This report uses the national Baccalaureate and Beyond longitudinal database to look at the early career paths of 1993 college graduates. The results provide information on which college graduates became teachers, where they taught, and whether they left teaching within 3 years. Overall, it is not easy to predict who may be potential teachers when…

The nation's dropout problem has been making national headlines with more and more frequency and more and more urgency. Although certainly not a new problem, the failure to earn a high school diploma is receiving heightened attention because the causes and effects of dropping out have changed significantly. No longer is a dropout simply a young…

Attrition is a consistent feature of higher education--only about half the students who start college will ever receive a degree. The attrition rates of African-American students is even higher than that of their white counterparts. Attrition in general, and especially that of high risk students, is of great concern to university administrators…

[New England Resource Center for Higher Education's] NERCHE's think tank members recently participated in a discussion of the competitive forces driving change in higher education. The discussion, facilitated by The Futures Project: Policy for Higher Education in a Changing World (www.futuresproject.org), revealed tremendous concern among faculty…

Low numbers of Native Americans working in the health care field can be attributed to lack of Indian role models plus time and financial demands experienced by American Indian students. Indian health care professionals discuss reaching their career goals and the importance of increasing the number of American Indian health care workers. Overviews…

A study examined factors inherent in Montana's smallest schools that attract and retain teachers. Surveys of 126 elementary teachers in 107 small school districts found that a rural background and proximity to family or home were influential in accepting employment. The classroom experience, particularly their relationship with students, and…

The Rhode Island Children's Crusade for Higher Education, funded by state and private sources, is an ambitious, large-scale, long-term effort to prevent dropouts, illegal drug use, and pregnancy among low-income and minority groups. Recruitment of volunteer "mentors" has been highly successful, suggesting strong public support. (MSE)

Teachers' perceptions of incentives and deterrents for teaching special education, teachers' movements between districts over a 5-year period, and teachers' future professional goals were queried through a survey of 484 Alaska special education teachers conducted by the Alaska Comprehensive System of Personnel Development (CSPD). Retention of…

This study examined academic performance, indebtedness, delayed graduation, and predictors of licensing exam performance of 140 Asian-American and 2,269 white graduates of the Jefferson Medical College (Pennsylvania). Results found that the Medical College Admission Test reading score was the major predictor of later performance for Asian-American…

Examines factors associated with persistence to a second term for 796 first time, two-year college students. Demographic variables correlated with low persistence were taking nondegree courses only, enrolling part time, working full time, and being over age 40. The only academic factor related to low persistence was a first term grade point…

A study at a university with strong mathematics/science curricula found that at matriculation, women and men had similar high school rank, women had lower mathematics test scores; most majored in science or engineering; women had higher undergraduate degree completion rates at four years; and grade point averages differed little. (MSE)

Explores the need for teachers to examine their orientations toward and methods of teaching public speaking to African Americans and other students of color. Ways in which public speaking courses can be reshaped to be more inclusive of the learning and expressive styles of such students are discussed. (SLD)

This issue contains data on trends and indicators of New England higher education, including demography, admissions, enrollment, degrees, educational attainment and income, student migration, retention and graduation, financing higher education, and university research and development. It also includes articles related to the data and on New…

More economically disadvantaged students are attending college than ever before, yet only a small percentage of them actually graduate. As the author points out, helping students get into college is only half the battle. Along with financial support, these students need academic and social support, as well as supportive relationships. (BF)

Four American Indian college counselors who work with Native students discuss their role in helping to recruit and retain Native students, the importance of student support groups on campus, negative stereotypes of students of color, outreach programs for Native high school and middle school students, and the emotional struggle of Native students…