How does the college faculty member involved in off-campus teaching plan for intensively scheduled classes comprised of forty hours of instruction in three weekends? Two main areas of concern are (1) the differences between these students and those found on the main campus and (2) methods of providing variety in instruction to maintain a…

The first phase of a longitudinal study conducted at the Fielding Institute investigated the circumstances or characteristics that lead to success for adults in an external graduate degree program, based on interviews with 16 faculty members. Respondents were given a set of cards naming students they knew well. The faculty sorted the cards into…

The Empire State College does not have a traditional campus but operates from a variety of leased facilities located in major population centers and in smaller communities where there appeared to be a clear need for such a college. Who are the students attracted to an individualized, contract learning type of program and why do they seek out…

Seeking to further understand the potential donor pool represented by alumnae who were mature students graduating from the external degree program at a women's college, this study used a questionnaire survey to identify background and characteristics and collegiate and alumnae experiences of the external degree alumnae, and to identify differences…

Individualized education works well for a particular type of student and faculty member. If you go beyond this type of student and faculty member, you run head-on into serious administrative and planning problems. In short, students are unsure and often confused about their role in individualized education. It seems that (1) students need thorough…

Three nontraditional study programs at the University of Minnesota provide the setting of this study to determine what kinds of persons become students in a given program and what factors make their experience in a program a successful one. A questionnaire was distributed to students in the Experimental College, the University Without Walls, and…

This case study describes the introduction and consideration of a state board staff proposal that the more traditional Minnesota State Universities adopt external degree programs. A model for making practices congruent with policy decisions is presented. The process of examining the external degree proposal, beginning with the state board actions…

A multivariate model to explain student success and failure at the Open University of the United Kingdom is outlined. The model is based on the results of an evaluation study that explored the suitability of this teaching system for young people under 21 years old. Twenty-three characteristics were designated as social and psychological problems,…

This study, conducted by Regents College (New York), a virtual university founded to serve the needs of adult learners, sought to determine factors associated with student retention in an external degree program. Assessment data for students enrolled in the Regents College undergraduate liberal arts program was derived solely from the student…