There was general agreement among the more than 200 people testifying at hearings held by the Michigan Commission on Spanish Speaking Affairs in the summer of 1990 that the quality of life is lower for Hispanic Americans in Michigan than for the population as a whole. Hispanic Americans lag in average educational attainment, high school graduation…

This study examined academic literacy (the reading, writing, and verbal demands on students) as a foundation for a collaboration between high school and university faculty designed to ease transitions by students from secondary to postsecondary education. The 3-year project was conducted at an urban public university that enrolls approximately…

Designed as a forum for the discussion of the community college curriculum and transfer function, this volume traces the scope of the curriculum, transfer rates, and the relationship between the two. The following 10 chapters are included: (1) "All Access Is Not Equal: The Need for Collegiate Education in Community Colleges," by Judith S. Eaton;…

The Bell High at Harbor Program is a cooperative effort between Bell High School and Los Angeles Harbor College (LAHC) in which, each year, approximately 120 Bell students complete the ninth grade on the LAHC campus. Students participate in a traditional ninth grade curriculum and concurrently enroll in two college courses per semester. The…

The study examined the ways in which status cultures and organizational environments influence high school students' college decision-making. Interviews were conducted with 12 white female high school seniors from four northern California high schools (a low socio-economic status(SES)/low organization public school, a low-SES/high organization…

A study was conducted at Miami-Dade Community College (MDCC) to collect available information on indicators of institutional effectiveness. The study focused on the college's success in attracting students to MDCC, fulfilling students' expectations, meeting students' special needs, and retaining and graduating students. In addition, the study…

The relationship of differential item functioning (DIF) to item difficulty on the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) was examined, based on data from nine recent administrations of the test from June 1986 through December 1987. This pool of information includes item statistics on 765 verbal and 540 mathematical items computed for subgroups of White,…

An introductory course in notetaking for low intermediate students of English as a second language (ESL) is described. The course is designed to give practice in notetaking techniques to college-bound ESI students before they are required to take notes with a competence equal to that of native speakers. The class begins with a discussion of common…

Specific access and retention studies and programs focused on minority students at the undergraduate level are reviewed, along with recent research on general retention efforts. General retention strategies concern: pre-enrollment, admissions, financial aid, orientation, academic programs, faculty-student interaction, counseling and advising,…

The issue of educational access affects persons who live in urban areas more than any other single group in the country. The vast majority of such persons are black and economically and socially disadvantaged. A look at enrollment by geographic regions across the nation shows over 50% of all black students are concentrated in less than 2% of the…

As part of an annual statewide evaluation process, quantitative information on community college education is reviewed by the Maryland State Board for Community Colleges. Subsequently, a qualitative assessment is conducted by selected colleges in response to specific questions raised by the board. This report provides the results of individual…

Controversy over whether rising college costs or recent federal policies have adversely affected opportunities for postsecondary education, especially among low income and minority students, is noted. A study examined the competing claims that (1) there are enrollment increases among all students (even minorities) and (2) enrollment is far lower…

In fall 1987, Alaska high school seniors were surveyed to determine their opinion of their overall high school experience, their need for additional assistance in selected academic and career planning areas, general demographic information, and post-graduation plans. A 21-item questionnaire was sent to all 211 Alaska public and private high…

To document the extent of special preparation for taking the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), two surveys were conducted. The first survey covered a stratified random sample of 1986-87 SAT examinees (1,364 high school seniors and 911 high school juniors), while the second survey covered a stratified random sample of 508 secondary schools whose…

Key issues affecting Hispanic participation in higher education are evaluated, with attention to access, retention, and transfer. Societal factors influencing access are also covered: migration, technology, employment and income levels, and secondary schooling. In addition, postsecondary education in Puerto Rico is addressed. Hispanics constitute…