This paper describes NU Start, a summer learning community program at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln for first-year students of the English department and the University Library faculty. NU Start offered 4 sections of an Introduction to Literature course, each with 13 or 14 students. In addition, all students took a one-hour, self-paced…

Describes the Student Learning Center at the University of Missouri, Kansas City, which identifies and provides support services for high-risk courses, rather than high-risk students. Presents an evaluative research study of the supplemental instruction provided to an American history class and the effects of students' achievement and persistence.…

Evaluates the Study Improvement Program, an 11-week program to improve the study skills of college freshmen. Describes selection and training of undergraduate group leaders and outlines goals for each session. Results of a subjective evaluation showed the program was effective in improving grades and reducing dropouts. (Author/JAC)

Researchers have begun to analyze community college retention data in terms of students' stated objectives upon entry. By categorizing students based upon their most important reason for attending college, meaningful follow-up and assessment of students' goal attainment can be conducted. Program evaluation studies have produced evidence that…

This manual outlines the strategies used by the University of Minnesota Technical College (UMTC) to generate student and faculty support for its reading and writing tutorial program. The manual first outlines 20 factors that contribute to a successful reading program, such as the provision of student support services, the awarding of credit to…

Describes the procedures and results of a two-year project to improve the learning skills of first-year college students, focusing on aspects of students' daily lives and on effective study actions, strategies, and attitudes. Student achievement was higher than a comparative cohort, and differences were maintained into the second year. (DMM)

The compensatory program in reading/study skills, writing, and mathematics at Northeastern University (Massachusetts) is described. An evaluation of the program's reading/study skills component during 1977 and 1978 is reported, demonstrating significant student improvement as a result of the program. Guidelines are offered to help other colleges…

This report describes activities of the Student Support Services Program at Wichita State University (Kansas) during 1997-1998, the second year of a five-year federal grant. The program is designed to meet the special needs of limited-income and first-generation college students, and includes study-skill development, peer tutoring, and academic…

Under development in a Maryland district, the Competency-Based Systems Oriented Guidance Program described here combines (1) a focus on helping all students become competent in knowledge, attitude, and skills and (2) a systems orientation addressing the entire spectrum of student life by providing a common language, methods of information…

The reading program developed at Niagara University in New York has undergone a number of changes in response to long term evaluation. In the early 1970s, the only program evaluation tools used were pretests and posttests. These were misleading, as they measured only short term gains, not retention after completion of the course. Based on ideas…

A year-long interdisciplinary project sought to develop professors' available repertoire of strategies for guiding students' independent learning from texts and developing students' ability to learn from texts with adjunct guide materials in a minicourse setting. Adjunct materials included such instructor devised aids as study questions, graphic…

Describes the program of the Academic Skills Center at San Diego State University, which is designed to decrease the attrition rate among severely underprepared students by integrating general education courses with courses in academic reading and writing. (FL)

This book provides practical strategies and tools for assessing and teaching even the most hard to reach English language learners across the content areas. Syrja offers educators the latest information on working with ELLs (including using formative assessments) and provides a wealth of classroom-tested models and measures. These tools have…

Slippery Rock University's tutor training program, "Learning Together: An Interactive Approach to Tutor Training," was instituted in January 1983 to prepare newly hired tutors to provide academic and study skills assistance to regularly admitted and academically underprepared students. The program, funded jointly by a state Act 101 grant…

In 1979, the typical entering seventh grade student at Perris Valley Junior High School (California) scored 21 months below grade norm in reading and 25 months below grade norm in language. To provide the students with language processing skills necessary for participation in the regular school curriculum, students in both junior and senior high…