In the context of "academic momentum," a longitudinal study of university students (N = 904) showed high school achievement and ongoing university achievement predicted subsequent achievement through university. However, the impact of high school achievement diminished, while additive effects of ongoing university achievement continued.…

Institutions of higher education are under pressure to be accountable for their expenditures while demonstrating their effectiveness. Through structural equation modeling, a relationship was found between expenditures and the efficiency and effectiveness of an institution, and an optimal expenditure level was found that maximized an institution's…

One of the most vexing problems today involves transforming colleges and universities so that they yield equitable educational outcomes for historically underrepresented students. The traditional approach to achieving equitable educational outcomes has been to focus on increasing the racial diversity of campuses by admitting a higher percentage of…

A study that used the new U.S. Census data on participation rates to develop a model for national and state forecasting for enrollment of older students is discussed. Data useful in estimates of institutional market share were also developed. (Author/MLW)

Changes in the composition of colleges and universities during the 1970s and the changes in the subpopulation of institutions with a high commitment to liberal arts education were studied. The effect these changes had on the diversity of the population and subpopulation is described. (MLW)

States vary in the proportion of their populations who pursue higher education. A study that assesses the relationship between a state's economic and social characteristics and its citizens' participation in higher education is discussed. (Author/MLW)

A causal model is proposed and estimated to assess the relative influence of precollege attributes, institutional characteristics, and academic, social, and career-related collegiate experiences on the socioeconomic achievement of 2,118 former college students over a nine-year period. (Author/MLW)

A comprehensive theoretical model designed to explain the academic satisfaction, residential living satisfaction, academic performance, and retention of college students is presented. The model is tested against data obtained from a state university. Use of the model to test the effect of institutional policy measures on retention is described.…

A non-recursive model was developed to assess the degree of reciprocity between satisfaction and performance as indicated by grade point average. Data from students at a single research university were used. The causes of satisfaction differ for men and women. (Author/MLW)

A study at Franklin and Marshall College to determine why research does not appear to have the beneficial effect on teaching that so many have assumed it does is discussed. It is thought that scholarship makes a professor more knowledgeable and that a more knowledgeable professor makes a better teacher. (Author/MLW)

The results of this longitudinal study support the hypothesis that, after controlling for background characteristics, women's colleges relate positively to a variety of measures of student satisfaction, perceived changes in skills and abilities, and educational aspirations and educational attainment. Contact with the faculty and administration is…

A variable causal model was used to estimate the influence of college on the development of humanitarian/civic involvement values. The findings suggest the importance of social involvement during college as a positive influence on the humanizing of values. Influential types of social involvement differed by student race and gender. (Author/MLW)

A sample of 5,162 undergraduates at 74 institutions was surveyed to identify the effect of the college environment on students' educational aspirations. Several environmental factors had modest but significant effects on aspirations; however, the magnitude of the effects differed somewhat by gender and institutional selectivity. (Author/MLW)