Provides advice on marketing campus events to the local community at large, using the experiences of the programming board at Eastern Oregon State University. Focuses on the development of a marketing team, interviews with community organizations and the media, a market survey snapshot, marketing strategies for various local media, and examples of…

The college experience should help students develop basic thinking skills required of aware, discerning individuals in society. Healthy skepticism is a foundation for learning. Student activities are a good place to teach critical thinking skills. Specific skills must be identified, challenges offered, and alternating periods of analysis and…

A discussion of the relationship between the campus activities programing office and performers addresses the need for a contract, its essential and optional elements, sponsor and artist rights and responsibilities, ethical considerations, riders, potential conflicts, and the need to check legal issues with college counsel. (MSE)

The student affairs division at Nebraska Wesleyan University was studied from the perspective of organizational culture, focusing on two factors: organizational climate and the superior-subordinate relationship. Interviews with the director and division staff revealed the importance of mutual support to the division's success. (MSE)

Campus activities programing benefits from good training of student volunteers. Business training theory can be applied to student organizations. Training programs should be designed for four phases of volunteer experience (recruitment, testing, active, and exit) and emphasize leadership development. (MSE)

The use of focus groups to assess existing college student leadership efforts and as a step in developing better programs is examined. Procedures include assembling a planning team, identifying information needs, determining the composition of focus groups, soliciting and training volunteers, and using focus group results to design a program. (MSE)

The health needs and challenges of performers who travel from campus to campus are examined, and recommendations are offered for promoting better health through good sleep, good nutrition, exercise, and using medications. Considerations concerning health insurance and maintaining spiritual and emotional health are also discussed. Actions that…

Campus activities planners are offered strategies to use to make the most of their time attending National Association for Campus Activities (NACA) conventions. Advice includes specific approaches for covering conference sessions and booths, gathering information, planning for campus performances, and having students learn from the convention…

Twenty-four characteristics of effective leaders are described as an aid in helping others become effective student activities directors. It is stated that leaders are made, not born; leadership must be learned from experience, not from a textbook; and one must build on successes and learn from mistakes. Among the characteristics of effective…

To make sure students' time in school is used efficiently and advantageously, some simple ways to improve time use are suggested. It is important to assess time use to ensure that a school schedules enough time for basics, is using learning time and teaching time well, and is not duplicating subject matter. (MD)

An Illinois school district describes seven ways it has successfully encouraged parent participation at school events. (MD)

Three approaches to defining curriculum balance are examined: the imposed "a priori" model, the social utility model, and the phenomenological model. Contends that the current social utilitarian approaches to reform the school curriculum may produce an unbalanced curriculum that ignores the socialization process and aesthetic qualities.…

A study of the 18 "most effective" high schools in California uses analysis of questionnaires completed by administrators of the schools to identify eight recurring general factors of effectiveness. (DCS)

Campus activities programmers are offered suggestions to make the budgeting process clearer. They include knowing funding sources, understanding distribution of funds, monitoring encumbered funds, developing a system to keep track of how funds are spent, avoiding overspending and handling re-appropriations, setting aside reserves, and asking for…

Twenty ideas for reducing program costs are offered to campus activities programmers. They include using technology wisely, avoiding excess outlay of funds, trading for services, seeking donations and sponsors, co-sponsoring events, buying supplies in bulk, requesting discounts, avoiding unnecessary sales taxes, using telephone services…