This paper describes an academic assistance program designed to help ethnic minority students adjust to the demands of university life and succeed both academically and personally. The Excel program has three major components: a two-semester, two-credit core seminar; weekly instructional support groups; and peer led tutorial/discussion groups. The…

This paper examines, via an exploratory approach, the factors in doctoral programs that may potentially guide, motivate, and influence African American doctoral students to pursue careers in higher education. Interviews with 42 participants, 23 current students and 19 former doctorate recipients, were conducted, placing emphasis on interviewing…

This booklet provides advice, collected from the experiences of students who have completed their freshman year, on how to prepare for and complete the first year of college. The booklet begins with suggestions on the types of things that the new student should consider packing, such as items for the dorm room, various school supplies,…

At San Juan College, the effectiveness of student basic skills assessment and course placement advisement was significantly improved through the implementation of Computerized Placement Testing (CPT). The CPT lab houses 15 personal computers and is staffed by professional counselors and student services aides. Students are not allowed to leave the…

The relationships between features of general education programs/services and student persistence rates and test score gains are examined, based on a study conducted during 1976-1982 by the College Outcome Measures Project. In addition, the costs of general education and measurement of its effectiveness are briefly addressed. The study of 44…

Findings and recommendations of a University of Alberta task force study on the mature student are presented. Study objectives were as follows: to identify the characteristics of the mature student population at the university, to identify major concerns and needs of this population, to determine to what extent the university meets the needs of…

A content analysis identified the issues discussed by 39 advisors (mostly white faculty and administrators) with two cohorts of black freshmen at Towson State University (TSU), Maryland. Advisees were 95 black females and 40 black males in two freshmen classes. Advisors met with each subject at least once every 2 weeks and kept a record of issues…

An experimental freshman advising program at St. Olaf College, a private, church-related, liberal arts college, was evaluated. The freshman "cadre" program emphasized a living-learning environment, faculty adviser training, a structure that facilitated teamwork with colleagues, an interdisciplinary or random approach to matching up…

Drawing from information submitted by 60 urban, rural, and suburban institutions, this report documents the progress of California's community colleges in implementing the first phase of a statewide matriculation plan. Introductory material defines matriculation as a process that promotes and sustains the efforts of students to reach their…

A program to serve beginning and transfer students at Western Michigan University who are undecided about their curriculum choice is described. The assessment, referral, and advising services are designed to address students' developmental as well as academic needs. Program activities during 1986-1987 are identified for the following program…

A handbook for University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) teaching assistants (TAs) is presented that includes information about university policy concerning TAs and their jobs. Contents cover: duties of TAs, teaching associates, and teaching fellows; appointment, reappointment, and duration of employment; salary; benefits; conduct,…

A guide for developing a departmentally-based teaching assistant (TA) training program is presented. At the University of California, Los Angeles, (UCLA) part-time teaching assistant consultants who are experienced TAs have been employed to help with TA training programs. The following criteria are used to evaluate departmental proposals to hire…

Guidelines on study abroad are presented to assist advisers, administrators, and faculty committees. Topics include the following: rationale for international education; educational opportunities abroad for U.S. students; development of advisory services; the nature of the profession of study abroad advising; desirable attributes and backgrounds…

Program descriptions, articles, an annotated bibliography, and a survey report on programs and services for students who are underprepared for college work as freshmen are presented. The survey report considers program design and delivery strategies at about 300 colleges, and the program descriptions concern: advising, basic skills instruction and…

The efficiency and effectiveness of using a group approach to advising by a team of faculty advisors were evaluated in 1980-81 at the General College, University of Minnesota. Group/team advising was compared to individualized, one-to-one advising of first-semester freshmen in terms of student satisfaction with advising, student understanding of…