Previous studies established that 6 hours of instruction focusing on cognitively demanding aspects of computer use were sufficient to reduce computer anxiety significantly among teacher education students. This paper reports on a study of whether or not it is possible to reduce anxiety at least as efficiently by providing a similar length computer…

A research project that developed methods for describing, organizing, analyzing, and predicting state education policy activity had as its major focus the way that values affect that policy. Data were drawn from six states: Wisconsin, Illinois, California, Arizona, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania. They were chosen to represent ranges of political…

This study investigated the effects of cocaine addiction on mothers' ability to care for their children. The population interviewed included 25 cocaine-addicted mothers in a drug treatment center and a comparison group of 25 mothers of children in a Head Start program. Each mother was questioned about: (1) her pregnancy with a specific child…

This paper briefly reviews the literature on the common factors in effective college student retention programs, then presents a study assessing the impact of the institution's mission effectiveness as distinct from other determinants of student retention. The assessment of retention predictors and the effects of the school's mission were…

In winter 1993, Chaffey College (CC) in California experienced a 44% drop, over the previous quarter, in enrollments of students holding baccalaureate degrees. This decline coincided with the introduction statewide of a $33 per quarter unit differential fee for baccalaureate-holding students. Previously, there had been a $10 per quarter unit fee.…

In April 1992, the American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) and the American Association of Community Colleges approved the "Joint Statement on Transfer" (JST), urging two- and four-year institutions to facilitate the transfer of students among institutions. In addition, the AACSB modified accreditation standards to…

Methods that might be used to establish standards of performance that will permit the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards to classify candidate teachers as highly accomplished (worthy of National Board certification) or less than highly accomplished (not worthy of certification) are contrasted. Plans for research on these issues are…

Most studies investigating preservice teachers' attitudes towards computers have drawn subjects from required computer classes or from elective courses. This study examines computer attitudes of preservice teachers in reading, mathematics, and science education methods courses which have not traditionally emphasized the role of computers in the…

This book examines the practices that support and enhance the value of part-time faculty both in and outside the college classroom, offering 43 specific recommendations to help institutions plan and manage their use of part-timers, develop fair employment policies, and invest in part-timers as valued human resources contributing to the quality of…

Changes that have been made in reporting and disseminating information from the National Assessment of Educational Progress are discussed, focusing on those changes brought about by the first Trial State Assessment (TSA). The TSA collected data on the mathematics performance of students in grades 4, 8, and 12 in public and private schools in 40…

A study was conducted at William Rainey Harper College (WRHC) of 400 students who had attended WRHC in fall 1990 but failed to enroll in the subsequent term. The sample was divided into two groups: students who had completed fewer than 16 credit hours and those who had completed more than 16 but less than 48 credit hours. All of the stopouts were…

In spring 1993, as part of the program review process at William Rainey Harper College (WRHC) in Palatine, Illinois, surveys were sent to former students in the college's Secretarial Science programs who had attended WRHC during the previous five years. Surveys were sent to 102 executive secretaries (ES's), 57 legal secretaries (LS's), 200…

This study investigated the nature of students' discussion in peer response sessions in an English-as-a-Second-Language composition class in Taiwan. Subjects were 17 university students, divided into four writing groups. Half of the 16 peer response sessions were computer-mediated (CM), the other half in face-to-face interaction (FF). Analysis of…

This report presents two large tables showing trends in the financing of public higher education since 1977-78. Introductory information explains how to use the tables, the data-time relationship (whether fiscal year, academic year, or calendar year), and includes a sample chart constructed from one state's data. The raw data used for these…

The European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (CEDEFOP) aids the European Commission in encouraging promotion and development of vocational education and training (VET) at the community level. The work program for 1999 document has three sections. In section 1, "Developing knowledge and expertise," 12 projects relate to…