Studies attitudes and perceptions of 122 incoming African-American first-year college students at a predominantly white university in 1989. Comparison of their attrition rates with those of their counterparts in 1984 shows only a marginal decline. Despite initial favorable attitudes, many students did not have a positive first year. (SLD)

Mount Ida College (Massachusetts) has found the use of college administrators as mentors to students, complementing academic advising and faculty mentoring, to be an effective approach to strengthening the tie between first-year college students and their institutions. The impact has been noticeable in the campus culture as well as in student…

Australian study examined the ways that school factors and family background influenced high school students to stay in school for the senior secondary noncompulsory years. Researchers proposed a causal model which suggested student achievement level and perceptions of the quality of school life influenced their intentions. (SM)

Discusses a survey of nonreturning students at Cuyamaca College (California), distinguishing between positive attrition (successful nonreturners) and negative attrition (unsuccessful nonreturners). Compares two groups in terms of goals, employment, satisfaction with college, high school performance, gender, and ethnicity. Recommends…

Examines issues in the retention of African-American students in predominantly white institutions of higher learning. Factors affecting retention are cataloged, and the responsiveness of existing retention programs to these factors is analyzed. Focus on African-American students who do persist is needed to create a climate of inclusion. (SLD)

A study investigated differences in epistemological beliefs among junior college (n=116) and university (n=76) students and among technology and social science majors. Other student demographic and background variables were considered. Results suggest colleges should consider epistemological beliefs as factors in academic achievement, attrition,…

A study of a summer bridge program's effects on low-income and minority groups students during their first year at the University of California, Los Angeles, found that such programs can facilitate transition and adjustment to university or college life and improve academic performance and persistence rates. (Author/MSE)

Describes Prince George's Community College's Black and Minority Student Retention Programs, focusing on enrollment patterns, initial retention efforts, program objectives, support services provided, selection criteria for students, and the mentoring component. Traces program growth and presents evaluation results. (DMM)

Reports on characteristics significantly related to teacher retention in a large urban school district using a Cox regression model to model teacher turnover for a sample of 2,327 white, black, and Hispanic-American first-year teachers. Sex, ethnicity, education, and certification route are significantly related to teacher retention. (SLD)

Advice for doctoral students and fledgling educational researchers presents the following suggestions: (1) use what is known about problem finding to choose a dissertation topic, (2) be persistent in productivity and in the face of discouragement, and (3) replace the typical dissertation structure with a more functional one. (SLD)

Realization of high failure rates among Native students sparked a study of professor/student relationships at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks. On the Personal Learning Styles Inventory, minority (Native and Hispanic) students scored highest on active experimentation and concrete experience. Indigenous students also rated professor…

Examines the total direct and indirect effects of receiving financial aid on persistence to degree using a subsample of 1989 freshmen from the Beginning Postsecondary Student Survey. Analysis shows that although simply receiving financial aid is unrelated to persistence, the effects of financial aid on persistence appear to depend on type and…

A study of graduate and professional student within-year persistence, based on the 1993 National Postsecondary Student Aid Study, compared three models of the impact of financial aid on persistence. It was found that financial aid significantly and positively influenced within-year persistence, with comprehensive aid packages having the greatest…

Argues for the importance of systematically studying the effects of community colleges on students. Research findings are reported on the following effects: attaining a bachelor's degree, labor market returns, economic returns, and developmental impact. Concludes that community colleges may be fostering student talent with the same degree of…

A study reported the status of approximately 2,900 participants in the student-support-services program for disadvantaged college students, and of 2,900 comparable nonparticipating students three years after college entry, looking at grades received, number of credits accumulated, and retention rates. The study also collected information on how…