began when Grove City College, a private college in Pennsylvania, refused to be regulated by the U.S. Department of Education.…

Developing an Internet acceptable use policy is the first step in bringing technological change to the classroom. This article defines educator's proactive responsibilities and provides a policy shell (privilege, "netiquette," security, vandalism, legal issues, warranties, and user agreements) to formulate individual school policies.…

Problems associated with the use of technology in the college classroom are outlined, including instructional issues such as poorly functioning equipment, lack of quality in courses delivered by technology, and problems with generic presentations, as well as administrative concerns such as over-promotion of technology-based learning to students,…

Administrators at Bowdoin College (Maine) have translated lessons learned from the process of administrative software conversion into ten commandments for other small colleges undertaking such changes. Three approaches to management information systems are outlined, with advantages and limitations highlighted, as well as the ten recommendations,…

Discusses how college affects student athletes. Research cited includes studies using theories of student development and results from the National Study on Student Learning that describe the desired outcomes of college for student athletes. Discusses implications for policies and practices that address the critical needs of student athletes.…

Discusses copyright issues in distributing educational reading materials in higher education; describes two federal court cases involving for-profit, commercial entities; considers a hypothetical copyright infringement action against a noncommercial copier; and suggests measures an educational institution might adopt to protect its interest in…

This article reviews policy developments in deinstitutionalization and community inclusion in North America, specifically the United States. It begins with a critique of the continuum concept and the associated principle of the least restrictive environment. Past and current controversies surrounding deinstitutionalization are then examined.…

Examination of two types of school choice programs in Milwaukee (Wisconsin) reveals that the exercise of choice is a function of the type and design of the choice program. Comparison of the voucher private school and interdistrict public school choice programs (Chapter 220) shows that both are providing additional educational opportunities. (SLD)

Describes one of the most viable ways to gain community support of school-business office decisions, which is to establish a series of community committees. The Madison School District, Phoenix, Arizona, established four such committees--a financial oversight committee, a blue-ribbon task force, an athletic league committee, and a bond-site…

Addresses the shortcomings of the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) position statement "Fostering Civic Virtue: Character Education in the Social Studies." Challenges the work of the NCSS Task Force on Character Education in the Social Studies on four concerns: (1) necessity and timeliness; (2) generality and specificity;…

This article describes the history of New York's efforts to create partnerships with families with children with emotional disturbances, articulates the stages of parent involvement in policymaking, and summarizes lessons learned and recommendations for effective and enduring families as policy allies. A case study is presented. (Contains…