American higher education is being torn apart. Institutions, curricula, courses, and faculty roles are being "unbundled"--broken into constituent parts in the name of efficiency and cost savings. As a result, the college learning experience is fragmented and incoherent, leaving graduates less and less equipped to confront the dire social…

The discipline of education is a multi-faceted system that must constantly integrate new strategies and procedures to ensure successful learning experiences. Enhancements in education provide learners with greater opportunities for growth and advancement. "Open Learning and Formal Credentialing in Higher Education: Curriculum Models and…

This long-awaited sequel to Richard Hofstadter and Wilson Smith's classic anthology "American Higher Education: A Documentary History" presents one hundred and seventy-two key edited documents that record the transformation of higher education over the past sixty years. The volume includes such seminal documents as Vannevar Bush's 1945…

This document for participants comprises the agenda and abstracts of papers to be presented at the second national conference on the retention of black college students. The conference, as planned, offers 6 general sessions, 3 special sessions, 8 special activities, and 25 concurrent sessions. A total of 130 presenters from over 30 states and more…

In recent years, education has shifted its goals from acquiring a classical methodology to learning how to make a living. Students are taking fewer liberal arts courses; and at the same time, reading, thinking, and reasoning skills are declining. With the advent of Sputnik in 1957, the idea that hard science had the answers to the world's problems…

Describes a study that compared salaries of one and two year library masters program graduates over a 22 year period. Possible explanations for the results are suggested, and the viability of extended library masters programs is discussed. (CLB)

Discusses why educators should not rush headlong into creating robotics curricula and suggests methods of establishing meaningful courses. Indicates that the solution to the problem of building a robotic curriculum is to incorporate the three major areas of robotics (design, operations, maintenance) into existing curricula where they best fit. (JN)

Reports on a conference, "Race, Ethnicity and Gender in Higher Education," held in Philadelphia during which academicians discussed infusing cultural diversity into college curricula. Briefly describes programs at Mary Washington College, Indiana State University, and Bloomfield College. (FMW)

This document comprises the proceesings of the second national conference on the retention of black college students. The conference was comprised of 5 general sessions, 8 special activity sessions, and 25 concurrent sessions. A total of 114 presenters from 29 states and 81 institutions and agencies delivered 112 scholarly papers. The following…

The president of the Exxon Education Foundation suggests that the study of philanthropy and the philanthropic tradition should be incorporated into formal education in the United States, in public education, the undergraduate curriculum, and research. (MSE)

Selected environmental health issues that have significant implications for the academic preparation of environmental professionals for practice in the direct delivery of environmental health services are identified. Suggestions for curriculum improvement at the college level are included. (CW)

An institution that exists primarily for its own sake--that identifies itself primarily in terms of its resources and reputation--compromises its capacity as an instrument for improving society. Colleges need to transcend their institutional egos and concern themselves with their impact on students and society. (MLW)

Several different philosophical approaches to general educational development in higher education are discussed and compared, including (1) positivist epistemology, a pragmatic, empirical perspective; (2) development of curricula promoting interpretation based on understanding; and (3) critical theory, which espouses development of people in…

The text of a report by the Education Commission of the States study panel is presented, offering eight challenges and 22 recommendations to state leaders concerning student preparation for life after college, college preparation, college participation and completion, student diversity, student involvement and performance, faculty motivation, and…

The trend toward including instruction in critical and logical thinking as a required element in the college curriculum, and the various approaches to teaching it, are discussed. (MSE)