Using the literatures of student personal epistemology and approaches to learning, this article describes one WPA's deliberate pursuit of a deep approach to her learning about reflection. Other WPAs and instructors who have encountered an unexpected gap in their programs' or classes' work with reflection can revise documents and re-tune pedagogy…

In this article, the author illustrates how three campuses have, in their own way, attempted to bring coherence to the student experience and enrich that experience by more closely matching what was promised to what each student actually experiences while enrolled. Fulfilling students' expectations that were purposefully articulated in the mission…

Students in all areas of computing require knowledge of the computing device including software implementation at the machine level. Several courses in computer science curricula address these low-level details such as computer architecture and assembly languages. For such courses, there are advantages to studying real architectures instead of…

Potential students hoping to gauge the quality of courses at Portland State University might be forgiven for feeling confused. On the one hand, the University Studies program, which uses interdisciplinary seminars during the first two years to develop students' core skills, has been widely praised and emulated. The Council for Higher Education…

Annually, ACT provides each state with "The Condition of College & Career Readiness," a report that details the college readiness of students who took the ACT[R] test. This report is a companion to "The Condition of College & Career Readiness." This paper traces the college enrollment, retention, re-enrollment, and…

An overview is provided of the organization, history, governance, finances, programs, and enrollment of the merged area schools in Iowa, a statewide system of 15 public two-year postsecondary educational institutions. The first section describes the state's two-year college system and its legislatively mandated mission. The next section reviews…

This report analyzes the challenges posed to Western Iowa Tech Community College (WITCC) by national, state, and local trends, and offers a plan for institutional improvement and community development. Part I highlights the following issues of concern to the college: the changing nature of the workplace, new providers of postsecondary education,…

Statistical and descriptive information illustrate the opportunities available in Iowa's 15 area schools. They provide general information about the statewide merged area school system, its history, current status, and enrollments for the 1978-1979 school year. Specific data are also given concerning enrollments, admission policies, financial aid,…

Developed in response to the need for a revision of the institutional mission statement and objectives of Western Iowa Tech Community College (WITCC) in order to respond to the changing student population, external economic factors, and local community needs, this report reviews economic and legislative issues affecting the college, describes…

This sourcebook presents composite and individual profiles for the 13 community colleges and 2 vocational schools in the Iowa system of regional two-year institutions. Following a discussion of the history of the system, its current status is reviewed in terms of program offerings full-/part-time programs and adult enrollments. Descriptions of…