Persistence and graduation rates of four types of undergraduate students at the University of California, Davis, (UC Davis) are examined: domestic students with fewer than 12.5 college transfer units, including both regularly admitted students and those admitted by special action; and domestic students admitted with at least 84 but less than 135…

Two studies are reviewed to determine their relevance to proposed legislation (H.R. 2620) concerning athletic scholarships. The review was conducted at the request of U.S. Representative James J. Howard who proposed the bill. H.R. 2620 would require colleges to graduate at least 75% of their scholarship athletes within 5 years in order for…

State-level or system-level higher education initiatives targeted at minorities are summarized, based on the responses of 33 states to a survey conducted by the State Higher Education Executive Officers and the Education Commission of the States. The initiatives described cover a spectrum of targeted programs from early intervention in the schools…

This report provides an overview of the activities and outcomes of the Oregon Consortium for Student Success during 1980-81. As introductory material notes, the 13 community colleges involved in the consortium were charged with organizing a task force to improve advising and retention strategies for high risk students. The report emphasizes…

In spring 1982, a study was conducted to determine the persistence of Howard Community College (HCC) students from fall 1981 to spring 1982 and the relationship of students' attendance status, sex, and age to retention rates. Selected study findings include the following: (1) the overall retention rate for spring 1982 was 61.1% including Special…

The shortage of qualified mathematics and science teachers is a problem likely to grow in the coming decade, reflecting teacher shortages in other subject specialties. In 1981, almost five times more science and mathematics teachers left to take nonteaching jobs than did teachers in other disciplines. Replacements for these teachers are often…

A 2-year longitudinal/cross-sectional project investigated factors related to highly able Mexican Americans' decisions to avoid or take advanced mathematics. Questionnaires were given to roughly 350 Mexican Americans and to an equal number of equally able Anglo-Americans. Subjects were distributed evenly across grades 9, 10, and 11. Results…

A study was conducted at the University of British Columbia (UBC) and the University of Victoria (UV) to assess the academic performance of community college and technical institute transfer students in terms of baccalaureate degree attainment, time taken to complete the degree, rate of withdrawal, and final academic standing at the time the…

As a continuation of a study of the effects of mandatory student placement in communications courses at Oakton College, a follow-up study was conducted of students enrolled in Communications 051, a developmental course. The study sought to assess the patterns of behavior of students enrolling in developmental communications courses, completion…

Phoenix, Arizona, has experienced the impact of a nationwide trend toward an increased teenage birthrate, with nearly 1,500 births to teenage mothers in 1980. To serve the special needs of teenage mothers, the Phoenix Union High School offers an alternative education program, Cyesis, for pregnant and parenting teens. Data from the center's…

A study was conducted at Miami-Dade Community College (MDCC) to assess the relationship between students' basic skills performance and three outcome measures: retention, graduation, and academic progress. Specifically, the study compared the performance and persistence of White, Black, and Hispanic students while equating for basic skills…

In considering the problem of recruiting and retaining the most able candidates for teaching, five dilemmas facing the profession are discussed. They are: Equity vs. Excellence; Egalitarianism vs. Differentiation; Teaching: Art or Science; the Curriculum--Standardization vs. Individualization; and The Focus of Instruction. The following problems…

The Australian Scholastic Test (ASAT) was first used as a moderating device in the Australian Capitol Territory in 1977. Differences have been observed in the average performance of males and females on the test. The study reported in this monograph investigated the nature and origin of the score differences recorded for ASAT The research focused…

Three hundred ninety female freshmen who had career interests that were traditional, nontraditional, or neutral for women were compared on encouragement to pursue career goals, Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) scores, college grade-point average (GPA), persistence in original major, and persistence at the university after four semesters. In…

The interaction between learner attributes and instructional treatments has attracted considerable interest in the educational literature. This investigation attempted to capitalize upon the learner-attribute-by-learner-performance interaction concept in exploring the factors that have an impact upon learner motivation in distance education. Four…