Thomas Jefferson University (Pennsylvania) has two dental professional hygiene education programs, one a prelicensure, entry-level clinical education program and the other a postcertificate or baccalaureate degree completion program. Recruitment strategies include prerequisite restructuring and part-time programs, and retention efforts begin with…

Analyzed academic achievement of high school students from intact, single-parent, and remarried families. Differences in academic achievement and grades among the groups were statistically significant. There were differences in drop-out behavior among the groups. Students from single-parent and remarried families showed gender differences in…

Describes Evergreen Valley College's ENLACE program, designed to retain and matriculate Hispanic students and enable them to complete a cognitive academic core of English and math courses. ENLACE involves community mentors in communication and math skills improvement, career exposure, and serving as role models. Reviews results. (DMM)

This article summarizes intervention activities and participant outcomes from a five-year federally funded project that prepared students with learning disabilities for transition to postsecondary education. Project participants demonstrated higher first-year postsecondary retention rates than the student population and gained skills in many…

Compared three types of orientation programs offered to new students at Salisbury State University (Maryland) traditional, alternative, and outdoor. Findings suggested enrollees in the outdoor program had better adjustment and higher retention rates than enrollees in other programs. The study concluded that interaction/ collaboration among…

A study examined the academic success and retention of 442 first-year, African-American college students at a historically Black, private, liberal arts college. During their first week on campus, students were surveyed about their preparation and readiness for college. Stepwise regression analysis found that both cognitive and noncognitive…

Focus groups comprised of Alaska Native students at the University of Alaska Fairbanks identified factors contributing to or serving as barriers to student academic success. Contributors included student persistence, financial support from native corporations, family support, employment, and availability of developmental classes. Barriers included…

Highlights the development and implementation of a multifaceted program at Middlesex Community College in Massachusetts. The program, which includes curriculum changes, new student organizations, international student fellowships, and orientation activities, was designed to create a more inclusive campus environment. Presents findings concerning…

Analysis of transcripts and survey responses of undergraduate students in one university identified three types of student extenders (full-time students taking longer than normal to complete a degree), determined by financial need, grade-consciousness, and special situations. Characteristics of these groups are compared with those posited by…

A Ball State University (Indiana) program to strengthen student retention involves a Freshman-Year Experience Committee of 40 professionals representing key units in academic and student affairs who collaborate to respond to the needs of first-year students. The committee has designed policies for freshman dismissal and midterm evaluation that are…

Describes efforts of the Spring Independent School District (Texas) to help teenage mothers remain in school, develop job skills, and improve parenting skills. The initiation of the teen parenting program and a typical program day are described. The involvement of the National Coalition for Equality in Learning and scholarships awarded to teen…

Measures persistence rate differences between two-year-degree and four-year-degree students, using a longitudinal retention study that analyzed academic and demographic variables in the student database. Identifies first-semester hours and grade point average as significant dropout predictors. Concludes that associate degree students have better…

This summarizes a study about how well California State University, Chico, Upward Bound participants persist in postsecondary education. Upward Bound graduates entered, are persisting toward their educational goal, or have completed their goal in a single postsecondary institution at a higher rate than the national college-going population. (JM)

A 5-year study examined the educational experiences of 69 culturally traditional American Indian students at a small midwestern university. Although all students experienced initial alienation, strength of ethnic identity enabled "transcultural" students to engage non-Indian culture without assimilation and successfully complete college. Insecure…

Describes a study conducted to determine the differences among students enrolling during three phases of registration (early, regular, and late). Finds that: (1) new and returning students who enroll late are more likely to withdraw from a class than those who register early or at the regular time; and (2) returning students differed in their GPAs…