The Value of Using Interns in the Academic Library

Graduate programs in library and information science programs provide strong theoretical foundations in information systems, library organization, library history, management, collection management to support user needs, reference, information literacy instruction, and specialized information resources. While practical course projects create approximations of professional librarianship, the best hands-on learning experiences include work-based learning through internship placements in actual libraries. Internships immerse students in valuable hands-on practical work in real-workd settings. Internships also learn from the interns' perspectives on library processes and challenges, while also providing library professionals with enriching opportunities to mentor library students and convey knowledge to future generations of professionals.

New Programs and Accreditations: Meaningful Measurement & Assessment

This article provides a blueprint for successful library strategies in support of accreditations for regional bodies as well as reviews of discipline-specific academic programs spanning a wide range of knowledge areas.

Administering Outcomes-Based Financial Aid Programs

As state and federal agencies increasingly condition institutional funding on student outcomes, university leaders are under pressure to develop innovative strategies to boost student retention and degree completion rates. This report examines public university initiatives that strategically leverage financial aid to support institutional retention and degree completion goals.

Creating High-Impact Workforce Development Programs

As communities across the nation continue to face persistent unemployment, many states are turning to community college workforce development programs to combat joblessness. However, state governments and community colleges alike are often unable to devote significant resources to building new workforce initiatives. This brief examines how community colleges in four states have worked with state governments and other partners to overcome budget constraints and create effective workforce development programs, highlighting funding models and innovative practices to make efficient use of limited resources.

Managing Dual Enrollment Programs: Review of Program Models, Operations, and Outcomes

Universities that offer dual enrollment programs for high school students must manage increasing student demand in the face of changing state legislation. This brief examines how institutions finance their dual enrollment programs, and how they ensure academic rigor as their programs continue to grow. The report also considers how dual enrollment programs ensure that students can transfer credits, and what strategies they use to encourage DE students to matriculate as undergraduates.