Grinnell College participated in ACRL's [Association of College and Research Libraries] first cohort of Assessment in Action (AiA), undertaking a mixed-methods action research project to assess the effectiveness of librarian-led research literacy sessions in improving students' research skills. The quantitative data showed that the quality of…

This article examines a "calculus graphing schema" and the triad stages of schema development from Action-Process-Object-Schema (APOS) theory. Previously, the authors studied the underlying structures necessary for students to process concepts and enrich their knowledge, thus demonstrating various levels of understanding via the calculus…

The Louis W. and Maud Hill Family Foundation is engaged in a productivity program to assist private colleges in its eight state service region (Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington) in controlling escalating costs while maintaining educational quality. The Hill Foundation's effectiveness could…

To determine how a college's curriculum and selectivity may influence enrollment fluctuations, this study analyzed data on 64 private colleges in Iowa and Illinois. Colleges emphasizing arts and sciences had greater enrollment growth during improving market conditions for college graduates; those stressing occupational growth had greater…

The sensitivity of enrollment to conditions in the labor market for college graduates was assessed. A model was developed to determine whether sensitivity of enrollment to labor market changes depends on admissions selectivity and the curriculum. Data from 1965-1981 for 64 independent liberal arts colleges in Iowa and Illinois were evaluated.…

The normal school began in Iowa in 1849, developed early partnerships with local districts, and evolved into the current situation of 29 teacher education institutions (TEIs). By 1980, 42.5% of Iowa's population was rural; a 1981-1982 study showed 37.5% of Iowa's students were in rural districts. A follow-up placement study of the University of…

A study tested the hypothesis: The greater the amount of philanthropic income per dollar of tuition, the smaller the fraction of bachelor's degrees in occupational fields. Findings support the contention that a college's tuition dependence is associated with its tendency to adjust its curriculum to match student consumer preferences. (MLW)

The third in a series of six reports on higher education in Iowa, this document presents enrollment projections for Iowa postsecondary education institutions from 1978 through 1986. Data were collected from the regents universities, independent colleges, and area colleges throughout the state. A computerized nonprescriptive projection model was…