Using data from more than 2,000 community college science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) majors in the National Postsecondary Student Aid Study, this research investigates how ethnicity, gender, non-traditional student risk factors, academic preparation, socio-economic status, and English-as-second-language/citizenship status…

Among the diverse and varied missions of community colleges is the provision of instruction for students who have either been underserved by their previous educational institutions or not had the opportunity to complete high school. Included under this umbrella are low-performing high school students, individuals with low basic skills, and those…

Community colleges have often gotten short shrift on the spectrum of higher education. Their policy of accessibility to all has often relegated them to a lower status than traditional, four-year institutions; and because they offer a wide range of programs, community colleges often defy easy description. But a challenging economy and a shift to…

President Obama's higher education goal is to provide "every American with a quality higher education--whether it's college or technical training." The work must begin now, despite the current economic downturn, since Americans believe that doing so is critical to the future competitiveness of their nation. In this article, the authors describe…

Portugal's overall modernization strategy for becoming integrated into the European Community is outlined, the structure and constraints of its higher education system are described, and the role envisioned for higher education in the modernization process is discussed. (MSE)

Results of a study of local income, expenditure, and employment patterns related to the presence of a British polytechnic institute are explained, potential applications to similar institutions are discussed, and policy implications for both the institution and local and national governments are examined. (MSE)

America's economic difficulties, and therefore higher education's fiscal problems, will not respond quickly to change. Institutions must look for additional revenue sources, including tuition, philanthropy, and increased enrollment. Colleges need to acknowledge the reality of the situation, define missions carefully, make hard choices, address…

Cites figures pointing to the limited progress of minorities in higher education. Discusses reasons related to economic and social policy shifts, entering students' characteristics, institutional barriers, and changes in national climate and federal policy. (AYC)

Theories and facts about the origins, current status, and future of U.S. upper-division colleges are discussed, including expectations met and unmet, enrollment problems, unforseen inadequacies in the curriculum, environment and lack of student life activities, specialized institutions, current college missions, mergers, and institutional change.…

A classics faculty member and dean summarizes the opinions of six Union College (New York) undergraduates concerning the value of studying the humanities, and where this study should fit into a liberal arts education at an undergraduate college. Discusses pressures on the liberal arts college scholar-teacher and examines trends in humanities…

Analysis of higher education in postcommunist Romania looks at the system's history since World War II, enrollment patterns from 1948-49 to 1992-93, control of academic appointments, public policy concerning science and the conditions of academic work, and restructuring of higher education institutions after 1970 to support technological and…

Going against conventional wisdom that larger doctoral programs are better, Washington University (Missouri) has been scaling back its doctoral enrollments, recruiting more selectively, providing every student with full financial support for six years, and increasing contact between faculty and doctoral students. The new approach has brought…