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A random survey of 147 U.S. community colleges, of which 37 replied, resulted in a general conclusion that very little that is innovative is taking place in community college student affairs. The survey was conducted as part of a seminar in junior college student personnel services at California State College, Los Angeles. Innovative programs were defined as those having activity levels beyond those accepted as standard in the areas of educational, vocational, and personal counseling; records and registration; student health; placement; housing; financial aid; freshman orientation; remedial services; and co-curricular activities. Examples of innovative programs now in progress at 10 community colleges were reviewed and their main points elaborated on. From this review the seminar group formulated five recommendations for programs to be incorporated into student personnel services: (1) direct contact with freshmen who are not attaining satisfactory grades at mid-term; (2) continuous registration at the campus and mobile registration in the community; (3) "The Individual in a Changing Environment" should be a required course for all entering students; (4) the Study Skills Self-Learning Device should be made universally available; and (5) the services of an actuation center as developed at Chaffey College should be offered. (AL)

Unfavorable geologic conditions along proposed transportation routes often cannot be avoided by simple changes in grades and alignments. When such situations occur or when conditions cannot be defined with precision, it becomes necessary to supplement engineering judgement with field observations during and subsequent to construction. The collection of field data through fixed instrumentation is an effective means of evaluating embankment performance in areas where stability is questionable or where the effects of construction on adjacent lands must be determined. Inclinometers which measure subsurface displacements, and piezometers which record fluid pressures within the foundation soils are commonly employed in conjunction with field evaluation. These and several other methods often used to monitor field performance are briefly described. Three case histories are presented in which fixed instrumentation was used to control construction scheduling of an embankment over soft ground and to determine the effects on adjacent ground.