Practical information on the necessity for community colleges, instructors, and students to understand and abide by the copyright laws is essential. Whether developing, structuring, maintaining, or presenting courses, or instructing students on the development of their own papers, one must be knowledgeable about plagiarism, the Fair Use Act, and…

Integrating technology into the classroom and using the Internet for learning are now the norm in community colleges. Instructors are busy developing online resources and using them either in conjunction with traditional classes or in online courses. While this implementation surges ahead, how can teachers learn to use the online environment for…

A study was conducted of students at Saddleback College (SC) in California, who requested that transcripts be sent to a four-year college, university, or professional school between November 1, 1992 and April 30, 1993. The study sample included only students who were registered in both fall 1992 and spring 1993, because those students were more…

A simulated art history textbook reading assignment was designed to examine the effects of visual information on student learning and understanding. A sample of 234 students was taken from a population of freshman/sophomore English students in a large metropolitan community college district. In phase one of the study, students took the Group…

In spring 1995, Westchester Community College (WCC), in New York, surveyed all 1,208 students who attended WCC for the first time in fall 1993 but did not return the following spring semester to determine their reasons for not returning. Study findings, based on an analysis of responses from 241 (20%) of the students and demographic…

To identify reasons why some students who register do not attend, the Trumbull Campus of Ohio's Kent State University conducted a telephone survey of 131 students who registered for fall 1993 but did not take classes. Students were asked to choose from the following general reasons for not attending: no financial aid, cost of tuition, other…

A study was conducted at Prince George's Community College, in Maryland, to investigate the relatively low pass rates associated with General Chemistry 1 (CHM101), a lower-level science course that satisfies a general education requirement and serves as a prerequisite for Chemistry and Biology students. To identify correlates of student success,…

Student performance in individual courses constitutes a fundamental learning outcome at community colleges, since many students in credit courses have no intention of earning a degree. A study was conducted at Prince George's Community College, in Maryland, to analyze students' final course grades for fall 1995 to determine course pass rates and…

As part of a college-wide assessment effort, St. Petersburg Junior College (Florida) conducted a survey of enrolled students in October 1995 to determine their perceptions of the quality of the college's academic and student support services. Questionnaires were distributed to 6,197 students, asking them to rate 28 college services on a 5-point…

In 1996, New York's Westchester Community College undertook a study of changes in the demographic characteristics of the college's student body, focusing on an increase in enrollment of Hispanic students in fall 1996. Data were gathered through the American College Testing Freshman Survey administered to 776 first-time students in 46 English…

Although many students simply do not visualize or draw very well, most students have capabilities and potentials that they, and perhaps their professors, are overlooking. Once elementary representations are mastered, it may be that drawing becomes progressively less of a learning tool as one moves through the educational system. But there is…

A study was conducted at two open-access, 2-year branch campuses of Ohio's Miami University to assess the levels of science anxiety, interest, and preparedness among students in science-related (SR) majors and general studies (GS) students. Surveys were distributed on the first day of class to students enrolled in 23 chemistry, microbiology, and…

In April 1996, a study was undertaken at Johnson County Community College, in Kansas, to determine students' use of and satisfaction with college services. Questionnaires were distributed to students in 50 classes, selected to approximate the overall demographics of the student body. Study findings, based on responses from 689 students, included…

A study was conducted to determine the primary reasons that community college students enrolled in foreign language classes. Surveys were distributed to 61 students in 6 German and Spanish language classes at California's Chaffey Community College, requesting information on their motivation for enrolling in the class, level of satisfaction, and…

At the close of each fiscal year, the 49 public community colleges of the Illinois Community College System (ICCS) are required to submit detailed student records to the ICCS board providing data on annual enrollments and completions for credit-generating students. Highlights for fiscal year (FY) 1996 include the following: (1) ICCS institutions…