According to an evaluation symposium, the David Thompson University Centre (University of Victoria) pilot program in rural education, which includes a 14-week early field experience designed to help education students understand the relationship between rural communities and their schools, is "substantial and outstanding." Faculty, students, field sponsors, and university and provisional education officials meeting to examine the program called for program stabilization beginning in 1983-84 in organization, pedagogy, and experience. Specifically, participants recommended maintaining the programs's size and field experience but improving the faculty balance between field and academic professionals, increasing professional development opportunities, developing long-range backing and funding, and improving public relations. Recognizing the problem of maintaining the quality of graduates during stabilization, participants recommended student preparation for rural living and enhancement of personal and professional skills. They also recommended strengthening the curriculum by developing students' abilities in organization, professional attitudes, and awareness of the characteristics of effective schools, and by instructing students in lesson planning, unit planning for multigraded classrooms, professional ethics, and current research. Finally, the program should provide students with both internal experiences (such as lack of privacy, job relief, or job security) and external experiences (such as climate, remoteness, and resource sparsity). (SB)