This study examined factors associated with the upward transfer of baccalaureate aspirants beginning at community colleges. Based on data from the National Education Longitudinal Study of 1988 and the Postsecondary Education Transcript Study, a sequential logistic regression analysis was conducted to predict bachelor's degree-seeking community…

Most of the internal and public scrutiny of college sports involves high profile athletes in sports such as football and men's basketball; yet, recent research on the impact of sport participation on student learning and development has largely focused on comparing all athletes to their non-athlete peers across institutional types. There is a need…

Identifies 10 characteristics of stable systems of performance funding for public colleges and universities based on a survey of state and campus policymakers in 9 of the 10 states with performance funding in 1996. Respondents agreed on the importance of careful choice of performance indicators, recognition of the difficulty of measuring higher…

Using college transcripts, we separate the effects of remedial coursework from high school preparation. For two-year colleges, taking remedial classes was "not" associated with less academic success. In four-year colleges, there "are" negative effects of remedial coursework, but many minority students who complete a bachelor's…

Virginia's policy for mandated student outcomes assessment in higher education is a model that has been adopted for other states. Clear communication between state and campus officials is crucial for a genuine partnership, and both parties need to be responsive to social needs while maintaining the integrity of the "academic core" of the…

A survey of 23 college and university coordinators who conduct assessment activities and report findings in connection with Tennessee's 15-year performance funding initiative reveals strengths and weaknesses associated with 10 indicators of institutional performance. Reasons for the program's longevity, designed to serve accountability and…

Today's welfare system does not encourage postsecondary education, focusing instead on immediate employment. The loss of postsecondary education as a route out of poverty may be detrimental to some women. College graduation is associated with lower rates of recidivism and post-welfare poverty than attendance without graduation or no attendance.…

A study of the validity of student ratings of college faculty focused on the relationship of student outcomes to faculty ratings. Subjects were students of 36 full-time instructors; outcome measures included subject matter knowledge, student self-ratings, and measures of short- and long-term motivation (interest in the subject matter). Results…

A study at one research university investigated whether differences in departmental teaching and research climates are associated with differences in student outcomes. Results suggest departments with a balanced orientation toward research and teaching have the most favorable impact on students in terms of intellectual growth, disciplinary skills,…

Analysis of data from the National Longitudinal Study High School Class of 1972 found that having a two-year college education culminating in a degree or certificate (as compared to entering the labor market with no postsecondary education) improved individuals' occupational outcomes (income and/or job status), but left patterns of inequality…

Traditional approaches to defining academic quality (reputational, resources, and outcomes or value-added) are criticized as not providing useful information. An alternative perspective is offered, focusing on fundamental course-level academic processes and defining the quality of such processes as the level of understanding of course content…

A taxonomy of power (coercive, expert, legitimate, referent, reward) was used to investigate graduate students' (n=346) perceptions of their supervising professors' power and the relationship between professors' power and various students' perceptions, intentions, and behaviors. Results show that faculty power bases are related to several…

Drawing on national and longitudinal survey data, a study of 3,249 students from coeducational colleges and 387 from women-only colleges found that women-only colleges had a positive impact on academic ability and social self-confidence. Students did not differ by school type in preparation for graduate or professional schools, but coed students…

A longitudinal study investigated differences in the experiences of women at women's colleges (n=160) and women at coeducational colleges (n=764) as they related to a variety of outcome variables. Results confirm the important role of institutional climate, student involvement, and the particular priorities and goals often found at women's…

A longitudinal study examined the effect of perceptions of prejudice/discrimination on minority and nonminority students at a public, predominantly white, commuter college. Results show minorities were more likely than whites to feel discrimination and prejudice while on campus and that these perceptions affected adjustment to college and…