The performance of a needs assessment is an important step in developing adult student services. Presents evidence supporting the importance of a needs assessment and examples of needs identified in the past. Discusses a three-step approach to performing a needs assessment and drawbacks associated with the process. (EM)

Discusses three similarities between the teaching and counseling of adults: sharing meta goals, employing a common process of interpersonal help, and requiring the effective use of certain helping skills. Concludes that helping skill training should be included in programs designed to prepare the professional adult educator. (EM)

Describes a program at Duke University on continuing education for women students returning to the university classroom. (ABM)

This study explores personality differences between adult women students in an undergraduate college and women of the usual undergraduate age. Seven of the 18 California Personality Inventory (CPI) scale comparisons showed significant differences, and eight of the 14 Omnibus Personality Inventory (OPI) scale comparisons showed significant…

This article discusses the "threshold level" approach to the teaching of second languages to adults, as introduced by Van Ek. (Text is in French.) (CLK)

Learning objectives and learning motivation for foreign language acquisition in industry and commerce are different from those in the school system. The study of foreign languages as an ancillary skill in every type of career preparation has been advocated and should be incorporated in the structure of the American school system. (SW)

A few observations on the teaching of functional French to adult immigrants possessing varied scholastic backgrounds and ranging widely in ability. Two activities are described in detail: those centered on problem situations outside of work and those centered on a professional situation or problem. (Text is in French.) (AMH)

Ways in which the "field experience"--including both job-related activities and life-span developments--of adults affects the teaching of developmental psychology are examined. Psychological differences between traditional (18 to 22-year-olds) and adult students are studied. (Editor/LBH)

The origins of the concept of recurrent education and the claims presently made for it are analyzed, with recurrent education policies in six OECD countries described. Suggestions for clarification of the concept and for cost analysis are offered. (Editor/LBH)

Empirical data were gathered from married students concerning sources and amount of annual resources and monthly and yearly expenditures in relation to selected demographic characteristics, such as level of enrollment, number of years married, number of children, and place of residence. These data were compared to university-established budgets…

Data show that the genuine progress in securing educational equality in elementary, secondary, and higher education has not been paralleled in adult education. There is a downward trend in adult black enrollment percentages but an upward trend in population percentages. (LBH)

Many of today's students are non-credit and are not counted by the government. There is a need to define the objectives of community college education to stress the new nontraditional, non-credit, community education function. (LBH)

Describes programs developed for distance learners, including programs for enrolled students and continuing education for employees. Projects emphasizing television technology are highlighted: Sunrise Semester; Pennsylvania Learning Network (PENNARAMA); NYNETWORK and NYSERNET in New York State; Mid-State Educational Telecommunications Cooperative…

The influence of previous college involvement, organizational characteristics, early career experiences, and current self-concept on the intention of college dropouts to resume their college education is examined. (Author/MLW)

Reviews second-language learning literature concerning factors which may affect adult students. Focuses on cognitive mechanisms, cerebral dominance theories, formal operations, motivation, and second-language teaching and learning. Offers suggestions for community college teaching and programs. (DMM)