This chapter describes a new conceptual framework that informs research on factors influencing transfer in STEM fields of study from 2-year to 4-year institutions, presents a new survey instrument based on the framework, and offers directions for future research in this area.

Institutional autopsies can teach much about why learning centers fail the test of time. St. Augustine Junior College in north Florida, the brainchild of Dr. George Apel, was begun in 1942 and ended seven years later in 1949. The purposes of the short-lived college are identified for discussion in this paper. Also identified are the reasons for…

Part-time faculty members at community colleges are customarily understood from an institutional perspective that is based on traditional conceptions of the community college as a component of a tiered educational system. This conception places the community college in the role of either a junior college or a training school. However, the…

This document presents key institutional facts and figures for the 2001-2002 academic year. Information outlined in the report includes: (1) fall enrollment history from 1977-2001; (2) student characteristics; (3) full-time and part-time enrollments; (4) demographic data on incoming students; (5) enrollment by program of study; (6) degrees and…

Discusses the historical development of community impact studies and explains the purpose, planning, and methodology of these studies. Describes Eastfield College's community impact assessment process and the use of the findings. Lists the goals which had been met according to survey respondents and mentions the benefits gained from the study. (DD)

Describes the six steps used in a modified Delphi technique to establish research needs and priorities: identification of needs, collection of rankings of needs, calculation of rank by an importance/consensus method, feedback to administrators, planning actions, and reporting developed plans. (MB)

Describes an institutional research office's establishment of an outcomes-oriented self-assessment model rooted in the college's mission and goals. Reports that the framework enables institutional research departments to evaluate their effectiveness, and more importantly, to use the results of self-assessment to plan future activities, thereby…

There are a variety of ways in which the two-year or community college can be distinguished from other institutions of higher education. These differences affect the ways in which evaluation is implemented at the two-year college. One difference relates to the mission of the community college. The community college's open-door policy changes the…

A long-range planning committee was established in fall 1980 at William Rainey Harper College (WRHC) to coordinate planning efforts and develop specific projects and long-range plans for the college. After 11 meetings, during which past institutional goals were considered and various institutional reports were reviewed, two long-range goals were…

This report outlines the work and results of an Educational Assessment Task Force at Mount Hood Community College (Oregon) that was charged with improving institutional planning, strengthening programs and services, and meeting external accountability demands. The task force addressed both institutional effectiveness (the annual assessment of…

In January 1997 the Institutional Research Council of the Connecticut Community-Technical Colleges was charged with developing a model for measuring system performance of the colleges. This document reflects Phase I of the process. Effective institutional research (IR) looks at resources, processes, and outputs for learners, programs, the…

Describes the reporting system implemented by Mercer County Community College (New Jersey) to account for the costs of responding to external requests for information. Outlines the procedures for assigning priority to data requests, filling the requests, and reporting costs. Provides samples of forms. (JP)

Describes a method of evaluation which ensures maximum yield. Mentions common pitfalls in evaluation procedures and proposes Reality-Based Evaluation (RBE) as a safeguard against them. Outlines RBE and concludes that evaluation results must play an active role in bringing about change. (JG)

One promising avenue for increasing the utilization of institutional research data is the informal action research model. While formal action research stresses the involvement of researchers throughout the decision-making process, the informal model stresses participation in the later stages of decision making. Informal action research requires…

An analysis is provided of institutional research conducted by community colleges in an effort to draw conclusions about appropriate standards for different types of studies. The paper focuses on four categories of research: (1) research conducted to fulfill external reporting requirements and to influence policy at state and federal levels; (2)…