This document provides an analysis of the 1997 and 1998 Sacramento environmental scans completed by Los Rios Community College District (California). Findings include: (1) new high school graduates and new older students are, on average, earning GPAs and success rates that are below average for all students; (2) specific Los Rios ethnic minority…

Counseling needs in the two-year colleges are varied and complex. There is a need for career counseling, counseling for career flexibility, preparing for the job interview and how to keep a job, follow-up, counseling and developing opportunities for minorities as well as concern with handicapped, veterans, and marginal students. (Author)

Describes a study of the educational attitudes of faculty and students in the North Carolina community college system, measured in terms of the dichotomy between traditionalism (associated with pedagogy) and progressivism (associated with androgogy). Both faculty and student attitudes represented a moderate position on the androgogy-pedagogy…

Examines the effects of slide-tape self-instructional modules on community college biology students' final course grades and feelings about course participation. Data indicate significant gains on one of four content area achievement tests, significantly better overall grades, and positive student reactions. (DMM)

Reviews a study of the reasons students enroll in individual community college courses. Classifying students as "requirement meeters,""knowledge seekers," or "specific information users," compares motivational orientations along three dimensions: major criterion of success; educational aspect emphasized (instrumental or expressive); and…

Describes the socioeconomic gains experienced by community college students as a function of educational investment. Assesses variations in the rates of return experienced by students in terms of their age, sex, major, employment history, and degree objectives. Considers community college education a valuable investment with respect to present…

Reviews a study of relationships between persistence over a three-year period and selected characteristics of Virginia community college students who were undecided about a major or without degree goals. Persistence was significantly related to race, sex, full-/part-time status, and final major. The job market influenced curricular choices and…

Describes Muscatine Community College's Horizon Program, designed to provide additional opportunities for intellectual growth to self-selected students wishing to transcend the challenges of the regular curriculum and to prevent the increasing rise in attrition of academically accelerated students. Considers activities including discussion groups,…

Argues against community colleges' add-on responses to diverse student needs. Proposes restructuring the college to attain the open admissions goal, focusing on the teaching/learning process. Encourages institutional policies supporting program quality; improvement of student assessment skills; and use of a directive approach to student placement…

Discusses women's programing at two-year colleges. Points to rising female enrollments and reviews the themes and objectives of women's programs. Suggests directions and concerns for the 1980s related to occupational training, characteristics of women learners, financial aid, counseling, programs for special groups (e.g., adolescent mothers and…

Cites results of recent studies about deteriorating basic skills of community college students. Presents opposing views on developmental education by John Roueche (EJ 189 264) and Arthur Cohen (EJ 201 762). Argues in favor of providing for underprepared students through specialized, developmental "intensive care units" built around prescriptive…

Describes the programs and activities offered by Tulsa Junior College's Metro Campus to meet the social needs and aspirations of nontraditional, commuting students. Points to the use of community resources, college-sponsored recreational activities, and the encouragement of widespread involvement in student government as ways of meeting the…

In light of the growing number of adult, part-time, community college students, questions the viability of the comprehensive community college mission; investigates the educational needs and objectives of adult learners; provides examples of programs that meet these needs; and warns that providing lifelong learning is an inappropriate community…

Occupational and transfer community college students were compared on self-acceptance levels. The transfer students had significantly higher scores than the occupational students as indicated by a one-way analysis of variance. Married students scored significantly higher than transfer and occupational students. (Author)