A qualitative case study of Freshman Interest Groups (FIGs) (in which freshmen enroll in specific thematically linked courses their first semester) was carried out at a large, public, research university. The intent of the study was to understand how participation in a FIG influenced students' learning experiences, and how those experiences fit in…

Two years ago an instructor left a large public university to teach composition at the University of Findlay, a small private coeducational institution located in a city of 36,000 people south of Toledo, Ohio. Describing the differences between small and large schools, he touches upon the more personalized student-teacher interactions at Findlay.…

This 59-item annotated bibliography covers suggested reading material published between 1956 and 1991 to assist college faculty and administrators in promoting first year success for college freshmen. The bibliography is divided into seven sections of resource materials. Section 1 contains suggested readings on both objective research on the…

Stresses which accompany graduate education are often a source of marital conflict and disruption for students and their families. To investigate the effects of the graduate experience on intra- and inter-family relationships among married doctoral student couples, and to discover how these students cope with the dual student/spouse role, 16…

Information on a Northern Kentucky University course entitled "The Mind of the University" is presented in several articles. After Darryl Poole briefly discusses the origins of the course, H. L. Wallace describes the background of the project, course themes, class materials, and testing/grading. The objective of the course is defined as…

The Single Parent Project (SPP) at Eastern Washington University assists single parents on public assistance who are working toward an academic degree in order to become independent from the welfare system. The SPP provides campus-based services that help students succeed in an academic setting. Four areas of focus for the SPP are: (1) direct…

While there was no question that part-time instructors provided a quality of instruction equal to that of full-time faculty at Saddleback College (California), there were differences in the functions performed by these two faculty groups due to limited institutional involvement supported by the terms of employment for part-time instructors. A…

Access to higher education for minority students, involvement of the student at college, and achieving excellence are discussed. While lack of preparation limits access, avenues are potentially available to enable dropouts to gain credentials to enter college. In addition to student expectations, poverty can limit access because of not having…

Despite the abundance of information available regarding enrollment trends in higher education, few institutions are adequately prepared to offer educational experiences tailored for the newest phenomenon on campus, the adult part-time student. This group is expected to make up almost half of the undergraduate student body by 1992. Many of these…

A student engagement model is proposed to provide a conceptual framework for understanding the bond between student and college. The model focuses on a student's motivation for attending college, the tension that derives from conflicting motivations, and the social context of the student-college bond. The validity of the model was examined in a…

Approaches for developing or improving programs for better recruitment and retention of adults are suggested. It is noted that self-improvement and career-enhancement are among the strongest motivations for adults to continue their education. Adults need accurate information about college attendance and assurance that they can compete, along with…

The needs of predominantly Hispanic colleges and universities are discussed, based in part on the experience of Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU) of San Antonio, Texas. Some comparisons are made of the educational attainment of Hispanics and Blacks. Available statistics indicate that only about 30 percent of Hispanics who enter college…

Student characteristics such as character, motivation, personality, maturity, creativity and judgment are examined to evaluate the relative utility of various procedures used in college admissions, to suggest possible new ways to use these procedures, and to explore less common procedures. The basic structure of this review is taken from that of…

New students and faculty have expressed a growing interest in academic advising. However, little research has been reported about adult students and the academic advising process. A survey of adult students and faculty members at Metropolitan State University, a nontraditional university, showed that faculty members were sensitive to their role as…

The residence hall environment at Indiana University is evaluated annually by an ecosystems method of evaluation which permits students to identify problems and provide recommendations for change. In the Fall of 1980 a sample of undergraduates (N=732) living in residence halls responded to a series of statements about life in the residence halls.…