Students (N=1,767) responded to questionnaires examining their perceptions of the living environment in university residence halls in relation to their perceptions of the social climate. General results were positive, with student perceptions of the residence hall environment being favorable in most instances. Compared 1980 and 1981 students'…

The complaint that memoirs of college and university life are impressionistic and biased and thus poorly suited for a research project is refuted. Memoirs can shape and supplement research questions and can remind and commit academe to the idea of the beloved campus. (MLW)

Compared economically dependent college students (N=20) with independent nonstudents (N=20) to assess the impact of prolonged student status. Results of a test battery showed prolonged student status appeared to (1) foster emotional dependence; (2) negatively affect achievement of identity but not self-esteem; and (3) retard vocational identity…

Presents a model developed to help the University of North Carolina at Asheville assess its market position by identifying competitors as well as desired clientele. Multidimensional scaling was used in a pilot study which showed the school was seen as having a strong commuter emphasis and low academic reputation. (JAC)

Proceedings of the 67th Annual Meeting of the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers which relate to planning and management programs and techniques and systems development are summarized. Names and institutions of conference participants are included. (MSE)

The framework necessary for achieving a strategic planning posture in higher education is outlined. The most important benefit of strategic planning for higher education decision makers is that it forces them to undertake a more market-oriented and systematic approach to long- range planning. (Author/MLW)

A broad spectrum of potentially hazardous chemicals offers serious exposure risks to members of college and university communities. A formal program is needed to minimize exposure to these substances and maintain a prevention oriented protective program. The University of Massachusetts has developed such a program. (JN)

Examines several components of effective preparation for the planning and implementation of long-term, integrated student services programs. Preassessment issues cluster around: (1) the assessment of student needs; (2) the identification of available staff and institutional resources; and (3) some initial diagnosis of campus political climates.…

Considers gay student organizations' rights at state-supported public institutions, discusses the First Amendment and the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. Offers advice on the major principles and issues that should be taken into account in writing a campus policy regarding the rights of gay student organizations. (Author/RJM)

Draws on current research to note complexity of dissertation process within general context of students' graduate careers, by summarizing previous research on degree completion, analyzing tasks involved in completing dissertation, and considering implications for programs and faculty. Discusses importance of a positive faculty-student nexus of…

From their founding, American colleges have emphasized the character of college life as an important element in learning. This article reviews some elements of the historical roots of student discipline, surveys recent judicial decisions related to disciplinary rules and procedures, and suggests the ways in which different institutions could shape…

A study drew on observation and interview data to examine the early encounters of traditional-age first-year students with campus bureaucracy, focusing on their definitions and coping strategies. Though frustrated by lines, impersonal treatment, and "runarounds," most accepted bureaucracy with superficial equanimity. Results help explain how…

Seven days of entries from a student's diary offer a glimpse into the daily life of a doctoral student. Reflects on monetary difficulties, work loads, the difficulties of a woman finding an effective mentor, life as a teaching assistant, student needs, the joys of learning, teacher-student interaction, and employment worries. (RJM)

Presents a context for addressing services for the changing graduate student population. Examines forces that are driving changes in graduate education, such as student characteristics, university changes, and societal changes. Looks at completion rates, degree requirements, technological developments, economic trends, and role of the federal…

Argues that colleges need more than new techniques to engage students; they must transform college culture. Stresses that teaching and learning be the main topic of conversation, and that such conversations should be more informed and more information-based. Teaching itself can be viewed as substantive, intellectual work. (RJM)