Research shows that enriching learning experiences such as learning communities, service-learning, undergraduate research, internships, and senior culminating experiences -- collectively known as High-Impact Practices (HIPs) -- are positively associated with student engagement; deep, and integrated learning; and personal and educational gains for…

Over the years, a number of interventions aimed at increasing student engagement and performance have been implemented in higher education. Some of these, labeled high-impact practices (HIPs), when done well, have led to documented evidence of student success. Two approaches that have been identified as HIPs--first-year seminars and learning…

How do we determine if incoming students are ready for college-level work? California's community college system is currently working to address this complex question in a more nuanced, comprehensive, and equitable way. This research brief offers insights that can inform these efforts resulting from the Student Transcript-Enhanced Placement Study…

At Kingsborough Community College in Brooklyn, freshmen were placed in groups of up to 25 who took three classes together during their first semester: an English class, usually at the developmental level; an academic course, such as health or psychology; and a one-credit orientation course. The program also provided enhanced counseling and…

Describes a freshman writing course in which writing is taught by practice in writing. (MKM)

A study was conducted at Shoreline Community College (SCC) to determine the differences in the personal characteristics and attitudes of students who excel in freshman composition courses and those who fail. Telephone interviews were conducted with 25 students who obtained a B+ or higher and 25 students who received an F in freshman composition…

Describes the bibliographic instruction program at Columbia State Community College's Learning Resource Center, which involves a mini-course taken in conjunction with freshman composition. Provides a syllabus and course outline. (DMM)

This volume is part of a series of 18 monographs on service learning and the academic disciplines. It is designed to help teachers, administrators, and students realize the potential of service learning in Spanish. Following a Foreword by Carmen Chaves Tesser and an Introduction by Josef Hellebrandt and Lucia T. Varona, the four essays in Part 1,…

Designed as a looseleaf resource, a supplement to established teaching plans, and an aid to meeting individual needs, this compilation of writing exercises represents the responses of 157 teachers from 87 two-year colleges to the request, "Describe a successful writing task -- what it is, how you teach it, and why." The compilation includes tasks…

This document presents tables of data on enrollment and geographic origins of first-time, full-time students attending postsecondary institutions in New York State for 6 years between 1981 through 1992. Categories of data include county of residence of students, names of individual colleges, and institutional sector (State University of New York,…

This study examined effects of a Dalton Junior College (Georgia) student success course, Dalton College Studies 101 (DCS 101) since it was first offered in 1987. The course meets twice a week, is strictly elective, and carries institutional credit. All students were first-time students and since most students enroll during the Fall quarter, only…

The paper investigates the potential market segments of an upper division university in transition to 4-year status, and explores selection criteria and the influence of various information sources on the choice of university by the potential target students. Data sources for the study included a survey of 142 freshmen students of whom 120…

A description is provided of the use of a group process approach to the Freshman English research paper at El Paso Community College. After highlighting problems associated with traditional approaches to freshman research papers, an overview of the group process approach is provided, along with warnings for instructors who might view the approach…

Describes the use of student verbalization and immediate feedback, cooperative learning, a concept/discovery-based approach, and creative classroom activities in a remedial mathematics class for first-year students at Medgar Evers College. Compares student achievement with that in other sections of the same course. Includes sample problems. (DMM)

Reviews the literature on student attrition and suggests ways to increase enrollment and re-enrollment at community colleges without establishing labor-intensive programs and services. Focuses on the creation of the necessary environment for retention; the importance of campus-based research; and ways of predicting and preventing unnecessary…