Data from the National Education Longitudinal Study of 1988 (NELS:88) provides information about critical transitions experienced by students as they leave elementary or middle school and progress through the educational system to the world of work. The Extension NELS study reported here used NELS:88 data for the base year sample of 24,599 eighth…

This paper describes the Buddy Program for international teaching assistants (ITAs) at Michigan State University (MSU) in East Lansing and presents brief case studies of the program in action. The Buddy Program pairs new ITAs with undergraduates at MSU to help familiarize ITAs with student life at the school and help them assimilate into their new…

This monograph suggests ways that college or university administrations can undertake a systematic and careful review of the risks posed by students' activities. Its purpose is to provide guidance in integrating the risk management process into a school's existing approaches to managing student organizations and activities. It is noted that no…

This digest describes three programs for middle and high school language minority students at risk of dropping out of school. Two of the programs are geared toward limited-English-proficient Hispanic youth, and the third, a vocational program, involves African-American students as well. The first program described is the Coca-Cola Valued Youth…

This study was designed to ascertain the dropout rates among American Indian students in three local secondary schools on the Northern Cheyenne reservation in Lame Deer, Montana and to identify factors that contributed to school completion or noncompletion. The researchers collected data on three cohorts of students (1987-89, N=698) from Colstrip…

The second phase of a longitudinal project to describe and monitor speech communication programs at small colleges, expanded the data available on programs and provided an indication of program changes in the 3-year period since the first phase, which gathered initial data on the programs. The pilot study conducted in the first phase involved a…

The behavior and rehearsal habits of elementary level instrumental music students were addressed by the implementation of a behavior contract and computer managed recordkeeping system. A contract was developed following the principles of the "Assertive Discipline" system. Rewards and incentives were used to reinforce positive student behavior.…

In seven chapters, this report details the Science Fair Self-Help Development Program, which was initiated in a pilot project at three middles schools in Albuquerque, New Mexico, during school year 1991-1992. The purpose of the program was to provide guidance to schools in developing their own parental and community resources into a sustainable…

Inviting high school students to be a part of Close Up Washington, this brochure describes a program in which students from across the United States and around the world travel to Washington, D.C., to learn about the workings of the U.S. federal government. The brochure explains benefits of participating in the program and discusses activities in…

This paper summarizes an effective peer tutoring program used in both elementary and middle school programs in the Cache School District (North Logan, Utah). In year-round education programs, students have off-track time during the school year at four different intervals. This time is often utilized by school districts to give students additional…

Principals are middle managers. Board members should have a superintendent who has a high regard for the principalship and who believes in the total team approach to school administration. They should allow principals to do the job they were hired to do--parental or citizen complaints should be referred to the principal instead of being personally…

The curriculum, administration, staffing, facilities, and funding of a college English-as-a-Second-Language program for the wives of foreign students are described. The program is intended to reduce feelings of isolation and facilitate the adjustment of women whose student husbands are busy with the academic and social routines of the university.…

The evolution of the University of Minnesota's program of student volunteers in the college union is described. The program draws on developmental theories, and suggest ways of integrating union program production and specific educational goals for the volunteers engaged in that production: individual autonomy, commitment of values, integration of…

Rural gifted programs should be developed by the consumers in rural communities and should focus on the needs and strengths of the community. The unique aspects of rural schools should be used to develop defensible community-based programs. General gifted education procedures, such as developing peer groups and psychologically secure environments,…

The use of mentoring and development portfolio/transcript programs for college students is considered. The development portfolio enables students to document activities they selected to achieve their development goals, and may involve journal keeping, logging of courses and activities, and individualized growth projects. Development transcripts…