The Ohio Urban University Program, a consortium of eight universities, is a collaborative program of research, training, planning, database development, and technical assistance serving Ohio's major metropolitan areas. It has developed an evaluation system to assess the effectiveness of and help improve its outreach services. The system's…

The University of Missouri-St. Louis has discovered the value of continuous quality improvement methods in upgrading its core student-related administrative processes. As a result, it is increasing efficiency and personalizing a traditionally bureaucratic system of student service. Concurrent goals are to increase retention and decrease time to…

This article describes some of the innovations occurring in higher education that are designed to help students develop a deeper understanding of cultural differences as well as the skills needed to live and work in a diverse world. Examples of curricular, cocurricular, and partnership initiatives are provided. (Author/PW)

Describes the Developing Scholars Mentor Program in the College of Education at the University of North Texas, designed to build relationships between undergraduate student researchers and faculty mentors. (EV)

Describes the partnerships developed by Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis with public schools and community organizations to improve urban student performance through teacher education and full-service schools (schools that offer a wrap-around of services to eliminate or minimize socioeconomic or health-related barriers to…

The honors program at the University of Texas at San Antonio serves an ethnically diverse, often underprepared, and commuter student population with special courses and support. The program's success to date illustrates the importance of strong support and effective leadership at all levels within the institution. (Author/MSE)

Explores how Columbia College Chicago, an "Implementing Urban Missions" grantee, approached the implementation of its urban mission, and how other universities might also play the role of facilitators while being inclusive, trustworthy, and respectful to community partners. (EV)

Genuine artistic activity in any medium provides a lens through which to examine the world as well as to express a reaction to it. Opening a wide variety of subjects to artistic explorations also opens the door of learning, specially to students with varied levels of ability. It was with these thoughts in mind that the two authors met to revise a…

Perspectives on the female, minority administrator at a predominantly white university are presented. After briefly tracing historical developments affecting minority females in education and administration, results of a 1974 study by Moore and Wagstaff of 1,764 four-year colleges are summarized. It was found that most black female administrators…

Metropolitan university fund-raising efforts that are clearly related to the institution's mission, strategic plans, and a coherent image of the university are most likely to succeed. These institutions must build on their unique strengths and develop strong relationships with individuals, foundations, and corporation in the local community.…

Describes the University of Illinois at Chicago's Neighborhoods Initiative, a partnership with a community-based development corporation designed to strengthen life in two local neighborhoods. Objectives include university/community agency partnerships, development of community organizational capacity to address future needs, institutional changes…

Wright College, part of a seven-college Chicago (Illinois) district, has a strong transfer program central to its institutional identity, and because of its role in the multicampus system, its faculty and administrative commitment to the transfer function, and its student needs and preferences. The college's historical role and reputation as a…

Threatened with closure or reduction to community college status due to severe retrenchment, the University of the District of Columbia is working hard to repair morale, raise funds, and regroup to open with more strength in the fall. The university's interim president feels the institution would have had a better chance if its administration had…

Describes how Lesley University's School of Management, an "Implementing Urban Missions" grantee, developed partnerships with the local business community and community-based organizations to support the Area 4 neighborhood in Cambridge, Massachusetts. (EV)

The "raison d'etre" for traditional schools of education has radically shifted in recent years. Research demonstrates that schools have been remarkably unsuccessful at reducing the unacceptable achievement gap between black and Latino students, on the one hand, and white students, on the other, and some have laid the blame at the feet of…