An attempt to improve the quality of teaching and learning was made by offering three distinct options to 695 students enrolled in two large classes. The students in nonconventional options tended to have high personality need scores for cognitive structure, achievement, autonomy, and understanding. (Editor/PG)

The results revealed little agreement regarding overall instructional effectiveness, and at best modest agreement between students and department chairmen concerning aspects of instruction such as subject matter competence. Students appeared to stress different dimensions of instruction than did faculty and department chairmen. (Editor/PG)

The results indicated that use of nonprofit outgoing postage, window envelopes, and business reply returns lowered the costs per contact and did not significantly impair rate of return. Use of a second-wave questionnaire was a very effective technique for increasing the response rate. (Editor/PG)

Results include: (1) the most able, most autonomous group included those who withdrew; (2) the most authoritarian, those who became seniors; (3) the most nonconforming, those who "continued" without becoming seniors, and (4) the highest ability to think abstractly, scientifically and to solve problems, the academic dismissals who gained…

An alternative method of evaluating the candidate in the British university examination procedure is presented. (PG)

A statistical prediction of National Research Council graduate department ratings in six disciplines (from faculty size and characteristics, student body size and characteristics, physical facilities, funding, and program productivity) found at least one measure of faculty or student size to be a significant predictor in all disciplines, and…

Introduction of faculty development programs into a university through department chairs and deans rather than faculty found deans to respond with more emotional distance but greater readiness to conceptualize applications and make helpful arrangements. Chairpersons generally reacted more defensively, discounting faculty problems or the…

A study of the academic and nonacademic careers of doctoral degree recipients in chemistry, history, psychology, and the biological, physical, and social sciences after 3, 5, and 13 years found academic ability and doctoral program quality to influence job settings and responsibilities, and in turn, productivity and income. (MSE)

A study of the factors influencing tenured faculty to leave an institution found a variety of determinants in faculty decisions. However, it illustrated how little is known about the specific factors influencing individual decisions, especially those that distinguish faculty who leave from those who remain. (MSE)

A longitudinal study of over 2,000 graduates from eight college types generally supports the validity of Holland's premise: that model environments reinforce the characteristic predispositions and attitudes of their corresponding personality types. There are implications for the study of inter- and intra-institutional diversity. (MSE)

A version of the academic flow model analyzed the quantitative effects on faculty composition, compensation, and turnover of implementing seven options. The options were early retirement, change in the probationary period, increased proportions of part-time faculty, unlimited renewable appointments, and nonrenewable fixed-term appointments, and…

A study of the relationship between class size and college student achievement in classes ranging from 13 to 1,006 students revealed that at this level, class size may be a less important factor in achievement than has been assumed. (MSE)

College enrollments in computer science, engineering, and business have increased since 1972, and decreased in biological and social sciences, humanities, and education. Above average high school achievement levels are generally found for declared college majors in science and engineering, with low achievement among education and business majors…