Think College Reports present descriptive data in narrative or tabular form to provide timely information to researchers, practitioners, and policymakers for review and use. This report provides an overview of descriptive program and student-level data provided by Transition and Postsecondary Programs for Students with Intellectual Disabilities…

This article focuses on the cross-national relevance of theories of college student departure formulated by U.S. scholars. Some aspects of U.S. developed theories of college student departure hold some semblance of cross-national relevance. Economic and sociological perspectives provide such aspects. The weighing of costs and benefits inherent in…

Students and families all over the country are saving, working, taking out loans, and taking steps to make college affordable. Yet they still find themselves facing an unreasonably high price for college, with unexpected, and sometimes untenable, expenses, and fall short of the resources they need to successfully complete degrees. Financial…

Commuter students make up an overwhelming majority of the college student population. At the same time, the amount of research on commuter students is minuscule compared to that of residential students. The characteristics of the commuter student subgroup that is referenced in this chapter can be described as living independent of guardians or…

This is a summary of a presentation to the Assembly Higher Education Committee on college fee and total cost comparisons of California public universities with comparator universities in other states. This summary also includes grant award estimates and net cost of college by family income.

Everyone in the business of raising funds for graduate and professional schools knows that the effort has certain challenges. Deborah McCreery, of Widener University School of Law, identifies two main hurdles to alumni fundraising at Widener Law: (1) student loan debt; and (2) a perception problem. At Widener Law and other professional and…

Nearly 60 percent of Mansfield University's 2,900 undergraduates live off campus, many commuting up to an hour each way. While the commuter population has remained steady in recent years, students' expectations for how the institution should serve them have increased, officials here say. When Maravene S. Loeschke became president of Mansfield last…

Geographic analysis has been adopted by businesses, especially the retail sector, since the early 1990s (Thrall, 2002). Institutional research can receive the same benefits businesses have by adopting geographic analysis and technology. The commonalities between businesses and higher education institutions include the existence of trade areas, the…

The new student center at Trenton State College is situated on the walkway between the central campus and the commuter parking areas. The location brings resident and commuter students together. (Author/MLF)

Describes how Kennesaw State University's career services center staff make significant gains in introducing commuting students to the career center. By creating a Web site where students can create their resumes, sign-up for on-campus interviews, and ask for career advice, the center expanded its traditional role to attract commuter students. It…

Even though the majority of college students are commuters, most colleges and universities are set up primarily to serve residential students. In an effort to address this inequity, Drexel University created an award-winning commuter program. The author describes how it got started and what it looks like. (Author)

Discusses various aspects of a summer intensive Spanish course, including its evolution, materials used, and how it differs from regular courses. Advantages and disadvantages of the course are given from both the students' and teachers' point of view. (EKN)

Describes the Collegium Program at Seattle University (Washington), an effort to create a sense of place and community for commuter students. Explains the context and vision of the collegium idea, the pilot project, desired outcomes (sense of belonging, student participation), and physical/programmatic elements (architectural design, personnel).…

Describes teaching literature to non-English majors (primarily working adults) at Golden Gate University. Discusses how the authors create a classroom environment in which students are given permission to engage in literary works in the context of their own lives as well as to consider texts historically and stylistically. (RS)

In addition to experiencing the generic quality and cost problems faced by all colleges and universities, community colleges face problems particular to their student populations. They need to design more flexible schedules for working adult students, create a greater sense of community or engagement for commuting students, address the special…