The use of quality circles in three undergraduate courses in general chemistry at Penn State is described. A key ingredient to the success of a quality circle is that the instructor must be willing to consider student opinions as valid and be willing to make adjustments. (MLW)

Some of the students in Southern Illinois University's introductory zoology course were deficient in certain skills. The design of self-instructional modules that would be educationally sound and help overcome some problems encountered in this course is discussed. (MLW)

Self-assessments--voluntary, take-home, self-scoring, self-evaluating diagnostic tests in basic skills--tell new students if they are academically prepared to begin course work at the postsecondary level or if they need remediation. The development and use of self-diagnostic tools at Waukesha County Technical Institute is discussed. (MLW)

A single-class method to help students clarify their thinking so they can identify quality work is presented. Unless students are familar with the criteria being applied to their work, their assignment work is unlikely to show improvement. (MLW)

Colleges and universities must reconsider the value placed on academic integrity and how they communicate and share these values and expectations with students. Consistent and ongoing opportunities for discussing the policies and procedures with students must be developed. (MLW)

The rationale for using simulations is that the student takes an active role in learning. By being active participants, they gain insight into the reality the simulation model presents. (MLW)

The effectiveness of one remedial mathematics technique is examined. Results indicated that students who passed remedial math and then took college algebra had significantly higher final algebra grades than did undergraduates who failed remedial math. (MLW)

People possess social characteristics that determine the type of interactive contexts they fabricate with others. The analysis of college background (two-year vs. four-year institution) as a differentiating characteristic in task performance was examined. (MLW)

A discussion of the development of a team-taught course on World War II focuses on the students' reception of various aspects of course content, especially moral values and psychological dimensions, and the use of war-related poetry and prose in the syllabus. (MSE)

Academic freedom has been denied to religion professors wishing to broach controversial issues in the college classroom. The American Association of University Professors' 1940 statement perpetuates that discrimination and should be repudiated. (MSE)

A survey of graduate social work schools in the United States and Canada regarding the use of peer review for tenure and promotion purposes and the specific methods and criteria used is reported, and implications for other areas of professional education are discussed. (MSE)

Research on the validity of student rating scales of teacher performance is inconsistent, and the issue of why the scales are used needs examination. Until their criterion validity is raised to correlations of .7 to .8 or construct validity can be established, results should not be used in making tenure decisions. (MSE)

Suggestions for improving the design and use of student evaluation forms include tailoring the forms to the class needs and format, wording statements carefully, training students to evaluate performance, allowing ample time for completion, handling the evaluation procedure without involvement of the professor, and eliminating student anonymity.…

Because of cultural conflicts and policy or procedural barriers for Hispanic women pursuing higher education, the academic advising function is important. Advisers' understanding of the Hispanic culture and values, awareness of barriers created by color and language, and information about available support services will increase Hispanic women's…

A program allowing students to retest at a scheduled time during the course to raise a grade, by taking a variation on an original test, is described, and its advantages and disadvantages are outlined. Suggestions are given for making the technique more successful. (MSE)