This article describes the theory and implementation of zero-based curriculum review (ZBCR) in the higher education setting. ZBCR's purpose, preconditions, and procedures are discussed; and specific examples are given to illustrate the structuring, conducting, and application of the results of the ZBCR process. (Author/DB)

This article reviews the literature addressing uses of the American College Testing College Outcome Measures Program (ACT COMP), the most frequently used standardized measure of cognitive general education outcomes. It concludes that worthwhile evaluations of ACT COMP uses require well-crafted general education program evaluations. Recommendations…

A study compared the effectiveness of study questions versus "learning through discussion" in promoting the learning of research skills by 41 students in a Master's in Social Work program. Using a pretest/posttest alternative treatment group design with blind evaluations, the study question method was found to be superior to the alternative…

Recently, higher education policy and practice has become dominated by materialism, individualism, and competitiveness, at the expense of attention to the affective aspect of student development and, in a broader perspective, to the emotional and spiritual divisions that threaten humanity. Higher education can and should be more constructive. (MSE)

A University of Georgia program developed by several departments and programs offers a fieldwork program in archaeology and American Indian history and culture to elementary and secondary school teachers. Teachers developed their own instructional materials for home classroom use. Workshops incorporated principles of adult and experiential…

A study explored the hypothesis that two independent sources of internal control regulate academic learning. College students (n=99) completed an inventory of active (executive) and dynamic (nonexecutive) learning processes. Results were correlated with student achievement. Findings support the hypothesis and reveal interactions between sources of…

The West Virginia Graduate College minority faculty fellowship program, which recruits minority doctoral students to the academic profession, is described. Appointed as non-tenure-track faculty, fellows are provided with experiences to acclimate them to the professoriate. Institutional benefits, program strengths and weaknesses, and…

A survey of 42 research university teaching fellows and mentors investigated aspects of faculty development: rewards and incentives, career satisfaction, role adjustment, stress sources, and renewal practices. Results suggest that key to a successful instructional and faculty development program is to target activities to the academic career stage…

A two-year research effort assessed the effectiveness of the workshop approach to undergraduate and graduate student projects. The approach involved student reflective journals, individual student-professor conferences, structured small group discussions of project progress with peers, and presentations of final projects. The workshop approach was…

Strategies for bringing multicultural perspectives into college courses across disciplines are described. The techniques have been proven effective with predominantly Anglo, human-services-career populations. Strategies include personalization through vicarious learning and case studies, critical thinking exercises, simulation, literary analysis,…

Research on the impact of college on students is reviewed, focusing on how the college experience develops citizenship and participation in a democratic society. This includes studies on changes in students' political and social attitudes, attitudes toward gender roles, moral reasoning, and psychosocial dimensions relevant to citizenship (e.g.,…

Colleges and universities, once largely homogeneous communities, are being transformed by the new diversity of their populations, and sense of community is endangered by racial and ethnic grouping. "Emancipatory knowledges" (critical, feminist, postcolonial views of community) provide a framework and language for building a community…

The Transition to College Project examined how college student learning is affected by involvement of students in academic and nonacademic experiences in college, particularly outside the classroom. The students (n=132) interviewed were from four institutions serving demographically very different populations. Results suggest that nontraditional…

A survey of 35 men and 19 women college faculty at 6 institutions investigated attitudes about teaching award programs, habits of reading about teaching, and teaching satisfactions/dissatisfactions. Results suggest ways editors of teaching and disciplinary journals can select articles that capture faculty interest and result in enhanced teaching…

A survey of 174 policymakers, employers, and college faculty attempted to identify the writing skills college graduates need to be effective citizens and productive employees. Areas of consensus are identified for the following areas: audience awareness; purpose for writing; prewriting activities; organization; drafting; collaborating; and…