A study (n=510) investigated students' cognitive and noncognitive variables predicting success and persistence in an undergraduate engineering program. Students performing well in science and mathematics and genuinely interested in engineering were more likely to persist and succeed. Predictor variables changed over the students' first two years.…

A study examined a national sample of over 20,000 college students, decided and undecided on a career, on 9 variables: persistence, college grades, full-time versus part-time enrollment, housing arrangement, honors participation, student-student academic involvement, student-student social involvement, leadership/political involvement, and…

A study identified demographic, academic, and social differences between black students entering a predominantly white, urban university as either freshmen (n=63) or transferring to the institution (n=109). Results indicated differences in age, marital status, choice of individuals influential in the student's persistence, and participation in…

A survey of 123 academic advisers for Master's in Business Administration (MBA) students investigated the role of four groups of variables (job characteristics, program size/diversity, student characteristics, advisor characteristics) in advisors' job satisfaction. Results showed role clarity, work status (full- vs. part-time), student…

Ways in which undergraduate education is changing in terms of student diversity, financing, and time required for graduation are discussed, and ways these changes affect academic advising are considered. It is suggested that colleges provide faculty advisors with specific training and make advising an official and evaluated aspect of faculty…

A study of 78 Asian American and 66 African American students in a predominantly white research university found that while most believed in the importance of a role model, many did not have one. Many also did not feel their role models had to be from their own race. No evidence was found of role model effect on academic performance. (Author/MSE)

A university academic advising coordinator responds to a study of readmission among academically dismissed students, suggesting that while objective measures of success are important, they should not be the sole basis for readmission. Student attitudes, quality of advisor-student interactions, and individual student circumstances are seen as…

A survey of 219 Ohio State University students before and after freshman year investigated the relationship between retention and changes in freshman perspectives on social and academic issues. Results indicate faculty contact may play a significant role in student attitudes but may not affect retention. Retention may be only indirectly related to…

A study compared student use of and satisfaction with the central advising office and departmental advising in a college of engineering by surveying 57 central office walk-in advisees and, by mail, 103 other advisees. No significant differences were found in advisor availability and concern, but more students used departmental faculty advisors.…

Ten popular myths about higher education's effect on students are questioned. Issues include: test scores in assessment of college impact; college effect on student development; institutional resources/prestige and quality; two-year college attendance; educational quality at historically black colleges; teaching methods; faculty research; teaching…

Argues that despite claims of gender quality on college campuses, a system of gender differences (particularly communication patterns) puts women at a disadvantage. Focusing on language, several areas in which women students experience harassment in and outside the classroom are identified, and suggestions for changing biased communication…

An advising program in the James Madison University (Virginia) psychology department recruits and trains students to provide basic information about majors, careers, field opportunities, and graduate schools to their peers. The work of the 20 volunteers, who serve 900 students, is coordinated by a faculty member. Each peer advisor serves on a…