In this discussion paper, I seek to understand the complex interaction between notions of "professionalism" and gendered identity constructions against the backdrop of increased state regulation and demands for performativity in the early years. I seek to explore the ways in which "teacher professionalism" is constructed by…

Reviews the role of accreditation in American higher education and shortcomings related to its inconsistency and lack of rigor. Discusses the 1996 creation of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) to oversee accreditation activities. Describes CHEA's organizational structure and analyzes its impact on accreditation and educational…

The author takes a critical look at the development, organization, personnel, and objectives of the Assessment of Performance Unit of England's Department of Education and Science. (SJL)

Britain's Parliament and Secretary of State are criticized for reducing both the Secretary's accountability to Parliament and Parliament's sources of information about postsecondary education with the recent abolishment of a government agency and a required annual report. (MSE)

Describes the system of external institutional evaluation in Netherlands universities, distinguishing between the organizations conducting the assessment itself and the follow-up. The primary assessing organization is a private one, funded and governed by the 14 universities, and uses discipline-based assessment teams. The follow-up assessment is…

The system of college and university governance that has created fine institutions is now inadequate. Institutions should consider restructuring their governance systems in ways that clarify authority and accountability. Faculty must commit themselves to responsibility outside their disciplines. Administrators and trustees must make difficult…

The history of the U.S. Office of Education's (OE) relationship with private accrediting agencies is traced. "Criteria for Nationally Recognized Accrediting Agencies and Associations" have been used to determine which accrediting agencies and associations are reliable authorities for identifying the quality of training offered by…

Implications for colleges and universities of a proposed new audit guide for Office of Management and the Budget (OMB) Circular A-110 are considered. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is considering issuance of an audit guide that will outline procedures to be followed to comply with the audit requirement in Circular A-110. With…

A summary of the Inservice Education Program Seminars for State Leaders in Postsecondary Education, sponsored by the Education Commission of the States (ECS) and the State Higher Education Executive Officers Association, is presented. Themes that occurred in the discussions, recommendations of an American Institutes for Research (AIR) report…

The author was employed as an inspector of education in Nigeria from 1973 to 1978, in what was a completely new system of national inspection. His experience as an inspector has given him a long term interest in educational administration, particularly in relation to the types of school inspection that different countries have in relation to their…

Changes in the coordinating activities of the Australian Universities Commission (AUC) between 1959 and 1970 are discussed, along with events leading to the creation of the Australian Research Grants Committee and the Academic Salaries Tribunal. In addition to reviewing relevant literature and official documents, interviews were conducted with…

Department of Education regulations and initiatives designed to address problems of fraud, abuse, and loan default in federal student aid programs are examined. The scope and intrusiveness of some recent regulations are criticized, and unintended effects are noted, including increased administrative burdens on all institutions. (Author/MSE)

In Fiscal Year 1997, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has an estimated budget of $34.4 billion and is authorized 16,614 full-time-equivalent staff-years. DOL's many programs fall into two major categories: enhancing workers' skills through job training and ensuring worker protection. The DOL's work force development mission is being challenged…

This paper contends that much of the time and money devoted to standardized testing in the United States is misspent. Too many tests are poorly constructed, unreliable, and unevenly administered. Multiple-choice tests cannot measure thinking skills or real problem-solving ability. In addition, many examinations are biased racially, culturally,…

The impact of changing conditions in higher education on state higher or postsecondary education agencies, and the issues facing such boards were examined in a project that also reviewed systems of coordination, governance, and structure. Existing structures were analyzed, especially their strengths and weaknesses in addressing stresses and…