Students enter postsecondary institutions to change their lives in some way, with degree pursuits providing opportunities to grow academically, socially, and professionally. However, significant numbers of students are unable to meet the goals they had set for themselves when they entered college. Developed by the What Works Clearinghouse™ (WWC)…

At its most effective, advising is a collaborative process between a student and an advisor designed to help the student realize their educational potential. Most postsecondary institutions have historically used advisors to help students select and register for courses, but postsecondary institutions are increasingly asking advisors to play an…

The goal of this American Association of School Administrators (AASA) youth apprenticeship toolkit is to encourage the creation of school and business partnerships as a viable and expansive pathway to success in school, career and work. This toolkit provides resources for secondary and community college administrators to advocate for and build…

This publication is for faculty, administrators, and other academic leaders who are poised to mount comprehensive STEM reforms to improve student learning and success, particularly for students from underrepresented groups. Based on the experiences of eleven colleges and universities in the Keck/PKAL STEM Education Effectiveness Framework project,…

Even as the number of students attending college has more than doubled in the past forty years, it is still the case that nearly half of all college students in the United States will not complete their degree within six years. It is clear that much remains to be done toward improving student success. For more than twenty years, Vincent Tinto's…

This report describes and assesses the experiences of five two-year/four-year institutional partnerships (eight community colleges with five independent liberal arts institutions) that were undertaken to encourage community college students, especially minorities and educationally disadvantaged students, to pursue baccalaureate degrees at…

Programming that involves both the alumni association and current students can build good working relationships, promote the alumni office, and help provide efficient student programming. The experiences of several colleges and universities illustrate the creative role alumni can play in campus programs. (MSE)

It is argued that if colleges and universities want involved alumni, they must begin during the student years. Activities and approaches to take during each of the four college years to help establish a mutually supportive relationship are outlined, and illustrated with examples from a variety of institutions. (MSE)

The chapters in this collection present an approach to changing attitudes about lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered (LGBT) students, faculty, and staff on college campuses. The book explores a wide range of subjects and contains basic tools to establish programs for LGBT students. The chapters of part 1, "The Campus Environment: Campus-Wide…

A strategy, based on organizational change literature, for establishing a college program for learning-disabled students includes such crucial steps as assessing the change effort (nature of the change, environmental factors, initiators of change), establishing a campaign plan (program and decision centers), and developing deployment tactics…

This position paper was written to answer a series of basic questions frequently asked about attrition and retention at Empire State College (ESC), New York. The questions addressed in the report are: (1) What is the attrition rate at ESC? (2) How does ESC's attrition rate compare to other colleges? (3) Who are the leavers? (4) When does attrition…

The paper describes an inservice workshop on learning disabilities for college faculty including the processes used to assess needs and promote inservice involvement. Positive inservice evaluations suggested attainment of program goals of providing information about learning disabilities and discussing ethical and pedagogical issues concerning…

The process used by Brown University (Rhode Island) to develop a day care program for infant and toddler children of staff and students is described. Key issues (goals, philosophy, budget) and considerations (day care users' needs, space needs and availability, staffing, budgeting, implementation plan) are discussed. A sample user survey and…

Evaluation of the impact of prospective students' contacts with the institution is an objective of the admissions research agenda at Tufts University (Massachusetts). An annual survey gathers information on individuals who make inquiries but do not submit an application and on the parents of matriculating students. (MSE)

The development of goals and objectives for intercollegiate athletic programs and for athletes is discussed by Xavier University's vice-president for student development. Usually there is a combination of institutional goals such as using athletics to produce revenue or to recruit students, or achieving growth in participation in intercollegiate…