This document describes what Palomar Community College District (California) is doing to address a pressing need in higher education: the need to produce more and better student learning in exchange for the state's education investment. The need is especially crucial in regard to the greater number of under-prepared students who are entering…

In early stages of writing, the writing process encourages "writing the way we talk," but in the end students are expected to write as academicians: a student must control his/her written level of language. For English speaking students, needing to belong to ingroups, and the casual attitude of American society both contribute to students'…

This report contains 22 tables and 25 figures showing student characteristics and enrollment trends from 1995 to 1999 for Cuesta College. Section 1 presents five-year student characteristics and enrollment trends; Section 2 outlines enrollment by Cuesta College educational region, 1998-99. Both sections contain data on enrollment status, course…

This report presents the findings of an enrolled student survey administered to approximately 3,700 Miami-Dade Community College (M-DCC) (Florida) students during the 2000-2001 fall term. The survey was administered to regular credit students, English-as-a-Second-Language/English-Non-Speaking (ESL/ENS) students, and Postsecondary Adult Vocational…

Reports on a study of social science education in the Los Angeles Community College District, focusing on instructor ratings of student skills, students' self-ratings of their skills, course completion rates, instructional practices, course organization, grades, and social science course offerings. (DMM)

Describes a study of the racial prejudice of students at a southern two-year college conducted by sociology students using the Bogardus Social Distance Scale. Found that Blacks appeared to feel more prejudice than Whites, Mexican-Americans, and Asians; males more prejudice than females; and that age was not a determining factor. (DMM)

Offers a description of the community college in 1990, covering instruction, students, learning resources, personnel, finance, facilities, governance, and administration. Predicts little difference in future university, college, and community college students; a narrowing of the education-work gap; and an increased need for scientific and…

Provides findings from a literature review and a national survey conducted to establish a profile of the curricula, faculty, and students in two-year agricultural occupational programs. Shows similarities and differences among postsecondary occupational programs. Reveals that agricultural programs began and operated without benefit of organized…

Discusses four instruments that can be incorporated into an entry-level testing program to assess cognitive style, anxiety toward learning, locus of control, and conceptual level. Examines the usefulness of measuring these attributes in helping community college instructors develop individualized learning approaches for nontraditional students.…

Discusses the changing role of institutional research in light of: (1) demands for increased productivity; (2) the need to recruit and retain nontraditional students; (3) the high costs of vocational education; (4) the complex data collection requirements of program evaluation; and (5) the growing importance of collective bargaining. (JP)

Describes a study of the comprehension strategies used by four community college developmental reading students, comparing results for two "less able" and two "more able" readers. Reports that the "more able" readers employed interpreting strategies more often than the "less able" readers. Reviews implications for teachers. The questionnaire is…

Examines the impact of statewide mandatory testing and placement in Tennessee's community colleges on the retention and academic progress of minority students. Reports that attrition is higher for developmental students and higher for minority than White students. Few Blacks enroll directly in college-level courses and fewer still persist for…

Summarizes findings from a national study of the students, staff, and programs that make up community college fine arts departments. Reviews the history of community colleges' involvement in the fine and performing arts, student characteristics and goals, support for arts programs within the schools, and policy issues. (DMM)

Drawing from a study of exemplary community college programs, offers recommendations for increasing support for at-risk students through preenrollment activities, orientation programs, elimination of late registration, basic skills assessment, improved financial aid, expanded mentoring programs, and increased problem solving and literacy…

Describes New York City Technical College's "Law through Literature" course, an English elective especially for Legal Assistant Studies students. Quotes from students' essays about personal experiences related to characters/events from Harper Lee's "To Kill a Mockingbird." Recounts class discussions about influences on…