Upper-level institutions of higher education, offering course work at only the junior, senior, and in some cases postgraduate level, are discussed. Two upper-level institutions that are part of the University of Houston system are cited as examples: The University of Houston at Clear Lake City and the University of Houston Victoria Campus. In the…

Income-contingent student loans are examined in the context of an overall aid program, with an emphasis on placing realistic limits on individual debt burden while broadening loan use. A model for simulating borrowing and cumulative debt limits in different countries' educational circumstances is presented and illustrated with United States data.…

Presents a view of future engineering education as perceived by the Technion faculty group on the basis of their own analysis and the insights gathered from workshop discussions. Contrasts basic and specialized education. Reviews the technologies and skills of the future engineer. Gives an overview of curriculum requirements. (CW)

Examines college (introductory level) biology textbooks commonly used since 1950. Reports trends in new textbooks including length, graphics and content. Makes projections of future trends. Identifies major issues facing colleges related to biology textbook users. (CW)

This document summarizes the findings of the Learning through Evaluation, Adaptation and Dissemination (LEAD) Center's report on the team approach to the first research experience for undergraduates in botany and zoology. Students (N=25) and faculty (N=12) were interviewed and a comparison was made between students who performed the research in…

This report analyzes data from the National Postsecondary Student Aid Study for 1992-93 and 1995-96. The study found that students have turned increasingly to borrowing to cope with rising education costs. The percentage of postsecondary students who borrowed to complete a bachelor's or lower degree increased from 41 percent in 1992-93 to 52…

Today, although much debate surrounds the effectiveness of including graphics in Web-based distance education courses, most course authors agree that such courses should productively engage students so that quality of learning actually occurs. But what is productive engagement in a world of electronic communication and text? This paper offers a…

An alternative view to a 1979 study on institutional quality done by Astin and Solomon is presented. The study indicates significant changes in rank have occurred among the 25 most selective four-year undergraduate institutions. Kuh proposes naturalistic inquiry research. A rebuttal by Astin is appended. (MLW)

A two-year research effort assessed the effectiveness of the workshop approach to undergraduate and graduate student projects. The approach involved student reflective journals, individual student-professor conferences, structured small group discussions of project progress with peers, and presentations of final projects. The workshop approach was…

A study followed 66 medical students from matriculation through clerkship to determine the use of an anxiety measure, undergraduate grades, and Medical College Admission Test scores in predicting clerkship performance. Results showed disparities in prediction but suggest that the way students are evaluated in clerkships determined which factors…

Explores why women's colleges, and the education provided by them, are different than coeducational settings. The article explains how women's colleges provide students with value and respect and give them a sense of ownership. It also discusses why women's colleges excel at preparing students for the future. (GLR)

This paper explores appropriate disciplinary content for generalist sustainability degrees, based on two recent surveys. A questionnaire was used to extract from a multidisciplinary, largely academic audience--all of whom share an interest in sustainability--their views as to the disciplinary knowledge that a university-based sustainability…

UCLA's Howard Hughes Undergraduate Research Program (HHURP), a collaboration between the College of Letters and Science and the School of Medicine, trains a group of highly motivated undergraduates through mentored research enhanced by a rigorous seminar course. The course is centered on the presentation and critical analysis of scientific journal…

This report of the National Science Foundation-funded SCALE Institutions of Higher Education (IHE) Case Studies line of work provides preliminary findings about SCALE activities at the California State University, Northridge (CSUN). This interview-based study (N = 19) includes a descriptive analysis of SCALE activities and an exploratory analysis…

This report presents the findings of a visiting team charged with assessing Northeast Missouri State University's progress in 5 years toward goals from a new institutional mission and planning document. In particular the report endorses the 49 undergraduate programs and 9 graduate programs offered at NMSU each of which successfully attained the…