When the School-to-Work Opportunities Act (STWOA) was initiated in 1994, it was envisioned as a systematic effort to prepare young people for high-skill, high-wage careers and provide them with the academic instruction and foundation skills needed to pursue postsecondary education and lifelong learning. STWOA called for development of three main…

In an effort to better understand student loan default behavior at Texas A&M University (TAMU), the research staff at TG, at the request of TAMU, conducted a study of the relationship between loan default, on the one hand, and many student and borrower characteristics, on the other hand. The study examines the default behavior of 12,776…

Describes trends related to declining mathematics and science achievement test scores of graduating high school seniors. Reports that scores of students intending to major in college mathematics and science have been stable over time. Discusses implications for education policy, particularly in science in elementary grades. (CS)

Analysis of data from two national longitudinal studies focused on college application behaviors of different racial ethnic groups. Results show significant group differences in preparation behaviors, in number of colleges applied to, and in attendance at first-choice institution. Institutions are urged to evaluate the potential effects of policy…

Statistical analysis was conducted of offerings by universities in England and Wales to students admitted conditional to achievement of specific grades on A-level examinations. Disciplines included in analysis were electrical engineering, English, mathematics, sociology. Admissions conditional on future achievement were examined for differences…

Examines the approach of the College Board's Advanced Placement (AP) Program to curricular development and assessment using the framework of D. Massell for agenda setting for content standards. Opportunities and constraints applicable to the current national standards movement are discussed. The AP program clearly meets capacity building and…

A survey of 196 freshmen seeking to identify noncognitive variables influencing pre-college decision making, satisfaction with the freshman experience, and academic confidence found that academically underprepared students were older, went to college later, reported more satisfaction with academic advising, and were less accepting of American…

During adolescence, one important career-related decision is the choice of a study in higher education. In this article, a new set of measures for different tasks (i.e., orientation, exploration, commitment) that can be distinguished during this career decision-making process was constructed: the Study Choice Task Inventory (SCTI). A sample of 946…

It is the 20th anniversary of the release of Dale Parnell's landmark book "The Neglected Majority". In this book, Parnell pointed out that for too long America's educational system has focused on the highest and lowest achievers. He made the case that most of those students in the middle two high school quartiles neither prepare for nor aspire to…

This study of international students at eight Canadian universities used a case study approach. The study's objectives were to provide universities with information that would enable them to improve their interactions with international students, to identify the factors that influence universities to accept international students, and to identify…

This report presents the viewpoints and arguments made during a meeting of higher education administrators who were assembled to discuss how college unions and student activities contribute to a sense of community on campus. The report compares how the union and activities profession views itself with how others perceive it, as well as relating…

Lifestyle and career plans of Boston College undergraduate students were studied, along with the influences of family and religious background, the college academic environment, and the college social environment. A total of 298 male and 634 female students completed a study questionnaire in 1981. Although both men and women expected to have…

Changes in attitude, motivation, and values take place in the academic, athletic, and social areas of student-athletes' lives during their freshman year of college. Twenty incoming college freshman athletes involved in "revenue" sports (football, basketball, and ice hockey) participated in this study and were interviewed in the fall and again in…

Student unions of the 80's struggled to try to find the proper balance between service and education while meeting financial requirements as institutional support began to ebb. Upgrading food service, serving alcoholic beverages, and offering packaged events and mini-courses were all used to serve the needs of the student population as well as…

This book contains 100 examples (profiles) of how specific colleges across the United States have successfully sought information to better understand the adult learner, developed effective marketing strategies to reach them, and delivered programs and services that adequately serve them. The profiles describe the college's goals and objectives,…