Several national projects supported by professional associations are redefining faculty roles and focusing the energies of faculty on teaching, on community service, and on their institutions' missions. Resulting faculty reward systems should recognize institutional mission, departmental priorities, the strength of individuals, and the uniqueness…

The background concerning educational programs and practices designed to promote the development, retention, and grade point averages of black college students is traced. The literature reveals historical events and legislative statutes that brought a system of educational inequality to blacks in America. A dual educational system has meant that…

Discusses how metropolitan universities pose unique challenges and opportunities for student affairs professionals. Describes how student characteristics reflect the diversity of the surrounding population; explores enrollment patterns, sources of college funding, recruitment and retention, campus environment, international students, student…

A student survey at a metropolitan university examined priorities of both traditional and non-traditional students; the survey resulted from anxieties expressed by some students about not having a traditional college experience. The administration was trying to decide whether to allocate resources to create a football program within this commuter,…

Investigates the urban public community college system to assess its contributions to educational reforms, especially in the area of vocational education. The authors include an analysis of the role of tech-prep in school-to-work transition programs. (GR)

This article outlines steps toward university collaboration with local arts organizations to enhance local cultural life in medium-sized cities. It illustrates these steps with examples from practice and discusses how to maintain ongoing collaborations. Major benefits from such partnerships and factors requiring attention to ensure success are…

This paper presents a study designed to determine the reason first and post-first year students (N=61) chose to leave Chicago Urban University (CUU) prior to graduation. Data were sought from a random sample of 100 students via either a mailed or a telephone survey, with a 61% response rate. The 54-question interview/survey instrument examined the…

This paper reports on findings of a multi-faceted preliminary study designed to identify the technical information needs of academic department chairpersons at a public urban university. Study methodology involved: (1) two 2-hour focus group sessions in which a total of 10 department chairpersons participated; (2) short written reports from the…

Universities can effectively employ regional accreditation processes in striving to find legitimate means and credible mechanisms for more equitably evaluating faculty teaching and professional work. Examples from accreditation show how institutions can ensure compliance while establishing strong evaluation procedures for faculty service and…

A "10% solution" to systematic coordination of university collaborations with local schools involves a decentralized approach with incentives and a focus for coordination. The overall effect is that the institution lays out no additional cash, redirects funds to support coordination, and intensifies and focuses scattered efforts for…

Department chairpersons should guide their departments to meet contemporary challenges by focusing on fostering student learning more effectively, stimulating faculty development, and engaging in curriculum development that responds to new academic syntheses and multidisciplinary approaches. (JB)

This report argues that many higher education institutions in metropolitan areas, in order to fulfill their mission of enhancing the utilization of research knowledge, must develop appropriate internal and external bridging mechanisms between scholarship and utilization. It further argues for the development of appropriate adaptations in the…

Arts advocacy groups have managed to influence Canadian public policy and government priorities during a time of economic difficulty and have produced significant outcomes for the arts community. Legislation to establish an umbrella, national arts agency was defeated following criticism from arts groups. Advocacy groups will have to assume an even…

University partnerships with private industry to effect service delivery in facilities management, food services, bookstore management, parking management, arena management, housing operations, business services, safety operations, communication services, and purchasing improves the quality of these services, reduces costs, does not affect core…

This is the third of eight volumes consisting of series of publications of the Center for the Study of Liberal Education for Adults (CSLEA), such as Notes and Essays, Research Reports, Occasional Papers, and Conference Reports. These materials provide both theory and practice in the area of non-credit adult liberal education offered by colleges…