Discusses the use of student-based focus groups as one component of university course evaluations. Steps in planning and conducting focus groups are detailed and applied to the evaluation of a freshman-level general health course. Finds that participants wanted to retain the health content but add more of a teaching emphasis to the course.…

Presents results from two separate studies, which focused on proteges' reports of ways in which mentoring was usually arranged--as well as typical mentor roles and mentor-protege activities. Mentors were often described as "career guides" or "information resources," and the greatest percentage of mentor-protege activities belonged to an…

Seeks to identify and reach consensus on criteria that can be used to assess and evaluate faculty sabbaticals. Using a sample of senior academic affairs administrators, 16 assessment criteria were identified, with recommendations made for further research and current practice. The measures included: increased scholarly output, new research…

Surveys New Hampshire faculty regarding their perceptions of the importance of and satisfaction with faculty development activities specific to pedagogy. Findings suggest possibly low general faculty priority for pedagogy, greater interest in teaching improvement by younger and mid-career faculty, differing views from faculty and administrators,…

Describes Kean University's new faculty mentoring program. Delineates a four-component model: new faculty are assigned to a qualified mentor, protege-mentor pairs are required to have regular developmental meetings, mentors and mentees must observe the other's class, and the mentors and mentees participate in a group dialogue. Provides…

Provides a framework for developing a workshop or instructional unit using written scenarios to stimulate the discussion of ethical issues related to teaching and learning in higher education. Presents the qualities of a good scenario, along with a description of a sample instruction session that includes introductory material to provide context…

Although regents and administrators may be well versed in student outcomes assessment, many faculty members remain unaware--or skeptical at best--of this recent change. Document offers a review of assessment's brief history and presents one department's attempts to involve faculty in all stages of the assessment process. Contains 12 references,…

Identifies (1) which community college journals have gone out of business since 1984; (2) which new journals have been launched since 1984; and (3) the current names of journals that, since 1984, have changed their names. Provides contact information for eighteen journals still in business. (PGS)

Many faculty enter academia without any formal preparation in pedagogy. This study describes perceptions of ten university professors, from a variety of ranks and disciplines, as they reflect on their development as teachers and the faculty and instructional development services that enabled their development. (Contains 24 reference.) (PGS)

Surveys of all online students at the University of Central Florida during summer 1997 and spring 1998 provided 381 useable survey instruments assessing learner reactive behavior patterns with the Long-Dziuban Reactive Behavior Protocol. Results indicated that students in online courses tended not to be the independent learners. (PGS)

Influenced by inflammatory press attention, the American public has increasingly exhibited "sticker shock" over the rising cost of attending college. Asserts that although public concern has prompted corresponding government inquiry, a comprehensive examination of the nature and causes of these higher costs and the action needed by higher…

Presents information to help clarify and show some of the consequences of the financial determinants of public university revenue patterns and expectations. Analyzes how recent fiscal trends have reshaped the higher education marketplace, forcing many public universities into an ever-increasing expenditure race premised upon tuition revenue…

Compares tuition and financial aid sensitivity of first-time college enrollees with that of continuing college students. Analyzes differences in price and financial aid responsiveness among students from different races. Finds that for most racial groups and in most levels of public institutions, tuition price responsiveness is greater for…

States that tutition and mandatory fees at Connecticut's public institutions of higher education have increased dramatically over the last 10 years, especially during the early 1990s. Documents these trends in more detail, examines some of the key reasons for these increases from a state coordinating board perspective, and speaks to recent…

Considers the dilemma of higher priced college attendance from the viewpoint of private institutions. Identifies and discusses factors currently driving increase in tuition costs and also factors likely to influence relative cost in the next ten years. This discussion includes both increasing and decreasing cost factors. (VWC)