Finds that Holland's Self-Directed Search--Form E was a feasible method of vocational assessment for 25 rural, learning disabled, secondary students when individual assistance was provided on request. Presents scores on six occupational environments and corresponding personality types, and relationships to students' reading level and measured…

Compares perceptions of 12 students working toward dual certification in elementary education and rural special education and 120 students with traditional education majors. Finds that dual certification students had the most positive attitudes toward rural teaching and living, but held unrealistically high opinions of own competencies. Contains…

Examines the informal administrative career path leading from the rural school district to "big league" urban and suburban areas. Reviews research emphasizing the importance of the superintendent in effective rural districts. Suggests a subsidized preparation program specifically for rural administrator candidates, involving an intensive rural…

Reports on the education provided by three rural Australian central schools, as perceived by their administrators, teachers, students, and parents. Emphasizes the importance of the central school as a community focal point, the benefits of small class size, and the desire for a broader curriculum. Contains 10 references. (SV)

This review of research at Athabasca University provides a short description of the university and highlights such projects as the success and retention program, instructional quality index for distance education materials, information technology planning, and the alternative tutoring project. (SK)

The author considers the concept of access to education as it relates to distance education. He suggests components of a research agenda centering on the politics of access to education. (CH)

The authors present reports of current research on distance education at the FernUniversitat in West Germany. Fritsch discusses adapting distance education techniques for small classes. Kuffner describes procedures for providing feedback to students using personalized computer-generated letters. Klute discusses using a computer with tutorial…

Thirty-one studies in which students and faculty specified the instructional characteristics they considered particularly important to good teaching and effective instruction were analyzed for commonalities. Results were compared with those of an earlier study of student ratings. (Author/MSE)

A study of the contribution of institutional characteristics to the National Academy of Sciences' reputational ratings of faculty found that program characteristics do influence ratings, but an "institutional halo" effect also exists, indicating that faculty reputations and program quality are more complex phenomena than implied by…

A study of the publishing patterns of 512 economics Ph.D.'s found that 34 percent have published in economics journals. Those with dissertations in general economics published more than others, and graduates of the top 20 economics schools published 20 percent more than others. (Author/MSE)

A study of nine four-year public colleges found that organizational climate is a relevant factor at the organizational level in distinguishing campuses from one another, but subunits account for the greatest variation. Administrators have more positive perceptions of organizational climate than faculty, and faculty attitudes are affected by…

A Michigan study to project enrollments systemwide, based on calculations of participation rates and credit hour loads of 66 student subgroups defined by age, gender, and degree level, applied 1985 figures to cohort population projections to assess the impact of an aging population on enrollments in 1990, 1995, and 2000. (MSE)

The complexity of Seattle University's decision to replace three separate computerized student information systems with one integrated system was managed with a multicriteria method for evaluating alternatives. The method both managed a large amount of information and reduced people's resistance to change. (MSE)

Effects of rating scale format and rater training on leniency and halo in student ratings of instruction were investigated. Subjects were students in a graduate theological seminary. The findings demonstrate the importance of focusing efforts to improve quality of ratings on the students rather than on the format of the instrument. (Author/MSE)

In response to a trend in which library services are made available to individuals and groups normally without access to them, direct and indirect costs for various units within a library are reviewed to provide a generic format for deriving those costs and establishing user fees. Precautions are also discussed. (MSE)