Adult mentors have proved to be important contributors to the academic and personal success of many students. This publication reviews the literature on mentoring programs for at-risk students and presents information on both the goals and challenges of mentoring programs. It also describes key elements of effective mentoring programs. It begins…

This action kit highlights steps city officials can take to help young people who are not connected to school, work, or caring adults. The kit recommends steps that cities can take to promote educational achievement, develop stronger workforce connections, support youth in transition from the foster care and juvenile justice systems, and build a…

An Indiana University at South Bend study examined the needs of nontraditional freshmen by determining difficulty levels of introductory course materials, identifying freshman reading and study skills levels, and providing coursework to increase retention. Results indicate that reading and study skills programs are essential. (MSE)

Presents the "Teaching Journal" as a component of the Teaching Apprenticeship in Expository Writing course offered by Ithaca College. The professor mentor and the teaching apprentice write independently about their weekly classroom observations, opinions, questions, and concerns. This process offers apprentices teaching experience and…

Suggests foreign students in Australia may not be getting preparation needed to integrate successfully into university study. Research is reviewed that indicates these students not only need help preparing for the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) but also with learning at an Australian university. Academic preparation courses…

In fall 1994, New York City Technical College established the Developmental Education Task Force to review the current state of developmental education (DE) at the college and recommend policy and program changes. The Task Force gathered quantitative data from analyses of DE enrollment trends, student characteristics, and graduation rates, as well…

In 1991, Bronx Community College, in New York, established the Freshman Year Initiative Program (FYIP), a comprehensive academic and counseling program designed to enhance academic achievement for a select group of first-semester students who require at least three remedial courses in English composition, reading, and/or mathematics. In order to…

This paper discusses the role of developmental or remedial education in higher education. Some students enroll in developmental courses because they are reentering college after many years out of a classroom. Others are recent high school graduates seeking better study skills and yet others are students lacking required course work from high…

These three serial issues focus on the characteristics and administration of developmental education programs. The following articles are featured: (1) "Characteristics of Successful Programs," which reviews research findings concerning the characteristics associated with effective and ineffective developmental programs and includes a list of…

Since 1983, DeKalb College (DC), in Clarkston, Georgia, has had a special program of services for deaf students, including interpreting, notetaking, tutoring, career advisement, and remediation. In 1988, the Georgia Sensory Rehabilitation Center (GSRC) opened in College Park, providing such services as evaluation, counseling, independent living,…

Focusing on the problems of attrition and retention in community colleges, this paper reviews the literature dealing with the causes of attrition, describes promising practices which attempt to deal with the problem, and offers recommendations to enhance retention. First, the characteristics of students likely to drop out of college are described…

A study investigated the effects of computer-assisted instruction on the vocabulary development of college students enrolled in a developmental reading program at a two-year college of a metropolitan, midwestern university. The subjects were 41 entry level students, 98% of whom had never used computers as an instructional tool. The students were…

College-bound students who score poorly on the American College Test (ACT) exam (16 or below) are usually required to take an examination that measures the ability to read and interpret college level material since this ability is a significant variable in the prediction of academic success. Many of these underprepared students need specific help…

A study was conducted in fall 1981 and spring 1982 to determine whether participation in selected components of Sierra College's (California) comprehensive student development program had a positive effect on student retention among first-time day students. The study focused on individualized counseling-advising appointments; personal development…

This descriptive report focuses on Milwaukee Area Technical College's Crossover Program, which was designed to help students who have demonstrated a low level of academic preparedness on their admissions placement test to improve their basic academic skills and choose a realistic program of study. The first sections of the report describe the…