The development of models predicting progress toward the master's and doctoral degrees is reported. The models link department and student characteristics, student financial support, and student perceptions of the faculty with grades, involvement in the program, satisfaction with the department, and student feelings of alienation. (Author/MSE)

Describes a course which provides training opportunities for academic staff who wish to acquire professional orientation toward their teaching functions. Course origins, current practices, and an independent course evaluation are described. Tentative conclusions are drawn concerning distance academic staff training and ways distance study can…

The results of interviews of students of medicine, business administration, and engineering concerning their perceptions of their professional education's relevance to actual professional work, the nature of learning and knowledge, and worldwide economic and technological development are presented and discussed. (MSE)

This study examines the association between three outcomes of the freshman and sophomore years (retention, academic achievement and student rating of instruction) and the amount of exposure to three types of instructors (regular full-time faculty, adjunct faculty and graduate teaching assistants). This study uncovered little evidence that…

Based on a trend study of 970 graduating seniors, this paper presents a model for designing senior survey research studies to achieve optimum impact on assessment and policy development. The paper demonstrates how the link between research and policy was achieved through the conceptual organization, design and statistical analyses of the study.…

In the mid 1990s, the Ontario Government decided to enhance the accountability of the Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology by measuring and rewarding their performance in meeting specific goals and outcomes. The KPI Satisfaction Survey is a tool developed by the Ministry of Training Colleges and Universities in conjunction with the colleges to…

The eighth in a series of studies investigating the educational context and outcomes for high school students with disabilities (SWDs), this study examined parents' perceptions of the educational program of their children with disabilities. Ten parents of students with disabilities participated in focus groups and provided their ideas and opinions…

In this study, prospective science teachers' (PSTs) views about their poster presentations were investigated. These posters were developed through PSTs' online and library research and scientific mini-symposiums in chemistry related topics in the framework of science, technology and society course (STS). During the first four weeks of STS course,…

To determine factors influencing attrition and retention at Pennsylvania College of Technology, a survey was conducted of the 688 students who were enrolled in spring 1996 but neither graduated nor enrolled in fall 1996. Responses were received from 437 former students and were compared to findings from a similar survey of 482 leavers in 1994.…

In 1996-97, the Adult Career Counseling Center (ACCC) at Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan, enhanced its operation by doing the following: implementing a new computer system to network various software packages; creating and implementing a computerized system to maintain ACCC client records and usage statistics; developing an ACCC policy…

This study followed up gifted Finnish students who participated in Olympiad mathematics and scientific competitions during the years 1965-1997. Survey responses were received from 158 former Olympians (150 males, 8 females) and 169 of their parents. The responding Olympians had competed in mathematics (N=73), physics (N=50), and chemistry (N=35)…

This Cuesta College (California) document identifies key institutional effectiveness indicators that are used to assess institutional performance on specified educational processes. The key process of instruction/learning is measured through student performance results such as: (1) transfer rate (University of California/California State…

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…

Undergraduates and graduates indicated their degree of satisfaction with their major department. Two highly correlated factors, General Satisfaction with Major and Satisfaction with Mentorship, were obtained. Factor scores did not differ for class level, grade point average, sex, field of study, or reason for choosing their major. (Author/RD)

Reports the retrospective thoughts of 161 former participants of Saturday and summer gifted programs at Purdue University (Indiana). The programs offer enrichment and accelerated classes in all areas of the curriculum for children from age 2 through middle school. The programs' role in shaping career choices is discussed. (CR)