Background/Context: In the last several decades, a college education, in particular the bachelor's degree, has become the key to higher earnings, and overall, to a middle-class lifestyle in the United States. In an increasingly globalized economy, privileging information and communication technologies, it is more than likely that this emphasis on…

The phenomenon of student attrition is an increasingly challenging problem confronting American higher education. Unfortunately, there exists virtually no consensus on root causes; and disagreements continue over what intervention strategies might help to reduce the rates with which young collegians abandon their studies and leave campus. Data…

A rite-of-passage program as a course of action for successfully transitioning Black young people into adulthood and fostering positive outcomes in their lives is the focus of this study. The program draws upon African traditional culture to impart values, improve self-concept, and develop cultural awareness. Utilizing data from a larger study,…

In response to a deficiency in basic skills demonstrated by students admitted to Santa Fe Community College (SFCC), a Vocational Skills Assessment (VSA) program was developed to increase student awareness of personal and vocational strengths through hands-on assessment of their abilities. The VSA program has four integrated courses: (1) Skills…

Many developmental educators have been assigned increased responsibilities for campus-wide enrollment management activities. A new system is needed for educators to more accurately sort through the rapidly growing database of information related to student retention. This will enable the reader to more quickly identify promising practices for…

The English department at the University of Cincinnati recently initiated an experimental writing course for developmental students who used Apple IIc computers and the Bank Street Writer (BSW) word processing program. BSW was chosen because of its overall simplicity, efficiency, and accessibility. The first two weeks of the course consisted of…

Information is provided on the Developmental Education Program offered at Cincinnati Technical College for students who have been accepted conditionally into one of the health, business, or engineering career programs at the college. Sections I and II outline the rationale for and goals of the developmental education program. Section III describes…

Nearly 48 percent of the students in Developmental Studies Mathematics courses at a major southern university during the fall of 1983 had taken college preparatory mathematics courses in high school. Some had even taken trigonometry, pre-calculus, or calculus. Yet, they were placed in university developmental studies mathematics courses because…

In fall 1980, a block scheduled developmental semester was offered for the first time at the Boyce Campus of the Community College of Allegheny County. The program was composed of three integrated courses: "Man, Time, and Social Change," a social science elective; "Basic Writing Techniques," a developmental English course; and…

This examination of the issues of reform pertinent to adult and developmental education focuses largely on the activities and recommendations of the Learning, Assessment, Retention Consortium (LARC) of California with respect to these concerns. The first sections of the paper address the problem of underprepared college students, and the policy…

If developmental studies programs are to successfully enhance affective and cognitive development in a non-competitive, supportive setting, they must abandon traditional A to F grading in favor of a descriptive, personalized feedback system that helps the student make intelligent decisions concerning his/her academic future. Indeed, research…

A study involving 42 randomly selected students enrolled in a developmental course at Trident Technical College in Spring 1979 was conducted to determine the impact of career information on students' career awareness, motivation, and academic achievement. Two sections of the course were designated as the control group and received only regularly…

The purpose of this study was to investigate aspiration, expectation, and parental influence and the extent to which these variables manifest themselves among 210 Upward Bound students in three institutions. (Author/LMO)

This report summarizes the proceedings and outcomes of the third Meeting on Future Directions in Developmental Education. On November 16-17, 2002, 40 participants met in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to follow up on the initiatives of the first two national meetings. The meeting followed two theme tracks: brainstorming grants and research, and promoting…

As the need to serve a broader and larger population of students at the community college level increases, the rate of student success is decreasing at many institutions. There is a greater need to deliver in-class and co-curricular experiences that satisfy the students currently entering college. The Student Success Project at Santa Monica…