This survey of the educational background, professional activities, and work experience of academic business librarians shows that most developed subject expertise from work experience and nondegree courses, that they became business librarians accidentally after general reference or social science work, and that their employers receive very good…

Examined is the national teacher certification program being completed by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. Appended is a list of five characteristics to be expected of board-certified teachers as well as a short summary of opposition arguments. (SI)

This position paper reviews the history of licensure and credentialing in dental education and questions the value of state and regional board clinical examinations for entry level practitioners. Recommended are continuing education requirements, on-site visits of practice settings, periodic reevaluation of practitioners' abilities, and licensure…

A discussion of federal regulations concerning completion of Immigration and Naturalization Service Form I-9 (to verify a potential employee's legal status) looks at the current state of the law and offers college and university personnel administrators practical suggestions for implementing it consistently. Reevaluation of institutional policies,…

The primary purpose of state dental licensing boards is to protect the public, but clinical testing of dental graduates is not critical to this function and may even distract from it. Ensuring the continuing competence of practicing dentists is a more important focus for licensing agencies. (MSE)

Describes assessment for vocational education within the European Community. Discusses the problems of increasing participation in postcompulsory education, decreasing demand for unskilled labor, and the need to specialize. Includes assessment as a vehicle of change in the attempt to form a unified European Community. Concludes that achieving…

Examines differences in the pattern of sheepskin effects (possession of an academic diploma) across a full set of union, nonunion, public, and private labor markets. Sheepskin effects (and resultant screening evidence) are strongest in the private sector, nonunion labor markets and virtually absent in any public sector or unionized labor markets.…

Describes assessment processes used by the Department of Community Health at East Carolina University to determine needs and perspectives of its various constituencies and to integrate their viewpoints into curriculum planning. The curriculum meets the demands of the national credentialing program and the needs of state health care professionals.…

Considers the meaning of professionalization for adult-literacy education. Surveys a group of practitioners, concluding that a credential could enhance the quality of adult-literacy instruction but that providing credentials is inextricably bound up with the issue of funding. Describes initiatives underway in four states, providing examples of how…

Discusses the development and implementation of the low-vision-therapist certification through the Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired. Credentials for professionals in low vision are described, along with required written examination, and the role of the low-vision therapist. (CR)

States that although many organizations offer training courses, they also rely on educational institutions to provide training and proper credentials. Discusses the recent demand for skills in information technology (IT) and how it has generated a wide range of courses offered by community colleges. Addresses how competency in IT is assessed, and…

Student cohort groups, intensive education, portfolio assessment, teacher coaches, student workers, and powerful learning are integral to San Jose State University's newly restructured Preliminary Administrative Services Credential Program for prospective school administrators. The program grew out of students' dissatisfaction with the previous…

While many aspects of school design have changed over the years, unfortunately the process to find the best architect is the same in many ways today as it was 20 years ago. Design teams announce how many schools they have designed, show lots of pretty photographs and list what each team member will do on the project. Education is a business and…

The topic of teacher credentials and student performance is revisited in an international setting using the TIMSS-99 data. The lack of consistent positive link between credentials and performance can be explained via three routes: measurement problem of ''teacher quality'' input, measurement problem of ''student outcomes'', and the production…

This paper recounts one instructor's importing action research into teaching to improve a Tier II Professional Administrative Services Credential program at a public university in California. The state and local context is described, why and how the action research was conducted, and the lessons that emerged about what advanced students need,…