Describes a longitudinal study of students' first two years at a Norwegian university. Reports a positive correlation between upper secondary and university success. Good study habits had a positive effect on self-confidence but did not affect grades until the fourth semester. Increasing study hours did not necessarily improve grades. (DMM)

This review of research related to teacher retention and attrition in special education organizes research findings around a conceptual model of teachers' career decisions that includes three major factors: external, employment, and personal. The review also considers major findings from general education retention studies, and conceptual and…

A survey of 30 withdrawing students and 85 graduates of health professions schools of a Canadian university found that program and curriculum dissatisfaction, uncertainty about educational and occupational goals, and stress associated with the profession were the most important reasons for voluntary withdrawal. Dropouts were typically older,…

Two types of national data sets are described and used to analyze minority student equity in higher education: longitudinal survey data for tracking student persistence and cross-sectional data for monitoring the performance of institutions. Development of additional data sets of institutional characteristics that can provide true explanatory…

Examines consequences of work experience during high school, using data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth. Figures from 1979-81 indicate that youths, especially White youths, may benefit from early employment, but many forego study or school-related activities without gaining any advantage in the long term. (DM)

Quantifies the relationships among the personal and professional attributes of teachers, school district characteristics, and the retention behavior of teachers employed by these districts. Retention is negatively related to property wealth and the percentage of Indian and Asian students and is positively related to teaching experience, salary,…

Discusses model designed to provide effective academic, personal, and social support programs to minority college students. Describes model as intrusive and developmental in nature and able to be modified to accommodate groups of students with unique needs. Identifies model's three major areas of focus: academic and developmental monitoring, peer…

Compared decliners (n=102), students who exhibited 20% decline during sophomore year from first-year grade point average (GPA) and maintainers (n=94), students who maintained or improved their first-year GPA. During sophomore year, lack of commitment to school, absenteeism, educational goals, extracurricular activities, and perceptions of…

Examined relationship between academic comfort and occupational orientation, and between academic comfort and persistence for 68 ethnically diverse students. Results from 41 African-American, 12 Hispanic, and 12 white students showed significant relationships between comfort and occupational orientation and introversion-extroversion. Three-year…

Evaluated academic lives of 53 women who, in 1988, entered Eureka Program, 2-year mathematics/science intervention program for women students at Brooklyn College. Program persisters were characterized by high self-esteem, better mathematics or science backgrounds, early decision on science major, higher grades in college mathematics courses,…

Fifty-two students with learning disabilities, behavior disorders, or mild mental retardation answered questions relating to special education. Students indicated the best part of school was socializing with peers, a particular class or teacher, and sports, whereas the worst part was being in particular classes, dealing with…

Describes a project-in-process designed to incorporate multiple strategies into a comprehensive retention program. Theorizes that combining these strategies would have a cumulative, positive impact on student persistence. Gives a description of the major components of the program, examines the organizational dynamics of the project, and provides a…

Assesses the correlation between completion of a freshman seminar course at a community college and subsequent persistence and achievement. Indicates that receiving a grade of "C" or better is positively correlated with subsequent academic success. States that the results do not identify which elements of the seminar contributed most to this…

A study examined the structural relationship among four constructs--motivational factors, student background, academic performance, and student persistence in college--for both minorities and non-minorities. Although motivation failed to impact academic performance for either racial subgroup, there was a significant motivational effect on…

Addresses issues related to high dropout rates of Black college students, including those at historically black institutions. Finds a gap in services once students reach college and describes proposed federal legislation (the William H. Grant III College Completion Challenge Grant Program of 1999) which would offer institutions grants to develop…