As part of a series of periodic assessments of campus climate, the San Diego Community College District (SDCCD), in California, conducted a survey of classified staff in November 1995. Questionnaires were mailed to 280 staff members at San Diego City College, San Diego Mesa College, and San Diego Miramar College, soliciting their perceptions of…

This study examined the influence of background characteristics, disciplinary differences, institutional context, academic library experiences, and the perceptions of the college environment on the estimated gains of critical thinking skills in undergraduate students (N=9,361). The study used data from a national, cross-sectional survey completed…

In spring 1992, the College of the Canyons (CC) in Valencia, California, held three workshops for faculty and staff on the topics of gender equity and sexual harassment. A total of 60 faculty and staff attended the workshops, representing 19.3% of the college's employees. Women comprised 52 of the 60 participants. To help assess the current campus…

This brochure offers students tips for successfully completing the freshman year at college, and is particularly aimed at helping the student reader to anticipate the situations and problems likely to arise during the first weeks and months at school. The suggestions are grouped by month and each monthly section also includes at least one reminder…

This study examines the undergraduate characteristics and factors in the undergraduate experience that appear to correlate with beneficial classroom experiences. The study was conducted at a large research university with an undergraduate population of about 10,000 students. Data were derived from a survey instrument that is part of the…

This study examined how race and ethnicity inform college friendships of women of color and sought to determine how these two variables altered the learning characteristics of such relationships. The study, at a predominantly white college campus, found these relationships consistent with the sociological definition of intentional communities and…

This paper, one in a series about the priorities of the professoriate, seeks to clarify the relationship between academic freedom and tenure by examining the standards and procedures used by the university to protect academic freedom without a tenure system. The paper considers first the minimum elements necessary to protect academic freedom…

Drawing from an analysis of the literature on student attrition and retention at community colleges, this paper presents a typology of retention strategies as a structure by which further research can advance. Introductory material explains the typology, which categorizes retention strategies according to whether their purposes are to: (1) sort…

Institutional change requires that "restraining" forces (those forces resisting change) be minimized and "driving" forces (those forces moving in the direction of change) be maximized. Lasting change involves broad-based staff participation in the change process; this requires the establishment of multiple feedback levels or…

This study analyzed a variety of departmental and student outcomes data obtained from faculty and graduating seniors in 27 academic departments at a Research II University. The purpose was to answer two questions: (1) does a strong research orientation by an academic department promote or hinder student learning and growth? and (2) are differences…

In the wake of a shift in the racial composition of the student body at Prince George's Community College (PGCC), which was 62% "minority" by spring 1992, a thorough investigation of the college's racial climate was undertaken. One aspect of this investigation involved the distribution of a questionnaire to 7,000 students enrolled in…

This book is designed to help groups of individuals on campuses initiate and conduct focused discussions of the role of ethnic diversity in the daily lives of students at colleges and universities. The volume contains a variety of discussion materials including extended case studies; short case studies and exercises termed "thought…

This study examined the prevalence and impact of student attitudes tolerant toward or supportive of sexual aggression including date rape on college campuses. Data for the study come from the 1985 and 1989 Freshman Surveys involving a total of 89,070 male and female college students. Among the findings were the following: (1) students who oppose…

This document reports the results of a survey of immigrant political science faculty of non-European origin during the fall of 1992. There were five purposes for conducting the survey: (1) to collect data on the characteristics of faculty in the United States who migrated from non-European countries, particularly the less developed countries; (2)…

This book describes how schools of higher education can implement practices that promote educationally purposeful out-of-class activities within the context of their campus communities. The practices are intended to help develop faculty and student creativity and initiative. Chapter 1 examines the contributions of out-of-class experiences to…