The rapid technological advancement that U.S. society is experiencing has increased the likelihood that workers will have to be trained and retrained throughout their working lives to meet continually changing job requirements. This situation has challenged instructors of technical communication who are faced with the overlap of traditional education and corporate education in the area of basic skills. Although it is not fair to insist that the schools take the responsibility for dealing with all the educational needs of the business-industry-government complex, instructors of college technical communications courses must reassess their programs in light of what industry and society really need and want. After examining some 10 surveys of the rhetorical needs of writers in all types of jobs, one researcher has concluded that rather than emphasizing such specific writing assignments as composing proposals or taking minutes of meetings, the basic technical writing course should focus on (1) those common rhetorical principles that underlie the design and development of all writing; (2) ways of adapting any communication to varying audiences; and (3) assignments that emphasize an integrated approach to communication, including team reports. (MN)