Using ethnographic research methods, semistructured interviews were conducted with three women involved with a gay/lesbian/bisexual student organization. All three individuals were sophomores at an urban university in a large metropolitan area. The students discussed the fluid nature of the definitions of lesbian, gay, and bisexual, noting that…

This book, which is intended to assist human resource professionals and line managers in the United Kingdom, is a practical guide to retaining key employees. Discussed in the introduction are the relationship between downsizing and retention, problems that retention difficulties pose for human resource management, and the effects of retention…

In fall 1995, a study was undertaken to determine the effectiveness, according to student perception, of the educational planning system of the San Diego Community College District (California). Of the 26,753 students who enrolled via the district's telephone registration system that fall, 6,937 answered at least one question on an optional survey…

The Division of Adult Education in the Arizona Department of Education and the Arizona Adult Literacy and Technology Resource Center contracted with the Morrison Institute for Public Policy to develop an evaluation system for Arizona's adult education program. During phase I, the institute analyzed existing program data on Arizona's adult…

This action research project evaluated a program for improving middle school and high school students' engagement and ownership in the learning process. The problems of students exhibiting an inadequate level of engagement and ownership was documented through data showing quality of student work, anecdotal records kept by the teachers, and…

Two studies evaluated outcomes of a University Experience (freshman seminar) course to ease the transition to college and enhance student retention at the University of South Florida. In the first study, course evaluations of "typical" USF students (N=540) who completed the course in fall 1998 were overwhelmingly positive in support of…

This paper describes the impact of one college's Freshman Orientation Week (FOW) just prior to the fall semester as the first component of an academic achievement and retention enhancement program for at-risk students, The Learning Circle (TLC). TLC provided cognitive, metacognitive, affective, and behavioral skills and literacy training in five…

This study examined the Council for the Advancement of Standards' (CAS) standards for new student orientation as a possible set of criteria for faculty governance unit orientation programs. A random sample of 50 faculty governance unit (FGU) leaders were asked to rate the 20 CAS standards re-framed as faculty orientation criteria. The five…

Describes a unique one-semester, one-credit course which provides orientation to the University community, academic advising, values clarification and vocational planning, skill renewal exercises, and personal counseling to re-entry students. Continuing feedback underscores the relevance of such a holistic approach to student needs. (Author/JAC)

Describes a survey of the chief academic officers at each of Illinois' community colleges, conducted to investigate faculty development activities, their evaluation, and their perceived impact on instructional improvement. Found a wide variety of activities--orientation, inservice, professional, individual, and group--available to faculty.…

Presents a condensed version of a report on efforts undertaken at Princeton University during the late 1970s to overcome "user resistance" to use of the microforms collections housed in the university library. Staffing, equipment and miscellaneous improvements, collection development, bibliographic access, and collections maintenance are…

Seven separate articles addressing bibliographic instruction in academic and elementary and secondary school libraries include annotated bibliographies on library instruction, nonprint materials and school library censorship, guidelines for an effective program, library instruction organizations and clearinghouses, and a description of the program…

In a recent survey, various methods used by kibbutz teachers in evaluating student academic progress included: (1) formative vs. summative evaluation; (2) goal-related evaluation; (3) individualized evaluation vs. uniform standard evaluation; and (4) informal evaluation. (JN)

Describes a program for more effective academic advising called "Freshman Dialogue" where small groups of freshmen meet weekly with a trained faculty advisor for an intensive orientation to the university. Provides various rewards for both students and faculty. Results indicate the program was enthusiastically received and retention improved.…

The author proposes content and learning experiences for an effective introductory course to education. (SJL)