Examines consequences of work experience during high school, using data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth. Figures from 1979-81 indicate that youths, especially White youths, may benefit from early employment, but many forego study or school-related activities without gaining any advantage in the long term. (DM)

Quantifies the relationships among the personal and professional attributes of teachers, school district characteristics, and the retention behavior of teachers employed by these districts. Retention is negatively related to property wealth and the percentage of Indian and Asian students and is positively related to teaching experience, salary,…

Discusses model designed to provide effective academic, personal, and social support programs to minority college students. Describes model as intrusive and developmental in nature and able to be modified to accommodate groups of students with unique needs. Identifies model's three major areas of focus: academic and developmental monitoring, peer…

Compared decliners (n=102), students who exhibited 20% decline during sophomore year from first-year grade point average (GPA) and maintainers (n=94), students who maintained or improved their first-year GPA. During sophomore year, lack of commitment to school, absenteeism, educational goals, extracurricular activities, and perceptions of…

Examined relationship between academic comfort and occupational orientation, and between academic comfort and persistence for 68 ethnically diverse students. Results from 41 African-American, 12 Hispanic, and 12 white students showed significant relationships between comfort and occupational orientation and introversion-extroversion. Three-year…

Evaluated academic lives of 53 women who, in 1988, entered Eureka Program, 2-year mathematics/science intervention program for women students at Brooklyn College. Program persisters were characterized by high self-esteem, better mathematics or science backgrounds, early decision on science major, higher grades in college mathematics courses,…

Fifty-two students with learning disabilities, behavior disorders, or mild mental retardation answered questions relating to special education. Students indicated the best part of school was socializing with peers, a particular class or teacher, and sports, whereas the worst part was being in particular classes, dealing with…

Describes a project-in-process designed to incorporate multiple strategies into a comprehensive retention program. Theorizes that combining these strategies would have a cumulative, positive impact on student persistence. Gives a description of the major components of the program, examines the organizational dynamics of the project, and provides a…

Assesses the correlation between completion of a freshman seminar course at a community college and subsequent persistence and achievement. Indicates that receiving a grade of "C" or better is positively correlated with subsequent academic success. States that the results do not identify which elements of the seminar contributed most to this…

A study examined the structural relationship among four constructs--motivational factors, student background, academic performance, and student persistence in college--for both minorities and non-minorities. Although motivation failed to impact academic performance for either racial subgroup, there was a significant motivational effect on…

Addresses issues related to high dropout rates of Black college students, including those at historically black institutions. Finds a gap in services once students reach college and describes proposed federal legislation (the William H. Grant III College Completion Challenge Grant Program of 1999) which would offer institutions grants to develop…

A study investigated the motivational characteristics of 36 adolescents with learning disabilities (LD), 26 students with emotional/behavioral disorders (EBD), and 53 typical students. Students with LD appeared more alienated and oriented to avoiding work, whereas students with EBD reported significantly more feelings of test anxiety. Gender…

Describes the status of women, blacks, and Hispanics in American higher education and the challenges they face in American institutions. Suggests that, because women and minorities serve as reference groups and role models, their success constitutes important feedback for other aspirants; thus, systematic and concerted efforts must be made to…

A study assessed the success of a University of Witwatersrand (South Africa) undergraduate bridging year in assisting underprepared business students to graduation. Subjects were 177 students from the country's black school system. Program participants had a statistically higher success rate in terms of both exam grades and graduation rate. (MSE)

Investigates the usefulness of 50 variables in predicting the academic performance of 86 students readmitted to Bronx Community College following academic suspension. Principal conclusions are that specific academic skills are important, past academic record is unimportant, and a general factor called incentive is important in the attainment of…