The various motivations for individuals entering and remaining in the teaching profession are described. The extent of teacher commitment by sex, age, and grade level taught, and advantages and disadvantages of teaching are discussed, and factors relating to job satisfaction are explored. (JN)

For a sample of 75 female senior nursing students the Tennessee Self-Concept Scale exhibited statistically significant correlations with the Adjective Check List (ACL) scales of Endurance, Nurturance, and Affiliation. Statistically significant negative correlations were found for the ACL scales of Aggression and Succorance. (Author/BW)

Growing numbers of teachers are seeking new careers as shrinking enrollments decrease available jobs and internal conditions increase stress. A small workshop setting can be an effective method of career counseling that includes self-assessment, career planning, and skill development. (JAC)

Multiple discriminant analysis is an effective research tool to approach the problem of student attrition. Using this method, the small, liberal arts college can more accurately identify students who are likely to persist. Academic achievement and nonacademic variables are coupled to enhance the power of discriminant analysis. (RC)

Reports a three-year follow-up study of women engineering and home economics majors. Findings did not support the hypothesis that persistence in the two curricula would be related to sex roles. Persisters in engineering had higher college entrance SAT math scores than changers or dropouts. (Author)

A study of 750 students from four community colleges showed that high-risk students graduated only half as frequently in traditional community colleges (miniuniversities) as in non-punitive colleges (opportunity centers). However, there were no differences in subsequent academic performance of such students in senior institutions, suggesting that…

This article concentrates on identifying program goals as an initial, and essential, aspect of developing a program for the retention of minority students in higher education. Focus groups and in-depth interviews that were conducted to identify goals for such a program at a major research university are described. (SLD)

Analyzes the strengths and weaknesses of three major approaches to U.S. teacher education reform (the professionalization, deregulation, and social justice agendas), noting that although each has contributed to improving teacher education in order to lessen the achievement gap, each has certain weaknesses that undermine this goal. There are also…

Compared the effects of grouping sixth grade students with different levels of persistence on their ability to learn in cooperative learning groups while working at the computer. Reports results that indicated that average persisters interacted more than either high or low persisters and discusses implications for forming effective cooperative…

Describes several instructional strategies successful schools have commonly used to raise the academic achievement of poor and minority students. Achievement-gap closure strategies include emphasizing reading skills, teaching higher order thinking skills, routinely reviewing material, making at-risk students participate in class, requiring…

Examines minority students' enrollment based on a national survey data. Describes students' background characteristics, college choice, engineering decision, financial need, college environment, and factors related to college success. Reports that commitment to the university, high school grade, SAT-mathematical score, and financial need were…

Examines the subsequent differences in academic status, "quality point averages," and persistence of students who successfully completed a reading improvement course compared to those who did not complete it, avoided it, or were exempted from the course. Finds that groups' success differs and students completing the course persisted longer in…

Analyzes five intellective and nine non-intellective variables to develop mathematical models to predict freshman success and persistence. Lists and describes the variables. Explores the model's attempts in predicting grade point average and chance of success in an engineering school. (MVL)

Increasingly, state governments and university systems are shifting minority program emphasis away from recruitment toward keeping students in college until they graduate. States are developing strategies to increase transfers from two-year to four-year institutions, tracking student progress and institutional performance with computers, and…

A study using a national sample of 1,375 college students attending public 4-year institutions tested hypotheses concerning economic and noneconomic variables on college persistence. Findings indicate financial variables moderate the effect of goal commitment on persistence. Implications for theory and for financial aid policy are explored.…