The evaluation criteria from the 1987 National Council for Accrediation of Teacher Education (NCATE) accreditation standards were used as the basis for the design of professional preparation programs. A series of models are shown, which progress from an overview model to eight more specific sub-models. The design is intended to be generic and can…

There have been broad, and effective efforts in recent years to strengthen the humanities; however, there are still many problems, questions, and disagreements--especially in the areas of standards and competencies--to be resolved. Current legislative and board attention to standards provides an impetus for a serious review of current practices to…

Various aspects of the development of a computerized matriculation system at Oakton Community College (OCC) are described in this collection of reports and papers. First, John P. Donahue provides background information on the system, focusing on the personnel involved in designing the system and offering observations about the development of a…

During the 1960's and 1970's, basic math programs were established at many two-year colleges after the influx of poorly prepared students, which resulted from a weakening of the exit criteria at the secondary level and of the entrance requirements at the postsecondary level. Though the success of these remedial programs is a matter of debate,…

Strong enrollments in career programs have led many to conclude that occupational training is, and should be, the premier function of a community college--a belief that is supported by the ways in which community colleges are funded. Though strong technical programs are an important part of what urban community colleges offer to their students,…

New York State has embarked on a major effort to enhance the quality of public schooling. All schools must develop curricula ensuring that students meet minimal performance standards and provide remedial programs for those who do not. Because many school districts with low enrollments or low wealth are having difficulty complying with Board of…

When a new administration came to Michigan's Wayne County Community College (WCCC) in 1985, the college evidenced several characteristics of a failing institution: poor media image, continuing budget deficits, declining enrollments, and probationary accrediation status. To address these problems and the demoralization that had accompanied them,…

The Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), as a corporate affiliate of the American Association for Counseling and Development, is the accrediting agency for the world's largest association for counseling. CACREP has been in consultation with the Council on Postsecondary Accreditation (COPA) staff…

The decisions that administrators make touch every facet of the institutional experience and fundamentally affect teaching and learning. Research shows, however, that administrators do not always recognize their influence nor their responsibility for the quality of instruction. A study of one urban community college district revealed an unforeseen…

A discussion is presented of the relationship between community college general education mathematics courses and the technical education curricula they support. Introductory remarks sketch the history and emphasis of community colleges; review President Truman's Commission on Higher Education's recommendations concerning the functions of…

Supports the North Central Association's focus on student outcomes in the accreditation process. Identifies obstacles confronting reform efforts (e.g., the beliefs that learning outcomes should be normally distributed, that education's purpose is to select talent, and that curriculum and instruction are ends in themselves). Discusses strategies…

A discussion of the status of German second language instruction, particularly at the postsecondary level, focuses on the role of standards, curriculum, and testing in increasing interest in and support for foreign language education. A substantial decline in German enrollments in the first half of the 1990s is noted, and possible reasons are…

This model for teacher education programs responds to the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) standards requiring that professional education programs be based on essential knowledge, established and current research findings, and sound professional practice. The NCATE standards mandate that the design, delivery, and…

This paper examines the issue of the loss of less competent children from schools as a result of the emphasis upon academic excellence. Studies are cited indicating that more than 90 percent of all secondary principals feel that their schools are improving; yet, as many as 25 percent of all children in a given sixth-grade class will drop out…

Facing the problem of a wide discrepancy in grading standards for student essays, the English department at a Texas community college developed a standardized method of grading students' expository and persuasive essays. The department established a committee of 10 full-time instructors whose objective was to standardize grading for all required…