A Mount Holyoke College course on gender and the development of modern fiction focused on the novel in eighteenth-century France, emphasizing women writers, writings about women, and the application of modern feminist criticism to the genre. (MSE)

Describes "Language and Literature," a rigorous general education course offered at Saint Mary College (Kansas) for all nontraditional students entering a degree curriculum. Explains how the course matches the college's goals. Examines writing assignments and teaching methods. Reports on students' evaluations of the course. (DMM)

Discusses major unresolved issues in mathematics education today, focusing on computers, higher standards, and proposed changes in the college curriculum. Also offers eight predictions for the future, indicating that computers will not replace mathematics teachers and that calculus will no longer be the unique goal of college preparatory…

Issues in teaching students who are neither mathematiaclly nor scientifically oriented to apply computers to their intellectual and creative pursuits are described. Suggestions are made for designing an introductory computer literacy course. (MSE)

Considers a professional program at a university appropriate if it bridges the gap between professional practice and relevant theoretical knowledge, and includes a general education component. Sees Colleges of Education as failing to achieve this balance. Suggests ways of promoting and developing research at Schools of Education. (DMM)

Many social and intellectual forces focus introductory courses not on the process of inquiry but on its products. Changes that can help refocus these courses include limiting class size, emphasizing writing skills, having all levels of faculty teach the courses, and promoting exchange of ideas in the classroom. (MSE)

Integration in nursing curriculum, its effect on performance of students and faculty, and its application to clinical experience, team teaching, and curriculum structure are examined. (TA)

An undergraduate curriculum in public affairs is proposed that is multidisciplinary, rooted in the liberal arts, and that emphasizes development of conceptual, analytical, and interpersonal skills required for public policymaking and implementation. Questions addressed would include such issues as the definitions of public and national interests.…

A course at Northern Illinois University trains college students for running marathons. The course offers information about conditioning, injury prevention, and diet requirements, as well as instruction in long-distance running. Techniques for motivating students are discussed. (PP)

A model for cross-cultural and interdisciplinary teaching is suggested to fill the need of community colleges for curriculum and instruction models that can help students of unlike backgrounds and capabilities. This model offers a mechanism for bringing together unlike cultures to enable students to look for parallels and relationships. (JMD)

A model for a more student-centered research university is proposed, a central feature of which is the student-centered course, designed to be less faculty-focused and to have more impact on student learning. Ten key actions needed to create this institutional form are outlined. Common faculty objections to the model are also discussed. (MSE)

Describes an observational study on the future of European universities that analyzed how university systems in Germany, the United Kingdom, France, and the United States currently structure curricula and certification. Proposes three models for Europe, which were submitted for comment to 30 university leaders in eight countries. Lists the nine…

The article presents key demographic facts and trends to guide long range planning by institutions of higher education. Effects on future enrollments of such trends as increased ethnic diversity are identified. Consequently, trustees are encouraged to support structural flexibility in programs of study and changes in the direction of increased…

A study investigated whether Biglan clusters of academic disciplines (hard/soft, pure/applied, life/nonlife) could be used to explain disciplinary differences in college student ratings of instruction. It was found that Biglan clusters do not explain the differences, many disciplines still emphasize knowledge acquisition over higher-order skills,…

Describes La Guardia Community College's interdisciplinary approach to the teaching of critical thinking, focusing on the program's impact on literacy, reasoning, problem solving, and critical attitudes. Presents guidelines for integrating critical thinking. Discusses the importance of professional development to encourage curricular changes,…