In spring 1982, a study was conducted to determine the persistence of Howard Community College (HCC) students from fall 1981 to spring 1982 and the relationship of students' attendance status, sex, and age to retention rates. Selected study findings include the following: (1) the overall retention rate for spring 1982 was 61.1% including Special…

The shortage of qualified mathematics and science teachers is a problem likely to grow in the coming decade, reflecting teacher shortages in other subject specialties. In 1981, almost five times more science and mathematics teachers left to take nonteaching jobs than did teachers in other disciplines. Replacements for these teachers are often…

A 2-year longitudinal/cross-sectional project investigated factors related to highly able Mexican Americans' decisions to avoid or take advanced mathematics. Questionnaires were given to roughly 350 Mexican Americans and to an equal number of equally able Anglo-Americans. Subjects were distributed evenly across grades 9, 10, and 11. Results…

A study was conducted at the University of British Columbia (UBC) and the University of Victoria (UV) to assess the academic performance of community college and technical institute transfer students in terms of baccalaureate degree attainment, time taken to complete the degree, rate of withdrawal, and final academic standing at the time the…

As a continuation of a study of the effects of mandatory student placement in communications courses at Oakton College, a follow-up study was conducted of students enrolled in Communications 051, a developmental course. The study sought to assess the patterns of behavior of students enrolling in developmental communications courses, completion…

Phoenix, Arizona, has experienced the impact of a nationwide trend toward an increased teenage birthrate, with nearly 1,500 births to teenage mothers in 1980. To serve the special needs of teenage mothers, the Phoenix Union High School offers an alternative education program, Cyesis, for pregnant and parenting teens. Data from the center's…

A study was conducted at Miami-Dade Community College (MDCC) to assess the relationship between students' basic skills performance and three outcome measures: retention, graduation, and academic progress. Specifically, the study compared the performance and persistence of White, Black, and Hispanic students while equating for basic skills…

In considering the problem of recruiting and retaining the most able candidates for teaching, five dilemmas facing the profession are discussed. They are: Equity vs. Excellence; Egalitarianism vs. Differentiation; Teaching: Art or Science; the Curriculum--Standardization vs. Individualization; and The Focus of Instruction. The following problems…

The Australian Scholastic Test (ASAT) was first used as a moderating device in the Australian Capitol Territory in 1977. Differences have been observed in the average performance of males and females on the test. The study reported in this monograph investigated the nature and origin of the score differences recorded for ASAT The research focused…

Three hundred ninety female freshmen who had career interests that were traditional, nontraditional, or neutral for women were compared on encouragement to pursue career goals, Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) scores, college grade-point average (GPA), persistence in original major, and persistence at the university after four semesters. In…

The interaction between learner attributes and instructional treatments has attracted considerable interest in the educational literature. This investigation attempted to capitalize upon the learner-attribute-by-learner-performance interaction concept in exploring the factors that have an impact upon learner motivation in distance education. Four…

Admission to and graduation from health profession schools by graduates of historically black colleges and universities (HBCU) were studied, with a focus on the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) and Howard University's Medical (HUMS) and Dental Schools (HUDS). Site visits and interviews were also conducted with the pre-health program…

A growing debate exists over the possibility that various types of external rewards may have negative effects on intrinsic motivation. Past research has produced conflicting results. The present study examines past research in light of behavioral principles and utilizes single-subject research methods to examine the potential effects of…

Since appropriations for construction and operation of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences fall within the purview of two Senate subcommittees, Military Construction and Defense, joint hearings were held on March 21, 1977. Included with transcripts of the hearings are other prepared statements and data relating to the…

This study compares the amount parents proposed to contribute to their child's education and the amount they can reasonably be expected to pay, based on two separate financial formulas. The two formulas are the consensus methodology developed by the National Task Force on Student Aid Problems (the Keppel Commission) and that of the family…