Examines the relationship between verbal style and the early elimination of leaders in small groups. Finds that participants evaluated the authoritativeness and trustworthiness of other group members and that these evaluations depended upon the interaction of verbal style and content. (SR)

Chinese university students seem to feel their best hope for bringing about change lies in conforming outwardly to the policies of the government while seeking a chance to study in a Western country. Students are increasingly studying Western languages and monitoring Chinese and United States policies concerning international educational exchange.…

Reviews recent opinion research with high school and college students that indicates a greater social acceptance of physically disabled wheelchair users. Concludes that educational institutions may constitute the most favorable enabling environments. (FMW)

Dr. Jacqueline Fleming, author of "Blacks in College," is interviewed on the process of her cross-sectional research and reaction to her study. Fleming observes that there are pervasive problems for Black college students in White institutions and for Black colleges, and that major integration and retention issues remain unresolved. (AF)

Reports a study that compared the effects of a university health promotion course, before and after major revisions, on students' knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors. Student questionnaires indicated that both versions were effective in improving lifestyle-related knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors. The revised course was superior in modifying…

Analysis of 642 slang terms that college students use to characterize peers at Holy Cross College (Massachusetts) and University of California, Davis suggests that undergraduate slang usage is socially complex, the language is reflective of campus and academic life, and that it portrays undergraduate life from the perspective of dominant student…

A study of Brigham Young University (Utah) graduates, 1980-88, looked at patterns in change of major among transfer students and those entering as freshmen. Results are reported concerning early statement of major, open vs. specified major, gender differences, academic achievement, frequency of change, and time to graduation in each year's cohort.…

Studies adjustments facing international college students who use dialog journals to counteract their feelings of isolation. Using the informal writing assignments connected with the journals, the students and teacher wrote back and forth weekly about ideas usually initiated by the students. (25 references) (CK)

Reports a study that investigated the effects of professional coursework and clinical experience on the development of preservice teachers' knowledge. Surveys supported the contribution of professional coursework to the development of pedagogical knowledge but showed limited support for the contribution of student teaching. (SM)

Investigates the influence of linguistic structure on non-linguistic cognition by comparing Russian and English behavior on tasks involving the color blue. Russians, who differentiate this region into "dark blue" and "light blue," were expected to separate blues more often than English subjects for whom the colors belong to one lexical category.…

Presents a current events course designed to teach students in Israel both English language skills as well as the advanced reading and study skills they need to comprehend university level texts and journal articles. A current events approach to academic reading enlivens the foreign language classroom and motivates and broadens the horizons of…

Research on learning disabilities in students is reviewed, and classroom techniques for college instruction to support writing among these students are suggested. They include making an extra effort for clear classroom communication, dealing with errors in writing mechanics, helping students achieve coherence, giving hints for planning and…

Explores ideas to help college educators empower students through their teaching. The article discusses assumptions of power and privilege that underlie empowerment, providing examples of how educators can disempower. Biological, psychological, and sociocultural processes of empowerment as related to race, gender, and disability are examined. (SM)

The University of South Carolina/Columbia responded to the concerns of a small group of students by establishing a permanent office of waste reduction and recycling. Students, faculty, and staff worked together to obtain a grant and matching funds to create a recycling system that reduces waste disposal costs substantially and uses existing campus…

Implications of 1992 Australian freedom of information legislation for higher education in Queensland are discussed, based in part on the outcomes of specific requests. Issues addressed include student and staff records, supervisor comments and recommendations, research theses, and the impact on universities in other states. Statistical data on…