Prepared for community college administrators and faculty, this handbook was designed for use after the presentation of either of two videotaped documentaries treating the problems of access to vocational education programs in California community colleges in terms of both entry and retention problems. Following introductory material, information…

A study was conducted at Kirkwood Community College (KCC) to assess the role played by students' selection of a major as a predictor of academic success as measured by graduation from a two-year college. The study utilized computerized records and transcripts of students enrolled at KCC during fall 1974 through fall 1980. The records of a sample…

Recruitment and retention of qualified teachers in three critical instructional areas--science (n=50), mathematics (n=50), and kindergarten (n=50)--were investigated. The study sought to assess and compare selected variables bearing upon teachers who decide to continue teaching in these areas and those who choose to resign (n=41). A survey focused…

A report is given of a 1987 survey of teachers in the District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS). Data were obtained from 580 full-time classroom teachers in three elementary schools, two junior high schools, and one senior high school. The focus of the survey was on teacher attrition rates and turnover. Results indicated a high percentage of…

The New York state educational system must change to reduce the devastatingly high dropout rate among Hispanic, Black and American Indian students. A dropout is defined as a student who has been dropped from a school's enrollment and who has not graduated from 12th grade nor been transferred to another school. Research into the causes of dropping…

A review and synthesis of the literature on factors influencing faculty decisions to leave an institution are presented. From this review, Lazarsfeld and Rosenberg's "empirical analysis of action" methodology was selected as the foundation for a survey of 37 Arts and Sciences faculty, for whom the response rate was 51%. Each received a…

This report describes Georgia's Gainesville College's (GC's) student retention program, assesses its effectiveness, and highlights recent or anticipated program changes. Part I offers background information on the college and its students and their educational plans and goals. Part II presents retention figures for full-time students, including…

This study compared attitudinal data on students who had dropped college preparatory science (academic terminal) in high school (N=55) with those who continued to enroll (academic continuing) in college preparatory science courses (N=108). Eight attitudes that have been hypothesized to be related to learning cognitive performance and enrollment in…

Teachers (n=122) from 5 secondary comprehensive schools in England and Wales were interviewed to find out how a teacher seeks a career within a school, what teachers perceive occurring within the school, and how this relates to the rapid and substantial structural change that is occurring in secondary schools. Data were organized using a…

The present study examines the impact of the Direct Instruction (DI) program on the high school careers of the economically disadvantaged students who participated in the DI model of Project Follow Through. The study involves six sites: East St. Louis; New York City; Flint, Michigan; Williamsburg County, South Carolina; and Uvalde, Texas. A…

Information relating to course choice and commitment, and use of pre-enrollment information and advisory resources, were collected at the time of enrollment in 1980 from 1,375 first-year students at the University of New South Wales. The students were enrolled in the faculties of arts, architecture, and engineering. Multivariate analyses were used…

Faced with high rates of student attrition, Santa Barbara Community College (SBCC) established a committee to assess the effectiveness of the college's support services; review research on student retention; and recommend ways of improving student success through academic skills assessment, student academic advisement, articulation and…

The results of a retention intervention study designed to provide a one-to-one supportive relationship for incoming black male students at the University of Maryland are discussed. In this study, 34 full-time first-time American black male freshmen were matched with interested members of the Kappa Alpha Psi black alumni fraternity (a…

The college persistence of 1980 high school graduates and their subsequent attainment of bachelor's degrees are described with data taken from the Postsecondary Longitudinal Studies Program of the National Center for Education Statistics. Using the group of High School and Beyond 1980 graduates as a base, the persistence track transitions are…

This paper analyzes the literature on mentoring for adult and youth populations for the following purposes: (1) to apply issues and concerns found in the literature to mentoring programs for disadvantaged and tenacious youth; and (2) to establish assumptions and program principles beyond the considerations of the existing literature. Chapter I,…