Learning Resources

Learning Communities and First-Year Programs: Lessons for Planners

By: William E. Knight

Bowling Green State University carried out a study of learning communities and first-year programs to determine their success in facilitating student success, increasing engagement, and promoting connections.

From Volume 31 Number 4 | June–August 2003

Abstract: Many institutions have developed learning communities and first year programs in order to facilitate student success, increase engagement and promote connections. Do we know if these outcomes are being accomplished? How should we go about finding out? Using multiple methods, one university carried out a comprehensive study of these efforts. Lessons were learned about both what works among learning communities and first year programs and how to best go about asking the question.

Institutions Mentioned: Bowling Green State University-Main Campus

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Moving From Oversight to Insight

By: Robert DeBard,Kelli D. Peck

Planning for change in higher education requires grassroots advocacy more than executive leadership.

From Volume 28 Number 4 | Summer 2000

Abstract: The concept of shared governance is at the cornerstone of any planning process at American colleges and universities. Respecting this need for representation, however, has created an atmosphere in which participants in the planning process have come to view their role as that of oversight aimed at protecting a constituency more than insight intended to help move an institution forward. This article suggests a strategy that can address the criticism of higher education's inertia when it comes to moving from planning to decision making while maintaining the participative management style of shared governance.