As part of a longitudinal study, the authors interviewed 73 nontraditional students regarding their perceptions of the challenges experienced and supports received as they returned to school to earn bachelor's degrees. All participants were working in the early care and education field. Interviewees perceived the cohort structure of their…

A comprehensive listing of degree programs and program options/specializations offered in Washington's two-year and four-year, public and independent colleges and universities in 1979-80 is presented. The report is organized alphabetically by both institution and program. Each listing reflects both the preferred institutional program title and the…

For the first time in the history of American education, educators and policymakers are setting their sights on reaching the goal of preparing all students graduating from high school to meet the requirements of postsecondary education, professional careers and effective citizenship. The 2004 report, "Ready or Not: Creating a High School Diploma…

"Reverse" transfer students are students who began their post-secondary education at a four-year institution and then transferred to a two-year college. "Lateral" transfer students are those who began at one two-year college and later transferred to another two-year college. A review of the admissions and enrollment records at Oakton Community…

A study was conducted in New York State to quantify the investment made in selected occupational programs at public two-year colleges and the returns from this investment to graduates, employers, and the state government. A survey was mailed to a representative sample of New York State employers with 100 or more employees, covering areas of…

The focus of the study was to examine the impact of the recession on (1) community college funding, (2) community college student support services, and (3) on student enrollment. This study relied on data from document analysis and interview of community college personnel and students. The current crisis has resulted in a steep budget reduction to…

In this interdisciplinary analysis, the authors examine the use of visual images in the college classroom. They share examples and critical reflections that illuminate the strengths and challenges in using this medium to enhance the social context for learning. The use of visual images to develop classroom community and connect learning outcomes…

This research studied the role of mathematics as a roadblock to college completion for community college-bound students in California. Using longitudinal quantitative analysis, I observed the educational pipeline between high school and community college and analyzed how different high school mathematics histories predicted readiness, or…

Further education (FE) has traditionally been a rather unspectacular activity. Lacking the visibility of schools or the prestige of universities, for the vast majority of its existence FE has had a relatively low profile on the margins of English education. Over recent years this situation has altered significantly and further education has…

This report presents a two-year junior college retailing curriculum for the disadvantaged, proposed on the basis of answers to questionnaires sent to retailing industries in the Metropolitan Rochester area. The questionnaires were designed to assess the need and feasibility of such a retailing program and to ascertain qualifications required to…

This study examined whether or not student, parent, and peer engagement factors that contribute to at-risk students' success in graduating from high school continue to be important in making the transition from high school to postsecondary education. The data set used was the National Education Longitudinal Study of 1988, which included 1994 data…

Critics argue that requiring subjects to verbalize their thoughts while completing certain language tasks increases the participants' cognitive load and impairs their final performance (e.g., Jourdenais, 2001). Despite the importance of this claim for language instructors, few studies have produced contradicting evidence after an empirical study…

This paper, which focuses on community colleges and job placement, is part of a series published by the Center for Community College Policy, designed to support state and local policymakers, as well as educational leaders who are interested in policy issues related to the two-year postsecondary sector. The current emphasis on "work-first," getting…

This paper discusses policy issues faced by two-year colleges in the state of Washington during the first year of implementation of performance funding. Four key policy questions were reviewed: (1) the reward versus entitlement paradigm shift, which forces educators to alter expectations about "entitlement" to higher education funding and accept…

An important question in preparing all students for college and career by the time they graduate from high school is that of determining how much growth in academic achievement typically occurs during high school and whether such growth can be accelerated so that more students are ready for college and career when they graduate from high school.…