Task forces are increasingly used in educational planning activities. Some basic functional principles pertaining to task forces are considered and followed by a description of the accomplishments of a current task force which is focusing on personnel preparation for teaching handicapped students. (CJ)

Endangered small, private colleges can take steps toward survival, including mission clarification, expanding services to existing and potential clienteles, introducing management by objectives, and developing public relations and fund raising. Long-range options include avoiding the postsecondary mainstream and striving for efficiency of…

Presents possible strategies which all countries can use to develop a national environmental education plan. Provides information on background factors to consider and a general planning and management process for developing such a plan. Proposes a plan for the United States. (DC)

Homewood-Flossmoor High School in Illinois has, in one document, a comprehensive "one-and-five" year plan that is designed to develop instructional and program needs and relate them to anticipated revenue as a foundation for the coming year's budget. (Author/MLF)

New research from the National Center for Postsecondary Improvement provides a tool that colleges and universities can use to describe the higher education market, find their places within it, and identify what they need to do in the future. The market analysis and segmentation tool is outlined, and a worksheet for institutional planning is…

Successful human resource strategic planning at colleges and universities requires that: (1) outcomes contribute to the bottom line; (2) the plan is linked to the institution's long-term strategy; and (3) the plan is simple to understand and follow. Staff retreats are essential and should involve environmental analysis, departmental analysis,…

Higher education leaders have always considered the physical plant as an asset but may have little understanding of its dimensions as a liability, particularly higher debt service requirements for facility improvement or replacement. Strategic planning will be increasingly important in addressing campus facilities needs. (MSE)

It is argued that while the concept of "vision" in higher education has been met with disdain, criticism is based on misconceptions of vision's nature and role--that vision requires a charismatic administrator and that visionaries are dreamers. Educators and planners are urged to use imaginative thinking to connect the institution's and staff's…

The multiple scenario analysis technique for organizational planning used by multinational corporations is adaptable for colleges and universities. Arizona State University launched a futures-based planning project using the Delphi technique and cross-impact analysis to produce three alternative scenarios (stable, turbulent, and chaotic) to expand…

Examines the subtle and not-so-subtle factors underlying private/public partnership formation in university settings and proposes a framework of "institutional readiness" for engaging in such efforts. The experience of the California State University in its innovative technology infrastructure initiative is discussed as an example. (MSE)

Provides a checklist for teachers to use in planning and implementing meeting presentations. It is composed of statements which describe appropriate presenter behaviors. (LHW)

Suggests that a teacher should carefully plan both the activities and the financing of a sabbatical year, so that it can be both a productive and a relaxing period. (SJL)

Describes planning of workshops for training online user groups including establishment of a committee, choice of theme and format, funding, and publicity arrangements. A list of do's and don't's is included. (RAA)

How to avoid potentially dangerous playground conditions. (MLF)

After a failed tax levy in 2004, the Ladue School District in Missouri realized that it had to significantly change its communication methods. A new superintendent was hired in July 2004 to work with the Board of Education to reestablish relationships and increase effective communications with parents and community members. As such, we are the…