Archived: National Institute of Postsecondary Education, Libraries, and Lifelong Learning

A r c h i v e d I n f o r m a t i o n

Our Institute

This is the first edition of our quarterly newsletter. The National Institute on Postsecondary Education, Libraries, and Lifelong Learning, is one of five institutes established under Title IX of the Educational Research and Improvement Act of 1994. The Institute seeks to expand knowledge about postcompulsory education and training in a variety of contexts, including various kinds of postsecondary institutions, adult literacy programs, libraries, community-based education programs, and special mission institutions. The Institute is particularly concerned with adults' acquisition of the skills and knowledge necessary to compete in a global economy and to exercise the rights and responsibilities of citizenship. The Institute is providing national leadership and conducting research and development activities designed to promote quality and access in the education and training of adults.

Research Teams

The Institute includes four research teams:

The Adult Learning and Literacy Team provides leadership in research on improving adult learning and literacy through a variety of delivery methods and systems, including family and ESL literacy programs, with attention to learning disabilities, learning disorders, and special needs populations. This team is responsible for monitoring the National Center on Adult Literacy.
Team Leader, Jerry Lord
Phone: (202) 219 2242
Email: jerome.lord@ed.gov
The Libraries and Community-Based Education Team provides leadership in research on the delivery of education and information services through public library systems and other community-based educational institutions. The team provides a focus for the Institute's work on lifelong learning.
Team Leader, Barbara Humes
Phone: (202) 219-1376
Email: barbara.humes@ed.gov
The Postsecondary Education and Work Team provides leadership for establishing priorities, monitoring and synthesizing knowledge, and conducting research on key issues in postsecondary and work-related education.
Issues include patterns of participation and outcomes for participants in postsecondary institutions, as well as cost accountability and productivity of programs. This team monitors the National Center on Postsecondary Teaching, Learning, and Assessment and the National Center on the Educational Quality of the Workforce.
Team Leader, Gregory Henschel
Phone: (202) 219-2082
Email: gregory.henschel@ed.gov
The Special Mission Institutions Team focuses on postsecondary institutions serving special populations such as historically black colleges and universities, tribally controlled Indian community colleges, and women's colleges, and how these institutions address the lifelong learning needs of adults in their service areas.
Team Leader, Sheilah Maramark
Phone: (202) 219-1948
Email: sheila.maramark@ed.gov

Research Centers

The three national research centers currently monitored by the Institute (and noted above) will complete their work under their present 5-year grants in 1995. OERI plans to announce in the Federal Register the final priorities for seven new centers, two of which will be monitored by the Institute: one on improving adult learning and literacy, and on improving postsecondary education. Awards for these centers are planned for 1996.

Field-Initiated Studies

The Office of Educational Research and Improvement (OERI) will fund educational research projects proposed by individuals; institutions of higher education; and public and private institutions, organizations, and agencies. Applicants will propose research topics related to OERI's five new institutes: National Institute on Student Achievement Curriculum, and Assessment; National Institute on the Education of At-Risk Students; National Institute on Early Childhood Development and Education; National Institute on Postsecondary Education, Libraries, and Lifelong Learning; and National Institute on Educational Governance, Finance, Policymaking, and Management. To request information, contact: Field-Initiated Studies Program
Office of Educational Research and Improvement
U.S. Department of Education
555 New Jersey Avenue NW, Room 620
Washington, DC 20208-5531

Phone: Delores Monroe (202) 219-2229

Directed Research

In addition to the work done by centers and field-initiated studies grantees, the Institute plans to conduct directed research through contracts. The teams on Libraries and Community-Based Education and on Special Mission Institutions will use this vehicle to help accomplish their missions.

In-House and Collaborative Research

The Institute is developing a program of in-house research that will be conducted primarily by the research teams. Among the projects underway are a survey of postsecondary distance learning, a new taxonomy of college courses, and a study of women's colleges. The Institute is also collaborating with organizations outside the government in the development and conduct of research projects. These efforts include a study of states' responses to increasing college costs, working with the National Conference of State Legislatures and a study examining library finance issues with the National Commission on Libraries and Information Science.

Let Us Hear From You

We hope you find this newsletter informative. Introducing ourselves and telling you what we plan to do took up most of the space in this edition. Our second and future newsletters will contain more information on the Institute's activities and publications. Feel free to write us about issues in postsecondary education and about what you'd like to see in this newsletter. The Institute's director, Dr. Carole Lacampagne, welcomes all comments and suggestions. Write to: Newsletter
National Institute on Postsecondary Education, Libraries, and Lifelong Learning
Office of Educational Research and Improvement
U.S. Department of Education
555 New Jersey Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20208-5531