Results of a two-year study of the cost effectiveness of cooperative programs operated by voluntary consortia of colleges and universities are reported. The findings are demonstrated in such a way that the potential benefits of such programs can be more widely understood. Six consortia were studied, including a consortium of three Catholic liberal…

This report describes a project designed to (1) develop models for use of vocational education data available from the Oregon Management Information System (MIS) to implement decision making at key points in program planning and curriculum development, and (2) design, develop, and test a system to improve the competencies of state and local…

The particular advantages and opportunities of the urban-based consortium are examined by several consortia directors in a special issue of this newsletter. The first article, by Joseph G. K. Miller of the Pittsburgh Council on Higher Education, suggests ways in which trustees enhance the cooperative effort in an urban setting. In the second…

Materials produced under this project, undertaken for the Child Development Associate (CDA) Consortium, reflect two purposes: (1) to identify specific skills and behaviors needed by teachers working with preschool Mexican-American children and (2) to develop an assessment process to evaluate the identified competencies, skills, and behaviors.…

This book presents the site master plan for the Auraria Higher Education Center, which is dedicated to the offering of an urban-oriented program in higher education and is made up of three institutions -- the Denver Center of the University of Colorado, Metropolitan State College, and the Community College of Denver located on a single site in the…

A survey was conducted among alumni of Asheville-Bancombe Technical Institute. Questionnaires were mailed to approximately 941 alumni, and 691 or 73 percent were returned. Questions dealt with: (1) personal background information; (2) graduates' experiences with employment, military service, and post-two-year college work; (3) graduates'…

Recognizing that today's graduate student is tomorrow's professor, some institutions have begun working to convince minority-group members that faculty careers will be prestigious, rewarding, and available. Their efforts center on increased financial support in the form of graduate and postdoctoral fellowships. (MLW)

Description of VALNet (Valley Library Consortium), a consortium of public, academic, and school libraries in Idaho, highlights proposed online public access union catalog which would include nonbibliographic and referral files and circulation and serials control modules. The political climate, marketing, needs assessment, support and consultation,…

Enacted as part of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, the E-rate provides discounts to public and private schools, libraries, and consortia on telecommunications services, Internet access, and internal networking. Discounts vary based on the poverty level of the community. The first section of this report presents findings from surveys returned…

Two years ago, the University of Wisconsin system, the state legislature, and a number of businesses combined resources and provided funds to support regional and local projects to develop self-sustaining professional development models. Through a grant from the University of Wisconsin Extension PK-16 Initiative, a regional consortium of…

The Ohio Appalachian Center for Higher Education, a consortium of 10 colleges serving Appalachian Ohio, provides grants to school districts that design innovative projects to encourage students to enroll in college. The area's college-going rate has increased substantially. Approaches used include demystifying the application process, home visits,…

A higher education consortium (HEC) in early intervention (EI) is described. An evaluation of the model found that benefits to faculty of HEC participation included development and implementation of EI coursework, development of interdisciplinary collaborative relationships, increased knowledge of state resources, and enhanced knowledge of EI…

Resource constraints can limit the size of research projects. Dealing with these limitations and reaping the advantages of larger studies through formation of a short-term consortium are discussed and illustrated through a case study of United Way agency members. Problems and advantages of the method are discussed. (SLD)

Describes the North Country Mentor/Intern Teacher Regional Consortium, which provides training and supervision to 11 pairs of mentors and beginning-teacher interns in 4 rural New York school districts through a partnership with the State University of New York at Plattsburgh. Discusses program design, goals, needs assessment, training activities,…

The evolution of the student tracking system at Amarillo College, a Texas community college, is chronicled for three stages: (1) early efforts; (2) participation in the development of a consortium-based longitudinal student tracking project beginning in 1986; and (3) more recent developments. Tools and techniques used at each stage are discussed…