Surveyed 187 engineering colleges on composition/rhetoric courses required of engineering students, required and/or elective technical writing courses, and attitudes toward writing/writing instruction. Results from 108 responding institutions indicate that, although administrators support such courses, course implementation does not always reflect…

Describes a computerized partial degree auditing system, MAPP (Monitoring Academic Progress Policy), developed at the University of Florida to monitor students' progress into appropriate majors and apply institutional policy concerning degrees. The system generates letters directing students to advisors when needed. Discusses advantages for…

A study at Cleveland State University (Ohio) compared the effectiveness of conventional mathematics instruction given to 190 students with an alternative course in mathematical reasoning given to 120 students as preparation for a required course in real analysis. Results show the alternative method effective in raising both pass rate and grades in…

Basic components of the Doctor of Arts degree were identified through program descriptions and a dissertation survey, and compared to components suggested in Ernest Boyer's proposed revision of graduate education. Findings suggest that the proposed revisions are already in place in most schools that offer the degree. (Author/MSE)

Many children with disabilities attend Catholic schools, but the resources to serve these children adequately are limited. Teacher assistants are increasingly being used to meet this need by assisting students with disabilities in regular classrooms. The authors maintain that such assistants can be effectively used in Catholic schools for this…

A 1981 report on accounting education in Ontario universities, which was prepared by a study group of the Council of Ontario Universities (COU), is presented. The objective was to advise the COU on the feasibility of establishing a professional school or faculty of accounting in one or more Ontario universities. Attention was directed to the…

There is no one test or approach that is sufficient to serve all the objectives and purposes of assessment within the major. A multidimensional approach combining locally developed procedures such as theses, portfolios, orals, external examiners, with standardized tests is an effective strategy. (Author/MSE)

A review of Oklahoma State higher education institutions' awarding of academic credit for physical education (PE) courses and the state funding of such courses evaluated current practice and policy and made recommendations for change. The review examined the use of such courses as they relate to graduation requirements, national standards for…

The genesis of Harvard's new Core Curriculum, which resulted in major changes in the university's general education program in the 1970s, is presented in a candid account. The narrative highlights the contest of conflicting beliefs about the ends and means of undergraduate education, and reveals the strategies employed to resolve conflicts and to…

University of Oklahoma College of Medicine's policies regarding the National Board of Medical Examiners Part I examination affected students' exam performance. The examination was mandatory and a passing score was needed for promotion. A new mandatory review course resulted in higher scores even when the examination was no longer required.…

Student evaluation methods (pass-fail vs. traditional grading) for Britain's honors curriculum are discussed. The British educational tradition concerning the honors degree is outlined, and the rationale for grading is examined. It is recommended that pass-fail grading based on specified learning outcomes be adopted for educational and practical…

Part of a systematic, in-depth assessment of Miami-Dade Community College's (MDCC's) educational programs, student support systems, and selected campus-level activities, this volume of the college's institutional self-study report examines the impact and effectiveness of student information systems and performance standards. This report presents…

Included in this package are: a copy of a learning contract between two students; an abstract fulfilling part of the contract objectives; and six papers on the topic of contract education. The goal of the learning contract was to edit and prepare for publication "Working Papers on Contract Education". The credential awarded for satisfactory…

The Board of Regents (BoR) and State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) selected four external consultants to review and evaluate redesigned graduate programs for educational leaders and teachers. In addition, personnel from the Louisiana Department of Education reviewed all K-12 undergraduate teacher preparation programs and…

Policy memo that provides a brief description of the Associate of Arts/Oregon Transfer degree (AA/OT) program and proposes policy options intended to address current program limitations. Under the direction of Oregon Legislative Assembly, officials from the community college and university sectors developed and implemented a set of general…