Discusses the influence of the number of liberal arts courses and course stratification upon community college transfer rate, indicating that colleges with below-average liberal arts ratios had disproportionately low transfer rates. Suggests that precollegiate, freshman, and sophomore stratifications, including remedial education programs, in the…

Analyzes the outcomes of a learning assessment approach used at a Midwest community college. Reports that data were obtained from students' scores on prompts and the college's student information management system. Finds that: (1) 76% of prompts were scored at a level that indicated students met general education achievement levels; and (2) 55% of…

Prompted by requirements of the 1990 Perkins Act and a growing dissatisfaction among employers with college graduates' skill levels, many schools have undertaken curricular reform through tech prep and school-to-work, with most of the efforts working toward the integration of academic content into vocational programs. In general, however, tech…

A study was conducted to develop a conceptual framework for tech prep programs based on the perceptions of personnel involved in the planning and implementation of local tech prep programs. A structured conceptualization process called concept mapping was used to develop a pictorial representation of stakeholders' perceptions of tech prep. Using a…

This report presents preliminary statistics on program completions in accredited institutions of higher education in the United States during academic year 1986-87. The tabular summaries presented in the report are based on data collected through the annual survey of completions which is part of the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System.…

This annual report to the Governor of Maryland provides an abbreviated account of the activities of the state's community colleges, including institutional plans and objectives. Section I explains the mission and goals of the State Board for Community Colleges (SBCC) and for the institutions themselves, focusing on missions related to students,…

As the first in a planned longitudinal series, this study examined the academic performance in the initial undergraduate year of a stratified, random sample of 100 students from Vancouver secondary schools who enrolled in September 1976 in a full-time academic program at the Langara Campus of Vancouver Community College (VCC), and measured it…

Teaching in a community college is unique because of the range of student goals, age levels, and backgrounds, which is greater than in most other institutions of higher education. Liberal arts instructors in the community colleges must be able to intelligently digest and rationally order the research of others, not conduct their own research…

Presents the findings of a Center for the Study of Community Colleges study of liberal and non-liberal arts curricula in American community colleges. Displays curricula and enrollments in credit courses broken down by discipline or field of study. Discusses the transferability of non-liberal arts courses. (MAB)

Recounts issues that mandated a review of differing general education requirements in Florida's 28 community colleges, summarizes the review's results, and discusses similarities and differences in requirements throughout the state. Asserts that nonuniform general education curricula ultimately impede student progress toward academic and transfer…

This handbook, which is one in a series of handbooks designed to help tech prep practitioners replicate successful materials, projects, or programs that have been developed by Partnership for Academic and Career Education (PACE) consortium members, explains the process of integrating a tech prep curriculum. The introduction briefly describes the…

This publication contains materials for three courses in Applied Physics in the Applied Academics program at South Seattle Community College. It begins with the article, "Community College Applied Academics: The State of the Art?" (George B. Neff), which describes the characteristics, model, courses, and coordination activity that make…

This tip sheet provides information on key educational reform issues and advises education writers on covering vocational education. Part one, Key Educational Reform Issues Areas, addresses three issues: integrating academic and vocational education, tech prep, and performance standards and measures. Eight integration models are described:…

Although development and implementation of tech prep education programs have been in progress since the Carl D. Perkins Act Amendments of 1990, several misconceptions about tech prep still exist. One such myth is that tech prep is an integration of academic and vocational education. In truth, although integration of academic and vocational…

With increased global competition, it is imperative that secondary school programs be reformed so as to be able to turn out productive workers having basic skills in reading, writing, and mathematics and the ability to solve problems and learn new information. One proposed reform, tech prep, can be defined as a technical education alternative to…