The response of fearful college educators to student demands, particularly to the legitimate ones of black students, has been to defend academic freedom and standards. The author questions the validity of these standards and predicts that academics will not achieve the quality of society they claim to promote until they are ready to accept the…

Author describes problems of mythical small church-related" liberal arts college. Discusses difficulties such colleges have in meeting today's changing educational demands, and problems of obtaining funding from conservative alumni, who wish schools to remain bastions of traditionalism. (JB)

Article discusses recent study by the Academic Long Range Planning Committee of the College of St. Catherine, in which questionnaires were sent to admissions offices of 143 graduate schools in the U.S. in an attempt to measure their attitudes towards nongraded transcripts. Reaction was generally unfavorable. (JB)

Ten specifications to serve as a framework in developing alternative instruction systems. (Editor)

Includes lists of accredited institutions.

Contemporary theories about the nature of modern bourgeois culture are reviewed briefly, and the contradictions of that culture are stressed. Christopher Lasch's criticisms of American schools in "The Culture of Narcissism" fail to recognize that self-liberating practices may stimulate intellectual growth. (PP)

The Houston Plan for Excellence in Education aims to achieve quality in staffing and in education by recruiting and rewarding excellent staff, initiating a competency-based selection process for all school personnel, and providing renewal and professional growth opportunities. (SK)

Social comparison (i.e., an applied behavior analysis procedure) was used to evaluate a reading program with behaviorally disordered elementary school students. Behaviorally disordered students in a self contained special classroom were compared to average readers in a regular classroom on oral reading performance. (SEW)

In critical times, it is suggested, anything that profoundly affects the basic mission and the ultimate survival of a college or university is a legitimate concern of trustees. The triple crisis facing higher education is identified: funding, quality control, and definition of purpose. (MLW)

In the past, the absence of performance standards for which teachers and teacher education institutions could be held accountable has helped protect teacher colleges from malpractice charges. As research identifies correlates between teacher behavior and student achievement, however, institutions which fail to teach minimum competencies may become…

Confusion in the terminology used in criterion-referenced measurement specifications and development and standard setting and the attendant role of cut-off scores are shown to need practical clarification through psychometric research on test applications and consequences. (CM)

Chief student affairs officers (N=219) responded to a questionnaire assessing their views of graduate preparation programs in student personnel services. Results indicated chief student affairs officers are supportive of the programs and want to be involved in efforts to improve them. (RC)

Examines the problem that some high school graduates lack basic skills. Cites declining test scores, facts about illiterate graduates, and causes of public nonconfidence in education. Explores the conversion of minimum competency theory into functional programs, citing considerations related to minority students, test results, record keeping,…

Problems of collegiate athletics are identified: failure to prepare athletes for employment, underfinancing of women's sports, and inadequate athletic recreation for many students. A monitoring system on recruiting, financial aid, academic eligibility is suggested along with institutional cooperation to reduce the competitive pressure. (Author/MLW)