Residential liberal arts colleges in general, and highly selective ones in particular, produce a pattern of consistently positive student outcomes not found in any other type of American higher education institution. They also effect a reasonable balance between undergraduate teaching and scholarly research, and incorporate a wide range of…

Methodological difficulties inherent in the design of studies of college impact are reviewed and an attempt is made to provide an improved research design. The discussion of research problems focuses on those of inferring causation. A characteristic three-component model of student development, comprised of student output, student input, and…

The annual ACE/UCLA Cooperative Institutional Research Program (CIRP) surveys of American freshmen show a major movement in certain generalized political self-identification labels. The direction has been from liberal to middle-of-the-road. (MLW)

Changes in student attitudes, beliefs, self-concepts, and behaviors are reviewed, and findings on their satisfaction with various aspects of the college environment are summarized. Also discussed are sex differences and patterns of student development and their implications for both governmental and institutional policy. (AF)

Results of a longitudinal study of student experience at over 200 4-year colleges are summarized. The study focused on student outcomes and how they are affected by college environments. Key findings are discussed for three areas: academic development, personal development, and satisfaction. (MSE)

This book presents the extensive results of a study of how students are affected by their college experiences. Chapter 1 discusses the question of how to assess the impact of the college experience and outlines the overall design of the study. Chapter 2 describes each of the 135 college environmental measures and 57 "student involvement" measures…

The effect of the managerial style of a college's administrative team on student and faculty behaviors is examined. Reported are the findings of a five-year nationwide study that collected data on the style of administrations at each of 49 colleges and universities and information on the degree of student and faculty satisfaction and involvement…