Presents a study in which participants of the Virtual Geography Department (VGD) at the University of Texas (Austin) were interviewed in order to learn about the effects the VGD had on their educational practice. Demonstrates that the VGD inspires innovative practice in geography by training faculty members in online instruction. (CMK)

Discusses the design development, and use of a multimedia classroom for the instruction of undergraduate courses in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) at the University of Waterloo (Ontario, Canada). Addresses issues involved in using multimedia technologies for GIS instruction, outlining how the room is used for live computer-based…

Examines the outcomes of a two-year trial of computer-mediated conferencing (CMC) conducted at a British university during the final-year undergraduate course in glacial and periglacial geomorphology. Discusses the issues related to CMC and describes the experience over the last two years of using CMC conferencing. (CMK)

Explains the reasons for the British Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education's benchmark statements providing a background on the benchmarks and a discussion on the preparation of the benchmarks. Introduces the articles within the symposium called the "Benchmark Standards for Higher Education." (CMK)

Provides a copy of the British benchmark statements for geography in higher education by the Quality Assurance Agency. Includes the introduction, aims of an honors program, knowledge and understanding, student skills, abilities and attributes, processes and contexts of learning, assessment, standards and levels of achievement, and the conclusion.…

Reviews the benchmark statements of the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education in the United Kingdom. States that overall the statement gives a positive view of the geography discipline and can be regarded as a constructive exercise worthy of adoption. Discusses two challenges that emerged. (CMK)

Focuses on the benchmark statements of the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education in the United Kingdom. Addresses the document "Geography for Life: The National Geography Standards" created within the United States. Believes that the benchmark statement is useful for geographers within the United States. (CMK)

Reviews the benchmark statements of the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education in the United Kingdom. Examines the various sections within the benchmark. States that in terms of emphasizing the positive attributes of the geography discipline the statements have wide utility and applicability. (CMK)

Describes a series of eight guides, "Key Skills in Geography in Higher Education," published by the Geography Discipline Network. States that the series is produced by the United Kingdom Department for Education and Employment's "Key Skills in Higher Education" development fund. (CMK)

Explores key issues related to raising funds for doing overseas fieldwork and addresses where to locate money for fieldwork, such as grant-giving organizations, charitable trusts, the general public, and personal contributions. Includes a list of resources and addresses. (CMK)

The general character of Jaspers' idea of the university is outlined, and some basic objections to that view are examined. Throughout the paper an attempt is made to establish the relevance of Jaspers' work to current university problems. (Author/LBH)

A computer-based model of the Ontario university system is presented that focuses on funding, faculty staffing, and faculty salaries from 1955 to 1995. Events in these areas are analyzed as consequences of interaction between a strongly self-equilibrating social system, the universities, and a massively disequilibrating external force, the…

The effectiveness and ultimate value of the growing number of research institutes in the humanities and social sciences are discussed. Motivations for the establishment, funding and operation problems, and geographic locations are reviewed. Examples are given of different objectives and functions of various kinds of institutes, their…

Considerations for establishing purposes of evaluation are described in view of controversies that focus on justification and use of ratings of instructors as well as attempts to meet demands and ward off pressures for accountability. General models are proposed to serve as guidelines for further development and specification of purposes.…

This bibliography of approximately 115 items follows the one published in "The Canadian Journal of Higher Education," v6 n1, 1976. The following categories are included: history and organization; current trends and problems; curriculum and teaching; research and scholarship; libraries; the professor and conditions of work; the student and student…