This research brief presents data on transfer students in the University of Wisconsin (UW) system, with emphasis on student access, enrollment, and outcomes. Among the findings are the following: (1) The number of transfer students enrolled in the UW system reached a 10-year high of 9,684 in fall 1996, followed by a slight decline in fall 1997;…

This report responds to Colorado Senate Bill 92-155 by describing the policy changes, new policies and practices, and incentives established to accomplish the legislative purpose, namely, to reduce the average length of time that undergraduate students take to complete their degrees. The report summarizes governing board reports and the actions…

This report presents background information on possible strategies for shortening degree-completion times at Texas universities. A brief discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of each strategy is presented, along with a rough estimate of the fiscal consequences of each. The report notes that the percentage of students who complete their…

This document was prepared primarily for managers, researchers, and management information staff at California Community Colleges who need to duplicate the results of the Performance for Excellence (PFE) reports in order to aid in the improvement of performance goals at their respective institutions. It is hoped that by providing this document,…

A study of 723 doctoral students investigated the relationship between time taken to complete the degree and economic factors, including employment hours, study hours, household income, indebtedness, amount and type of aid, and part-time student status. Field of study and foreign/domestic student status were also considered. (Author/MSE)

Examines the total direct and indirect effects of receiving financial aid on persistence to degree using a subsample of 1989 freshmen from the Beginning Postsecondary Student Survey. Analysis shows that although simply receiving financial aid is unrelated to persistence, the effects of financial aid on persistence appear to depend on type and…

It is argued that colleges and universities can become more productive by enhancing the efficiency of student learning. This requires both acceleration of learning through individually paced mastery learning, better academic focus, year-round schooling, and an earlier start to graduate and professional education. Eight strategies for enhancing…

The evolution of the recent discussion of quality assessment and evaluation of teaching in German higher education is chronicled. Concern began in the 1980s over the length of time to degree and has shifted to interest in improvement of teaching quality and overall system effectiveness. (Author/MSE)

This report responds to the California State Legislature request to examine the time needed to complete a doctoral degree and make recommendations relative to methods of increasing the rate of progress toward receiving doctoral degrees through the University of California without compromising the integrity of the academic process. The report…

This 30th annual report summarizes results of the 1995-96 Survey of Earned Doctorates (SED), which collected data from graduates as they completed requirements for their doctoral degrees. The report notes the continued, but slowing, increase in research doctorates. Following an examination of general trends in the overall number of doctorates, the…

Ways in which undergraduate education is changing in terms of student diversity, financing, and time required for graduation are discussed, and ways these changes affect academic advising are considered. It is suggested that colleges provide faculty advisors with specific training and make advising an official and evaluated aspect of faculty…

For the 13th year, a national survey of changes in the academic and administrative practices of American colleges and universities was undertaken. Senior administrators at 403 colleges and universities completed and returned survey questionnaires (80 percent of a sample of 506). Responses were statistically weighted so that results were…

A framework is offered for institutions to use in identifying and overcoming obstacles to graduate student progress and retention. Seven aspects of graduate education that would have to be altered to reduce student frustration are examined: admissions, graduate curriculum, advising/mentoring, monitoring progress, financial support, institutional…