The purpose of this investigation was to compare two different methodological techniques of a biology preparatory course in order to determine which curriculum's methodologies were most effective in preparing biology students for follow-up biology courses as measured by course grades. One was based upon laboratory hands-on experiences and the…

In response to legislative mandate, three proposals were developed for encouraging student participation in the governance of California's community colleges and for establishing a minimum standard regulation for local procedures. The proposals are intended to improve and enhance access to governance mechanisms, improve accountability, enhance the…

In 1989, a study was conducted of student athletes at Modesto Junior College (MJC), replicating a similar study conducted in 1988. The study was designed to determine the demographic characteristics, educational backgrounds, goals, academic performance, and educational outcomes of the student athletes. Major findings of the study were as follows:…

Growing institutional concern for excellence coupled with legislative mandates calling for accountability have prompted many colleges to emphasize student outcomes when evaluating and designing courses and programs. A careful review of the accountability literature, however, suggests that continuing education courses and students, in spite of…

Noting that two-year college students view writing instruction with suspicion because they do not perceive a tangible link between developing writing skills and their post-graduate activities, a survey was conducted to distinguish between the functions and forms of graduates' writing and to explore writing performed in contexts other than work.…

A study was conducted to assess the effectiveness of El Camino College's Cooperative Career Education (CCE) program, which awards credit for on-the-job experiential learning related to a student's course of study. Surveys designed to obtain demographic data, information on course withdrawals, and perceptions of the program were distributed to 735…

A study was conducted to compare the College of Marin's (CM's) ethnic profile for fall 1979 credit students and for full-time tenured or tenure track faculty employed in spring 1980 with local, regional, and state census data for 1980. The number and percentage of Blacks, Hispanics, Asian-Pacific Islanders, and Native Americans were tabulated for…

This report provides an account of the activites of Sacramento City College's (SCC's) Assessment Center from November 1, 1982 to March 31, 1983; information regarding the competency levels of the SCC student population; statistical data on research activities; and information on the proposed expansion of assessment/placement services. Following a…

Women's status as students and employees in Alaska's community colleges is greatly influenced by the unique Alaskan environment, where women make up only 47.6% of the population and where the population is on the whole very young. Women comprised 58% of all enrolled students in Alaskan community colleges in fall 1982 and received 56% of the…

A study was conducted at Cuyahoga Community College (CCC) in Ohio to describe the nature and progress of former CCC students who transferred to Cleveland State University (CSU) and Kent State University (KSU) in 1984. The study tracked students for 3 years, from 1979 to 1982, examining transfer, persistence, and graduation rates. A comparison of…

A formative evaluation was undertaken at an urban community college to determine how an open-admission general studies program should be restructured to better meet student goals and the college's educational objectives. The evaluation process included: interviewing key college representatives to generate hypotheses, and review of the hypotheses…

A survey was conducted of students who graduated from Glendale (Arizona) Community College (GCC) during the 1984-85 school year to determine graduates' transfer and employment experiences and perceptions of the college. Study findings, based on responses from 444 graduates, included the following: (1) overall, graduates gave the highest ratings to…

A study was conducted by Mesa (Arizona) Community College (MCC) to obtain and analyze information from employers of former MCC students regarding the performance, skills, and attitudes of former students; job outlook; assessment of MCC training; and source of hiring. Study findings included the following: (1) employers gave the highest ratings to…

In fall 1985, a study was conducted by the Colorado State Board for Community Colleges and Occupational Education to analyze the efficiency and effectiveness of community college assessment programs throughout the state. Each community college in the state randomly selected 100 students whose basic skills had been assessed and who had enrolled in…

A major reason for the paucity of usable data on the contributions and effectiveness of community colleges is that the definitions on which the data are based are imprecise. Colleges' contributions might be better understood if their functions were reconceptualized. The collegiate dimension of community colleges (i.e, that portion of the…