This book describes a highly successful mentorship program in "how-to" terms that are easily applied and adaptable to a variety of situations. Following an introduction, chapter 1 addresses the question: When does a student really need the help of a professional mentor? Chapters 2-7 examine the underlying principles of the mentor program. Chapter…

A follow-up survey was conducted in St. Cloud, Minnesota, of 127 (from a total of 357 students) former special education students who left school between 1988 and 1992. Respondents, most of whom completed the survey by phone, were predominantly male (69 percent), and most (63 percent) had been classified as learning disabled, with 29 percent…

The Automotive Technology Department (ATD) of De Anza College (DAC) in Cupertino, California, in partnership with the Automotive Service Council of California, received funding to develop and implement a 2-year, competency-based certification program for automotive service technicians. Students in the Automotive Technician Internship Program…

Today's model of education forces students to assimilate, to compete against each other, to think only in abstract complex ways, and to believe that cultural separation leads to academic power. For many minority and nontraditional students, this traditional model is inappropriate. It results in many first-generation students being told that they…

In spring 1988, Moraine Valley Community College (MVCC), in Palos Hills, Illinois, implemented "College Success," a course to increase student academic performance and improve college retention. Students in the course learned a variety of techniques to help them succeed in college, including note-taking skills, time management, memory…

In fall 1991, the faculty and staff of New Mexico State University-Alamogordo (NMSU-A) designed and implemented a strategic planning process which incorporates a comprehensive annual review of various aspects of student academic achievement (SAA). The faculty-based SAA assessment process includes activities focused on classroom instruction,…

Using statewide fall enrollment reporting systems, the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) generates a report each year showing fall-to-fall enrollment patterns of students among Maryland public colleges and universities, resulting in a "transfer matrix" that provides an indicator of transfer volume and destinations. At Prince…

In an effort to improve communication and interaction between students and instructors, improve the presentation of course material, and assess the cognitive development of students, a Quasi-Mastery Learning System (QMLS) of instruction was developed for a community college course in General Chemistry (GC). The QMLS incorporates eight features:…

A statistical overview is provided of trends in enrollments, student characteristics, and staffing in Washington's community and technical colleges as of fall 1992. Systemwide data are presented on full-time equivalent (FTE) enrollments by funding source, the changing student mix, full- and part-time students, reduced tuition waivers, student…

In an effort to improve the transfer rates of minority students from community colleges to baccalaureate granting institutions, the Illinois state legislature allocated funds to establish transfer centers at community colleges that would take a pro-active approach to reaching minority students with information about transfer. One of 26 centers…

Since the early 1980's, the primary institutional mission of Mount Hood Community College (MHCC) in Gresham, Oregon, has been identified as student success. Toward that end, the college has instituted an ongoing systematic review of instructional program improvement and implemented institutional strategic planning directly linked to budget…

The Women in Technology (WIT) program at Texas' El Paso Community College (EPCC) was established to recruit women into nontraditional occupations, offering technical education, services to help retain women, and community outreach efforts to help change attitudes. This report describes outcomes for the 1994-95 fiscal year, focusing on five WIT…

The Weekend College (WEC) at Virginia's John Tyler Community College (JTCC) is an 8-week program offering classes every other weekend as well as student-directed learning activities outside the classroom. The program was begun in spring 1995, offering 9 courses and enrolling 152 students. To judge the effectiveness of the WEC, data were collected…

In winter semester 1995, Schoolcraft College, in Michigan, experienced a 7% drop in enrollment and an 8% drop in credit hours, including 461 students who applied but did not enroll. To determine the reasons that the no shows had for not enrolling and how many planned to enroll in the future, demographic data were collected from application…

This collection of 16 papers attempts to provide a comprehensive overview of the state of children in the nations of the Americas. The collection's five sections examine children's rights, perspectives of five parents from five different nations, children with disabilities in the legal system, promoting the rights of children through social…