In the fall of 1992, Mesa Community College (MCC), in Phoenix, Arizona, established the Center for Public Policy and Service to promote community service and active participation in the social and political process as integral parts of a community college education. Through the Center, students are provided with educational opportunities in…

This paper addresses the shortage of physicians providing medical services to rural communities in Queensland, Australia. Queensland is the fastest growing Australian state, but it has the lowest ratio of total doctors to population. Data indicate there may be twice as many patients per rural doctor compared with the city, which represents a…

This paper analyzes principles of knowledge diffusion and provides a framework for applying new ideas or innovations, particularly in relation to rural community development. As new knowledge is created or old knowledge is found to have new applications, the art of spreading knowledge and managing innovation has become more crucial in both urban…

As part of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools self-study process for reaffirmation of accreditation, Gainesville College (GC) conducted its second decennial needs assessment survey in fall 1990 to obtain data to assist in college planning and program improvement. Separate survey instruments were developed to gather data from…

This report discusses findings from a review of a plan of the South African KwaMashu Christian Care Society (KMCCS) for introducing an educare program in which active older women give in-service training to grandmothers and other childminders who look after preschool children at home. Before launching the proposed program, a KMCCS committee…

In April 1992, a study was conducted to evaluate the roles, effectiveness, and perceived support of the Pima Community College Board of Governors. Questionnaires were completed by board members, administrators, faculty, staff, students, and selected community members, resulting in an overall response rate of 27% (n=326). Low response rates were…

Spurred by sagging retail trade and the need for future planning, the Fort Madison (Iowa) Chamber of Commerce initiated a community survey to determine attitudes of residents towards various community characteristics. A 7-section questionnaire was distributed to a random sample of 411 area households, of which 268 or 72.2% responded. Over 75% of…

The Bagby, Oklahoma, Human Resources Center was conceived in the mid-1970s as a model of community education and unified services. It was built with federal grant money to serve as a middle school, library, human services office, and meeting space for Bagby, a growing town of about 5,000. As envisioned, it was to serve all parts of the population,…

In 1990, a needs assessment survey was conducted of residents of San Luis Obispo County to gather information regarding community members' experiences with Cuesta College (CC), opinions about what CC should be doing, assessment of how good a job the college is doing, and obstacles preventing people from attending CC. Study findings, based on…

Materials on a variety of subjects related to school desegregation are collected in this book. Chapter 1 discusses assumptions about the overall consequences of desegregation. Chapters 2 to 5 synthesize the findings of existing research on the consequences of school desegregation for children and communities. Finally, Chapter 6 describes…

A review of the community-controlled school on the Jackhead Indian Reserve evaluated the existing educational program for preschool through grade nine and set guidelines for the community to follow in improving the school. The study found not one of the 82 students achieving at grade level; 80% average attendance; 47% of the students had failed…

The phenomenon of negative geography--the assertion that any location is better than the one selected--is discussed and ways in which this approach differs from traditional geography methodology are analyzed. Case studies of two citizens' groups which protested the relocation of a city mission and halfway house in their neighborhoods illustrate…

A survey of public concerns about the state of children, child care systems, and the need for political action was conducted with a sample of 2,009 parents with young children and 2,041 without young children. Findings indicated that most Americans believe children in the U.S. are neglected and that the situation has grown worse. Americans are…

This document reports on the resettlement of Hmong refugees in Fresno County, California: what their employment experience has been, which resettlement efforts have been successful, and how current resettlement efforts could be altered to improve the Hmong's long-tern adjustment. Much of the data was gathered through personal interviews with Hmong…

This document reports on the resettlement of Hmong Refugees in Portland, Oregon: what their employment experiences have been, which resettlement efforts have been successful, and how current resettlement efforts could be altered to improve the Hmong's long-term adjustment. The report is part of a larger, national project on Hmong resettlement.…