A sample of letters of recommendation regarding job applicants or staff members in view of promotions were rated independently by senior professors showing a tendency on the part of most judges to disagree with regard to the value of the letters. Relationships between letters and type and quality of university were also examined. (JT)

An examination of the rewards to full-time, male faculty at American universities in two fields, economics and education, showed that publishers are more highly rewarded than their unpublished colleagues, economists receiving more than those in education. Outstanding teaching is apparently not rewarded but public service and administrative skills…

To examine factors that might bias student ratings of instruction, a study investigated sex bias by determining whether male or female students give higher ratings to the same male or female instructors. Data suggest that biasing sex interactions do not typically occur but may occur in particular situations. (Editor/JT)

Explains and describes the interstate barriers resulting from state tuition, financial aid, and admissions policies and analyzes courses open to states following a 1973 Supreme Court case and 18-year-old adulthood. The author recommends federal legislation to protect national interests in travel and in quality, low-tuition education. (Editor/JT)

A study of decision processes in 10 small- to medium-sized colleges examined academic program review, faculty performance evaluation and budgeting, and the use of information and analytical data. A resultant description of college decision-making and information systems and hypotheses for future research are included. (JT)

An analysis of the determinants of salary structures in American universities, based on data from a national survey, reveals higher salaries for those who publish than those who don't, lower salaries for those teaching than for researchers or administrators, and substantial variation in salaries in various fields. (JT)

Desired characteristics of the academic process are discussed, including assessment of fundamental values and assumptions, clarification of short-range objectives, the importance of data collection, the determination of institutional priorities and strategies for implementation, and the value of a continuous and open planning process. (Editor/JT)

Analyzes the higher education lobby conceptual framework (based on constituent interests) and political framework (based on lobby resources and interorganizational relationships) concluding that while the interest groups have unique characteristics, the associations reflect the decentralized, fragmented, and nonideological character of the…

Comments submitted by organizations and individuals to the Department of Health, Education and Welfare on the proposed regulations to implement Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 revealed that groups representing women, teachers, students, and civil rights commissions substantially differ on sex discrimination issues from education…

Reviews recent empirical evidence on the impact of price changes on individual demand for higher education. The evidence suggests that both low tuition and student grants do stimulate increases in enrollment. However, the student aid induced enrollment response is relatively low and the cost peradditional student may be very high. (Editor/JT)

A 5-step methodology is presented for developing a teaching effectiveness rating instrument: (1) development of an item pool, (2) screening of the item pool, (3) survey assessment of the screened items for importance and for student ability to rate, (4) response analysis, (5) development of the evaluation instrument options. (Editor/JT)

The successful development and use of questionnaires for teacher and administrator evaluation at Texas Christian University are summarized. Sections contain description of the evaluation program (questionnaire development and political considerations), the validation procedure (purposes and administration, analysis of results), refinement of…

A variety of findings are reviewed that make questionable the validity of using student ratings of instructional effectiveness in making personnel decisions. Comparability of student ratings and sources of invalidity are discussed, and a proposal is made for the use of student rating data by individual teachers in an instructional improvement…

Three dimensions for faculty development are proposed: the professional, which embodies critical conceptual questions; the curricular, including improvement of instruction and designs for learning; and the institutional, a set of new demands on higher education. Based on these, a set of principles for planning and a matrix for programming are…

The author suggests that workshops, evaluation procedures, and institutional policies regarding instructional development should differ according to whether an institution's prevailing attitudes are oriented to consciousness-raising (Stage 1), focal awareness (Stage 2), or subsidiary awareness (Stage 3). Suggestions are made as to which programs…