In fall 1989, 88 doctoral programs in higher education offered 124 different courses, a body of knowledge that offers great potential for improving and professionalizing higher education administration. The field appears to be evolving from a generalized area of inquiry into a curriculum of professional specialization. (Author/MSE)

Historically, higher education administrators have advanced through faculty ranks. In recent years, higher education as a field of study has developed significantly, but its potential for improving the profession is underutilized. A growing group of administrators needs formal training to meet the needs of more sophisticated and complex…

Research on substantive issues and concerns of higher education is handicapped by higher education's lack of status and recognition as an academic discipline or professional specialty. Theory-based and policy-related research should be recast as disciplined inquiry, doctoral programs strengthened, and preparation of scholars, professors, and…

Presents the 2000 Robert H. Atwell Distinguished Lecture given at the 82nd Annual Meeting of the American Council on Education in Chicago (Illinois), which focuses on the ideas of Alexis de Tocqueville to find lessons for the current condition of higher education. These include American egalitarianism, homogeneity, individualism, and pragmatism.…

Discusses the special challenges presented to classroom teachers in identifying low income, gifted students and describes an independent field study conducted by a preservice teacher in a school with an at-risk population. Concludes that improved teacher attitudes could be fostered by applying educational theory to classroom practice as a…

Describes many environmental education projects conducted in schools in Suffolk County, England. Projects include One World Week, which prepared students for exchange visits with Kenya by encouraging awareness of world problems, especially those of poverty and distribution of resources. Other projects were comprised of outdoor programs, recycling…

Urges teachers to use the cultural landscape as a primary resource. Outlines the steps for students to use in making a visual analysis of the cityscape. Lists strategies for reading the cityscape as a primary document including observation, speculation, analysis, and evaluation. (NL)

The origins, development, and influences of James McKeen Cattell's research on the conditions, performance, traits, and other characteristics of preeminent American scientists are discussed. Cattell's role in the development of academic quality rankings is noted. (MSE)

Identifies 10 areas that should be addressed in the academic preparation of community college leaders (i.e., value assumptions, human behavior, group process, personnel practices, legal principles, financial management, information systems, planning, research design and method, educational history). Enumerates desirable leader qualities and…

Constrasts the findings of a 1982 survey of university professors of community college education with those of a 1972 survey to measure shifts in their theoretical and professional orientations and trends in demographic data and career patterns. Finds the group older and increasingly interested in research and scholarly values. (DMM)

In interviews with 18 college faculty actively collaborating on research in the field of higher education, a variety of metaphors were used to explain the nature of the collaborative process, reflecting 6 distinct dynamics of the relationship: degree of jointness, definition of roles and responsibilities, flexibility of roles, similarity of…

Examines five dilemmas in postsecondary organizational theory and research, in the areas of theory development, research methods, organizational behavior context, relating theory to practice, and identifying professional colleagues. Calls for the establishment of a "peer group" to consider these issues and to ensure the continued,…

The complaint that memoirs of college and university life are impressionistic and biased and thus poorly suited for a research project is refuted. Memoirs can shape and supplement research questions and can remind and commit academe to the idea of the beloved campus. (MLW)

Reviews and critiques T. W. Moore's position on the role of educational philosophers and his contemporary model of educational theory. Argues that contemporary educational philosophers should bring their special resources to bear on educational questions. Describes how students can be initiated into the contemporary philosophy of education. (WL)

The History Group of the Association for the Study of Higher Education (ASHE) meets annually, solicits papers, and publishes a newsletter. ASHE also offers a Dissertation of the Year Award. The History of Education Society has two awards for outstanding research and publication by graduate students and professionals. (MSE)