Minority-student retention efforts at Boston College, California State University at Fresno, the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and Purdue University are analyzed. Key factors common to all four institutions' retention efforts are identified: well-defined policy, high level of commitment, comprehensive student services, and dedicated…

Examines the effectiveness of five college level learning skills centers on grade improvement and retention. Finds successful programs are well structured, link with academic courses students take concurrently, stress a supportive relationship with the instructor, include behavioral counseling, are interwoven with other services and programs, and…

In response to high attrition in accounting courses, Hudson Valley Community College began a "late start" program for students otherwise inclined to drop or fail the course, in which students can begin again up to four weeks after the semester is under way, at no cost. Results have been encouraging. (MSE)

This paper examines several models of freshman seminar programs, reviews the assessment and research literature showing the efficacy of these programs, and discusses research emphases of the new National Center for the Study of the Freshman Year Experience at the University of South Carolina. (Author/MLW)

The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities will begin testing a comprehensive project to reverse the low educational attainment of Hispanic students in Texas. The project aims to increase high-school graduation, raise college-going rate, increase graduation rate of college students, and raise transfer rates of community college…

A rebuttal to an article by Pearl Lucas is presented. Cornell University's Committee on Special Educational Projects program, established to support the admission and adjustment of black students, is described. College and university special education programs are seen to contribute to academic achievement and promotion of scholarship. (MLW)

Information about students' characteristics and their perceptions of their educational experience allow institutions to predict their risk of attrition. Trenton State College's effective use of the American Council on Education Cooperative Institutional Research Program for planning and assessment is described. (MLW)

The Reduced Load Program, instituted in 1973 at the Indiana University School of Medicine to allow students two academic years to complete their first-year course requirements, is described. This program was developed as an alternative to dismissal for students experiencing academic difficulty. (MLW)

An early intervention program at Buffalo State College sought to identify the students who might be considered high risks academically. A faculty member provided them with counseling and advice during a personal interview very early in their first semester and then referred them to the proper assistance. (MLW)

Examines the experiences of three leading science and engineering institutions (Massachusetts Institute of Technology, California Institute of Technology, Georgia Institute of Technology) in recruiting and retaining African American students, noting the recruitment, financial aid, and retention strategies that produce favorable results and others…

The University of Illinois's program to recruit and retain minority students is described and discussed, focusing on the effect of granting delays in program completion and the increase in rates of on-time and delayed graduation. (MSE)

Describes three retention programs for regularly admitted students of color. Outlines each program's history and inception; its funding, staffing, and facilities; how the program has become institutionalized and marketed. The key components of the program and assessment of program effectiveness are presented, as well as the crises encountered and…

The experience of two combined residency programs in internal medicine and pediatrics is reviewed. The difficulty for residents of achieving competence in two disciplines is compounded by a lack of faculty role models. Success will depend on the ability of graduates to offer special talents to academic and clinical settings. (Author/MLW)

Suggests that college administrators redirect their attention from studying attrition rates to enacting retention strategies based on responding to student needs and providing a more meaningful educational experience. Several studies dealing with the development of retention programs are reviewed. (JAC)

An academic support program that integrates learning skills instruction into entry-level college courses is described and evaluated. The program is shown to have a positive effect upon student performance, attrition, and reenrollment patterns. Longitudinal shifts in grade distribution patterns are noted. (Author/MLW)