Colleges and universities can increase the number of students who graduate by making a number of small, strategic changes in institutional policies and practices. Some schools have done this by focusing on effective educational practices and empowering faculty, staff and students to work together in new, productive ways. Others have improved the…

Department chairs are in a position to help shape a culture where student learning is the central focus of faculty, staff, and students (Gmelch & Schuh, 2004). They hire, socialize, and evaluate faculty members' performance, guide curriculum development, and maintain the quality of academic programs. At the same time, department chairs typically…

The process of accreditation review in the U.S. serves two primary functions: quality assurance and continual improvement. The experienced educators who voluntarily serve on accreditation teams apply common standards of quality that serve students and meet public accountability expectations and offer suggestions and recommendations for…

This report describes the best practices described by national experts, some of the actions that are currently being taken by Colorado institutions of higher education and recommendations for improving programs to retain and graduate minority and low-income students. Over the course of the taskforce's meetings, it became clear that Colorado's…

A study compared graduation and licensure examination pass rates of Mexican American nursing students who spoke English as a second language and students who spoke English as a first language. Mexican American students were surveyed or interviewed concerning the effect on graduation and licensure examination pass rates of English as a second…

This study examined factors associated with Hispanic students' high dropout rates, considering not only demographic factors but also the role of family background, early school experiences, and social influences in the high Hispanic student dropout rate. Data came from students in the High School and Beyond (HS&B) longitudinal study of the…

This study provides a cross-sectional analysis of graduation rates and persistence for enrollees in major degree programs at Nova Southeastern University (NSU) (Florida). The population for the study comprised all students (n=13,887) enrolled in extant majors as of fall 1994. The study was designed to identify two subgroups for each major:…

This booklet presents information gathered at the November 1997 conference conducted by the National Institute on Early Childhood Development and Education in cooperation with EduTech, Ltd. The conference brought together educators, social workers, health professionals, researchers, teen parents, grandparents, government officials, and others…

This report contains the second, third, and fourth year retention, transfer, and graduation patterns at each Maryland public community college for all first-time, full-time students and African-American first-time, full-time students for the entering classes from 1985 to 1994. The following highlights are presented: the four-year success rates of…

This report presents tables, graphs, and maps detailing the status of Mississippi state institutions of higher education as of January 1999. A "Profile" section offers summary tables which cover: funding history; Mississippi compared with other Southern states on average appropriation per full-time equivalent student and average…

In the 50 years since "Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka" formally desegregated public schools, there has been enormous progress in the academic success of African Americans, particularly in high school completion, improved test scores, increased college enrollment, and attainment of advanced degrees, as well as full access to and…

Using data on 11,000 graduate students from 100 departments over a 20 year period, I test whether graduate student outcomes (graduation rates, time to degree, publication success, and initial job placement) differ based on a student's gender and marital status. I find that married men have better outcomes across every measure than single men.…

The improvement of literacy rates, educational levels, and college-going rates are important goals for the betterment of West Virginia and its economy. The college going rate echoes the successes of the Governor, legislators, government agencies, students, and parents in contributing to the State's education system as a whole. This report makes an…

This study aims to give essential facts regarding the development, general control, and administration of graduate work, including the principal standards, requirements, and practices that relate to the granting of degrees on the graduate level. In recent years, along with the expansion of graduate work in many of the older universities, a great…

Part-time first degree courses have grown rapidly in Britain in the last decade, but little research has been done on this growth and on the part-time students themselves. Reasons for this growth, difficulties for continued growth, and characteristics of a sample of part-time business students are examined. (IS)