Discusses the development, organization, activities, problems, and future of a staff education consortium of five medical center hospitals in Boston. The purposes of the consortium are mutual sharing, reduction in duplication, and cost containment of educational programing. (JOW)

Lists seven requisites for the implementation of community college teleconferencing. Describes the development of a consortium comprised of 15 Iowa community colleges and Iowa State University designed to increase educational program offerings using the community college telenet system. Analyzes results and problems and offers recommendations.…

Describes activities of the Minnesota Educational Computing Consortium (MECC). Created in 1973, MECC provides instructional services, develops computer software, and is actively involved in training educators. Other organizations (institutional members) may pay a fixed fee to obtain annual right to duplicate and/or distribute MECC products to…

A five-college committee on international programs (University of Massachusetts, Amherst College, Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College, Smith College) is described. Most programs keep the cost to the student in the same range as normal tuition, etc. and students are enrolled in the normal courses of their overseas host institutions. (MLW)

Discusses new pricing and payment options for libraries in light of online products. Topics include alternative cost models rather than traditional subscriptions; use-based pricing; changes in scholarly communication due to information technology; methods to determine appropriate charges for different organizations; consortial plans; funding; and…

Discusses how higher education institutions are an essential part of workforce development and are increasingly designing programs to meet the demands of constantly changing economic conditions. Explores such higher education initiatives in New Hampshire and how consortia can play an important role as facilitators and conveners. (EV)

Describes technology partnerships developed by the consortium Associated Colleges of the South, designed to develop technology skills among its members' faculty. Discusses lessons learned by the consortium regarding the process of developing and overseeing technology partnerships. (EV)

Describes the Virginia Tidewater Consortium for Higher Education, a consortium of 15 colleges and universities located in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia, which has operated its own cable television channel for the past 21 years. The channel serves the educational needs of the community and allows strategic alliances with other agencies. (EV)

Networks, consortia, and coalitions among school districts are cost-effective means to provide staff development, improve instruction, and develop curriculum. This article summarizes results of two studies in Oregon that focused on cross-organizational collaboration for school improvement. Guidelines are provided for organizations and individuals…

Discusses the development of successful pricing algorithms for cooperative library automation projects. Highlights include desirable characteristics of pricing measures, including simplicity and the ability to allow for system growth; problems with transaction-based systems; and a review of the pricing strategies of seven library consortia.…

The Learning Consortium provides the conditions for consortium partners to construct a more meaningful approach to instructional change through building on individual accomplishments, creating a broader view of the educational picture, sharing and interacting with wider audiences, and refocusing on the future. This article applies these conditions…

Examines the role of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in the development of the National Information Infrastructure (NII). Highlights include the standards process; voluntary standards; Open Systems Interconnection problems; Internet Protocol Suite; consortia; government's role; and network security. (16 references) (LRW)

Describes the Central New York Education Consortium's efforts to develop university-school district partnerships and devise a positive approach to ethical instruction. The group identified essential "schools of character" aspects, such as clean, orderly environment, constant curriculum evaluation criteria, administrator role modeling,…

Describes the use of mobile labs for training at remote sites. Highlights one, at the St. Louis (Missouri) County Library, that trains librarians on the use of the integrated library system; the other, at the South Central Regional Library Council in Ithaca, New York, provides training in computer applications to consortium members. (LRW)

Looks back at the innovations/tribulations that went into the making of Merit Network, Inc., Michigan's pioneering Internet provider. Today, Merit is serving as the GigaPoP organization for its two current Internet2 members, Michigan State University and University of Michigan, and will provision a vBNS connection for Wayne State University.…