In this book, the authors bring together in one place essential information about college students in the US in the 21st century. Synthesizing existing research and theory, they present an introduction to studying student characteristics, college choice and enrollment patterns, institutional types and environments, student learning, persistence,…

Some people claim that religious schools are poorly suited to prepare children for citizenship in a multi-religious society that is (or aspires to be) a liberal democracy. In what sense(s), by what mechanism(s), and to what extent might this be so? And what could be the implications for public policy? I propose an analytical and evaluative…

The development of an honors program at Rogers State University a decade ago brought about significant positive changes to the campus, where more than three-quarters of the students are the first in their families to attend college. Throughout the years, these young scholars have elevated academic discourse across campus and delivered an impact…

The Education Resource Strategies (ERS) School System 20/20 is a framework to guide district transformation so that every school succeeds for every student because of the system--not in spite of it. This summary presents highlights from a case study that uses the framework School System 20/20 to examine how Denver Public Schools is transforming…

The powerful influence of peers in human development has been widely documented, particularly within education. Throughout the history of higher education, peer interactions have been a component of scholarly explorations of student types, campus cultures, and even the cycle of student "generations." In addition, most student development theories…

This practical guide to outcomes-based assessment in student affairs is designed to help readers meet the growing demand for accountability and for demonstrating student learning. The authors offer a framework for implementing the assessment of student learning and development and pragmatic advice on the strategies most appropriate for the…

This book presents the results and implications of a major new national study exploring the effects of institutional racial composition on African American students' development and their educational outcomes, taking into account individuals' background characteristics, their perceptions of the institutional environment, and their experiences in…

Wallace State Community College in Hanceville, Alabama, took the Community College Futures Assembly challenge for the 2006 Bellwether Award from FAST COMPANY's release of "The Rules of Business: Timeless Truths from the Best Minds in Business" to identify its own substantive question for this year's competition: "The New Rules of…

In experiential education, the ABCs of participant experience are agency (allowing students to become more powerful change agents in their lives); belonging (sharing a sense of community); and competence (developing students' cognitive, physical, and social competence). A research review discusses these and other components in a conceptual…

Several theories about student unrest in the late 1960s and early 1970s are noted, and the situation and student population of La Trobe University at the time are described. It is proposed that the unrest was both an outgrowth of the political climate and a developmental experience for the individual students. (MSE)

Student violations of behavior norms affect the learning of others, the teaching of the instructor, and the atmosphere of the classroom.

During this period of social and political transformation in the former Soviet Union, there is no typical Russian school. Open-type schools generally emphasize student self-development. Students' intellectual, personal, and spiritual upbringing depends on a school's socioeconomic, cultural, and environmental context. Teaching practices must be…

The development of procedures designed to provide quantitative assessments of quality in higher education institutions are reviewed. These procedures employ a systems framework and utilize quantitative data to compare institutions or programs of similar types with one another. Three major elements essential in the development of models focusing on…

The results of several cross-sectional and longitudinal studies of students at liberal arts colleges and other postsecondary institutions are reported to demonstrate that liberal arts education has beneficial effects not produced by any other kind of training. Chapters include: approaches to evaluating liberal education; measuring cognitive,…

Using a typological schema derived from freshman survey data and other empirical measures, this study examines the link between students' traits upon entry to college and their college academic performance and skill development in various areas as measured at the exit point. The findings indicate the typological schema is predictive of student…