One of the most significant distance education developments within the Pacific region in recent years has been the diminishing quality and increasing inequality created by ad hoc competition. Four views of quality are relevant: (1) quality has no existence as an absolute, it is inseparable from context, always relative; (2) indicators for quality…

This case study examines the impacts of South Plains College (SPC) (Levelland, Texas) on the local rural economy of Hockley County in which it is situated, as well as on the economy of neighboring, more metropolitan Lubbock County. The study addressed both business volume and employment impacts. Direct business volume impact was derived from four…

This book traces the history of Regina College (Saskatchewan, Canada) from its founding in 1911 to the outbreak of World War II in 1939. The Methodist Church opened the college to offer academic, music, and business training to youth living in surrounding rural areas. During its early history, the college provided a high school education to youth…

Despite frequent criticisms of small schools, evidence collected over the last decade indicates that smaller English primary schools offer a curriculum and maintain standards compatible with those offered by larger institutions. In recent years, informal clustering arrangements have enabled small schools to increase the range of subjects offered,…

A systematic understanding of how various behavioral components (vision, articulation skills, empowerment, unconventionality, and risk-taking) work together to set apart certain individuals as charismatic leaders is presented. Using illustrations from the careers of charismatic leaders, including Steve Jobs, Lee Iacocca, Mary Kay, John DeLorean,…

An analysis of the problems facing leaders in higher education or other organizational settings as well as insights on effective leadership is presented. The 23 chapters are organized in four parts. Part 1, "The Unconscious Conspiracy and How to Confound It," suggests the presence of such a conspiracy involving the entrenched bureaucracy and…

A systems model, developed by David Easton, is used to provide some clarity to many of the issues involved with collective bargaining in American higher education. The model serves as an illustration for understanding how decisions are made, and as a conceptual frame of reference to analyze the political situation. The issues surrounding…

An overview is provided of the 29-month (February 1934 to June 1936) history of Maryland's first public junior college, the Forest Park Junior College Center (FPJCC). First, the paper describes two previous attempts to establish a public junior college in Maryland, explaining how mayoral opposition blocked both efforts. The next section of the…

Faculty replacement needs for the next 15 years are projected at a multi-institutional level within the context of a simulated attrition model. Study participants are members of the Higher Education Data Sharing Consortium. The first study phase consisted of summary data from 60 institutions on mean age, standard deviation, and median age of…

The role of the college/university president in institutional advancement was examined in a national study. There were interviews with nine presidents and surveys done by 27 chief executive officers. Five areas of investigation are: demographic characteristics of institutional advancement programs; how presidents perceive their role in…

Points out that the Challenger tragedy compromised NASA's status as a legitimate institution. Evaluates actions taken to repair legitimacy--open hearings of the Rogers Commission, scapegoating of executives, and limiting performance goals. Suggests that NASA's long-term legitimacy will require new and dramatic performance goals. (NKA)

Thrasher School is a K-12 unit school in Prentiss County, Mississippi, that has survived and flourished in an economically disadvantaged area because of its close community connections. The K-12 school enrolls 482 students, of which 144 attend grades 9-12. The community has vigorously resisted high school consolidation, financing reconstruction of…

Students, their families, and the public want better service from higher education institutions. Some institutions may have to revamp various operations to improve substantially. Key to re-engineering is the president's ability to communicate the need to improve the institution's competitive position and performance. Enrollment retention levels…

Emergence of global communications networks raises questions about the nature of pluralism, community, delivery of education, construction of knowledge, and role of comparative educators in a postindustrial world. Ownership, access, and definition and distribution of knowledge will become major policy issues. Networking experiences in telemedicine…

Discusses public policy controversies unique to West Virginia's only historically black land-grant institution, West Virginia State College, and describes the mission and history of the school in detail. Efforts to regain its historically black status in spite of the present majority-white student enrollment are outlined. (SLD)