A study attempted to identify the college types that benefit most from federal student aid by examining how institutional quality, institutional mission, and average student costs of attendance covaried with students' average grant, loan, and work-study aid awards in 254 4-year public and 499 4-year private colleges and universities. (Author/MSE)

A study examined the extent to which social and academic integration and student educational objectives were predictive of persistence for 1,142 community college students. Student educational objectives discriminated most powerfully between persisters and nonpersisters. Academic and social integration and employment status were also significant…

A study investigated the relationship of English proficiency, measured by self-report and standardized test scores and selected nonlinguistic variables to academic problems perceived by 245 foreign graduate students. Self-rated proficiency, prior English training, and age were the most significant predictors of perceived difficulty. Language test…

A study (n=139 students) used hierarchical structural equation modeling to examine the relationship between intellectual development and identity from the beginning of the freshman year through the end of the sophomore year. Results suggest that the college freshman's sense of identity is important in later intellectual development. Intervention…

A study examined effects of consultant observation and peer mentoring on anxiety and effectiveness in 13 teaching assistants at a research university. These and a control group of 14 teaching assistants also attended a 1-week workshop and 16-week theory/pedagogy course. Anxiety was lower and student ratings of effectiveness were higher in the…

The University of Guelph's experiences in using computer-based instruction and computer conferencing to make education accessible to distant learners illustrate how such problems as computer anxiety, technical difficulties, and technical delays affect access and learning. (SK)

Distance education participants (n=35) at Athabasca University reported that (1) they averaged 5.96 hours per week studying; (2) they averaged 1 contact with tutors every 4 weeks; (3) their average motivation level was 4.23 on a 1-7 scale; and (4) they completed course events during only 40 percent of the weeks of the study. (SK)

Flesch Reading Ease scores were calculated for 48 books used in distance education courses at Andhra Pradesh Open University (India). Scores ranged from 32 (public administration) to 46 (geology). Scores correlated positively with pass percentages. (SK)

Using data from a nationally representative survey of college faculty teaching introductory courses, a study compared the course planning procedures of faculty (n=2,311) in eight disciplines: English composition, history, sociology, psychology, mathematics, fine arts, languages, and business. No key differences were found between full- and…

An analysis of student decisions to withdraw from specific courses before assignment of grades but after the "add-drop" period at the University of Minnesota is presented. In a probit model, withdrawals appear to occur randomly, with notable exceptions. Student, class, and teacher characteristics are considered as variables related to withdrawal.…

The study tested a structural equation model of community college enrollment patterns of White and Hispanic males and females and the invariance of parameter estimates among subgroups. High school preparation in mathematics and science (M/S), M/S attitudes, M/S enrollment patterns, parent education, encouragement, and high school grades were…

The study proposes using path analysis and residual plotting as methods supporting environmental scanning in strategic planning for higher education institutions. Path models of three levels of independent variables are developed. Dependent variables measuring applications and enrollments at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University are…

A study investigated the effectiveness of two methods, workshop and individualized consultation, for improving instruction of full professors of physics with substantial teaching experience. It is concluded that neither method is very effective and that substantial and continuous expert consultation and investment of time and effort are required.…

Ways to improve data comparability among national college faculty surveys are discussed. The surveys and some of their attributes are identified. Faculty sizes are estimated and weights for faculty in selected disciplines and institutions calculated. Weights were designed specifically for surveys conducted in 1969, 1975, 1980, and 1988.…

A study investigated the relationship of learning style, academic success, and gender in students in a highly selective combined baccalaureate/medical degree program. Freshmen (n=100) at the University of Missouri Kansas City medical school participated. Learning styles of this group appear to be similar to those in other medical programs.…