"What Will They Learn?"™ evaluates every four-year public university with a stated liberal arts mission as well as hundreds of private colleges and universities selected on the basis of size, mission, and regional representation. All schools in the "What Will Will They Learn"™ study are regionally-accredited, nonprofit…

In the fiercely competitive, global job market, solid preparation in core skills matters a lot. Will college graduates write with the clarity, grace, and accuracy that employers (and everyone else) expect? Will they have the basic mathematical and scientific skills--regardless of their majors--that equip them to navigate an increasingly…

The number of certificates conferred by U.S. postsecondary institutions increased 64 percent in the last decade, from 572,000 in 2000-2001 to 936,000 in 2009-2010, surpassing the 850,000 associate's degrees conferred in 2009-2010. Certificates are overwhelmingly conferred in vocational fields and are intended to prepare students for the growing…

The visibility of developmental education--or basic skills education as it is called most often in California--has increased in recent years. One major catalyst was a comprehensive community college strategic planning process completed in 2004 that listed basic skills as a critical area of focus. Another was an increase in the system's minimum…

The American Council of Trustees and Alumni (ACTA) has released "What Will They Learn? 2012-13," the fourth edition, evaluating the general education requirements at 1,070 colleges and universities. Unlike other college rankings, ACTA does not consider an institution's wealth, prestige, or popularity. Rather, ACTA rates institutions…

Information Resource Management--State University System of Florida (IRM-SUS) is the primary collector and provider of data concerning state universities that is used to make sound education policy decisions. The office provides technical assistance to those using the information, state and federal reporting support, those supplying information,…

The BC Transfer System allows students to attend public colleges, institutes and teaching intensive universities (i.e., Central Data Warehouse or CDW reporting institutions) throughout the province where they accumulate credits which they can transfer to research intensive universities and use to fulfill their degree requirements. The Student…

The national imperative for increased postsecondary level completions has never been clearer. In order to remain competitive in an ever-changing global market, the United States must produce an educated workforce; one that is ready to lead and inspire a 21st century economy. Recognizing this urgency, the President, several foundations, policy…

The Associate Degree is a two year academic credential available with an Arts or Science focus. The British Columbia Council on Admissions and Transfer (BCCAT) initiated development of this provincial credential at the request of British Columbia's (BC's) public post-secondary institutions. In March 2003, BCCAT prepared a report detailing the…

Results of the American Sociological Association's first survey of graduate departments in sociology shows a striking similarity among programs in terms of course requirements, number of credits, and thesis requirements. Authors suggest that the apparent absence of diversity may be a matter of concern for the discipline. (Author/DH)

This paper, the first of two related documents, presents the findings of a survey undertaken for the National Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST) to determine current practices in Ph.D. granting institutions regarding standards, goals, and objectives of this terminal degree in theater in the United States. The survey presents information…

This paper, the second of two related documents, presents the findings of a follow-up survey undertaken for the National Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST) to determine current practices in 39 Ph.D. granting institutions regarding standards, goals, and objectives of this terminal degree in theater in the United States. The survey presents…

Using data from the 2003 Baccalaureate and Beyond Longitudinal Study (B&B:93/03), this report profiles 1992-93 bachelor's degree recipients' experience with K-12 teaching in the subsequent 10 years, as well as their preparation for teaching. The analysis first compares current and former teachers in this cohort on several demographic and…

Reports a survey of postsecondary institutions in the United States. Questionnaires were sent to foreign language departments. A 79 percent response indicated that 60.1 percent of all enrollments were in elementary courses. Information reported concerns languages offered in various types of institutions, institutional factors affecting enrollment,…

Questions have been raised about the status of English as a second language (ESL) in colleges and universities, especially with regard to ESL credit, admission of ESL students, and tenure for ESL instructors. These questions prompted Portland State University (Oregon) to send a questionnaire dealing with the topic to the directors of 174 programs…