The responsibility for college success has historically rested with the student, but since the 1980s, educators have taken increasing ownership of this, designing structures that increase the likelihood of learning, success, and retention. These efforts have included a variety of initiatives--first year seminars, learning communities,…

Driven by economic and educational imperatives, public policymakers, higher education leaders, and philanthropic and advocacy groups are mobilizing aggressive national and state campaigns to bolster college completion. Campaigns to improve student success are particularly concerned about the performance of the nation's community colleges. In…

This collection contains four papers that describe action research projects in different settings. The first paper, "Action Research: An Approach Called DATA-DATA," by John M. Peters, is a guide to action research for practitioners. The DATA-DATA model integrates features of reflective practice and formal research methodology. The model, suited to…

This book focuses on one of the key questions in education: What determines a student's success? Based on twenty years of work on student success, Ray Padilla here presents two related models he has developed that both provide a framework for understanding success and indicate how it can be enhanced and replicated. The research and theory that…

In its broadest terms, the learning paradigm calls for institutional change and institutional responsibility for learning outcomes. Leaders have to develop structures and processes that allow for more flexibility and creativity. Decisions have to become more data-driven. Barriers to student success have to be identified and removed. This book…

Based on descriptions submitted to a national panel on exemplary Distance Education (DE) programs, this monograph describes state-of-the-art DE programs at 16 community colleges. First, an introduction reviews the history of DE systems and DE in community colleges, describes the importance of revising curricula for distance delivery, discusses…

Over the past three decades, American higher education has witnessed a shift in demographics which has created a more diverse student body. However, many university campuses remain unsupportive or even hostile to minority faculty and students. This anthology introduces to readers the Difference, Power, and Discrimination (DPD) Program, a…

This cumulative report presents the synopses of the major articles, research notes, and publications from the Transfer and Retention of Urban Community College Students (TRUCCS) project. After a Letter from the Director and sections on the people and origins of TRUCCS, and a synopses, the report contains the following sections: (1) Transfer…

Increased demands for colleges and universities to engage in outcomes assessment for accountability purposes have accelerated the need to bridge the gap between higher education practice and the fields of measurement, assessment, and evaluation. The "Handbook on Measurement, Assessment, and Evaluation in Higher Education" provides higher…

Assessment as conducted at Finger Lakes Community College (FLCC) in Canandaigua (New York) has taken various forms and has been conducted under various names. This publication offers an overview of assessment at the college from a philosophical and historical perspective. In both general and specific terms, the efforts of the college to meet the…

This collection presents 91 papers or summaries presented at a 1997 conference on self-study and institutional improvement for institutions of higher education. Papers are grouped in the following chapters (with sample topics in parentheses): (1) "Institutional Mission and Institutional Change" (vision statements; balancing quality and change);…

The collection of ten essays by Native Americans who are involved in Indian education includes a preface by Thomas Thompson; "The Indian Student Amid American Inconsistencies" by Vine Deloria, Jr.; "Growing Up in E'da How-One Idaho Girlhood" by LaNada Boyer; "Multicultural Teacher Education at Rough Rock" by Dillon…

The status and future of academic advising is examined in this American College Testing Program (ACT) monograph, providing an in-depth look at the topics consistently viewed as critical to the success of advising programs. In chapter 1, Wesley R. Habley introduces the monograph by examining the trends in advising over the past 15 years, focusing…

Contending that the relationship between leadership and the creation and management of institutional culture is critical to the future success of community colleges, this book explores theory, research, and practice associated with this perspective. The following chapters are provided: (1) "Creative Cultures: Toward a New Paradigm," by George A.…

Brief descriptions are provided of 16 model literacy initiatives undertaken by community colleges in conjunction with local businesses or community groups. Following introductory comments by Barbara Bush, Tony Zeiss, H. James Owen, and Roy Romer, "Literacy: America's Great Deficit," by Earnestine Thomas-Wilson-Robertson and Tony Zeiss, reviews…