Discusses the pressures that led to the expansion of higher education services. Produces five propositions illustrating current pressures for change in higher education's mission: (1) loss of higher education's monopoly, (2) blurring of provider roles, (3) less full-time commitment, (4) necessity of lifelong learning, and (5) difference between…

Discusses the unique needs of adult students entering or reentering a college or university setting and the issues related to developing a support group for meeting these needs. Describes Enriching the Adult Student Environment (EASE), a comprehensive counseling group designed to meet the needs of adult students. (Author/NB)

This article focuses on research identifying the value-added outcomes perceived by adults completing a liberal arts degree. These outcomes are compared with those of traditional-aged college graduates. The personal growth gains indicated by the adults provide support for justifying special degree programs. (SK)

Review of research on the academic performance and intellectual ability of adult college students provides evidence to reject two common stereotypes of adult students: (1) that they lack basic skills for effective studying, and (2) that they are impaired in studying by intellectual deficits associated with the normal process of aging. (MSE)

A British project developed standards for supporting adult learners based on learner centeredness, confidentiality, impartiality, equal opportunity, and accessibility. Guidelines address reaching geographically dispersed learners, providing diverse services, encouraging learner responsibility, and establishing performance indicators. (SK)

Comparison of grade point averages of adult students, who attended a course weekly--evenings and weekends--(n=60) with those (n=57) who attended daily showed that nontraditional scheduling did not hinder adult students' academic performance. (SK)

Includes "Managing Personality Types in the Computer Classroom" (Cocco); "External I/O Input/Output with a PC" (Fryda); "The Future of CAD/CAM Computer-Assisted Design/Computer-Assisted Manufacturing Software" (Fulton); and "Teaching Quality Assurance--A Laboratory Approach" (Wojslaw). (SK)

A follow-up of 305 Alberta Vocational College graduates 3 months after graduation received 111 responses showing that 87 percent felt well prepared for careers; 67 percent were employed, the majority in work related to their training; and 78 percent of those unemployed felt their training would help them get a job. (SK)

Interviews with policymakers, administrators, students, and faculty about portfolio assessment found that all groups questioned its academic integrity, all lacked sufficient information, and leaders did not attempt to institutionalize the process. However, students derived important personal benefits. (SK)

Analysis of adult learners' reports on comprehension strategies, comprehension level, confidence, and affective response to two authentic Spanish radio broadcasts found gender differences in comprehension strategy use and perceived confidence level, suggesting the need for instruction about the evaluation of strategy effectiveness and about…

Stories are recounted about students enrolled in an intermediate level intensive English program at a university. The stories show how classroom pedagogy can transform students' negative perceptions about their abilities and result in their empowerment as writers. (Contains six references.) (LB)

Delineates the incorporation and analyzes the impact of European borrowings in Brazilian racio-ethnic terminology. This overview covers French, Italian, Spanish, and English influences. Borrowings from European languages have had a small impact on the calculus of Brazilian racio-ethnic terms. (43 references) (Author/CK)

This study examined patterns of coursework and levels of involvement of 1,099 adult students to evaluate whether some key factors commonly used to predict undergraduate students' academic performance are appropriate for use with this population. Results suggest traditional models are inappropriate for this large and growing proportion of the…

Discussion of the use of computer conferencing by higher education institutions offering distance education courses focuses on a study that investigated adult student perceptions of distance study by computer conferencing. Highlights include a literature review; learning approaches; student relationships; and an Adult Distance Study through…

Ethnographic interviews with six adult basic education teachers showed that they (1) characterize students primarily in terms of psychosocial needs and (2) use implicit theories reflecting interpretation of those needs. Results demonstrate the complexity of the relationship between teacher beliefs and classroom practices. (SK)