A study of the approaches to learning of adult students in nine United Kingdom colleges of further education found them qualitatively different from those of traditional students as determined by a previous study. Results suggest that adult education courses may inculcate an educational culture inconsistent with the dominant culture in mainstream…

Conducted four focus groups to explore the college student experience of ethnic minorities (African American, Asian-Pacific American, Chicano/Latino, and Native American) in a predominantly White institution of higher education. Findings in terms of student voices and perspectives were grouped into six main categories: general campus climate,…

This study investigated the usefulness of three dormitory lifestyle assignments (male-only, female-only, co-ed) in promoting student participation in residence hall activities at James Madison University (Virginia). Results showed assignment to coeducational dormitories fostered more and varied student involvement than did male-only or female-only…

Results of a longitudinal study of student experience at over 200 4-year colleges are summarized. The study focused on student outcomes and how they are affected by college environments. Key findings are discussed for three areas: academic development, personal development, and satisfaction. (MSE)

A 1989 survey of 1,800 first-year pharmacy students from 18 schools identified factors in pharmacy school selection and compared findings with 1985 data. Factors considered include institutional reputation, academic environment, finances, degrees offered, curricular options, advising, and student characteristics. Institutional reputation and…

A survey of 123 women enrolled in Canadian graduate programs in educational administration found that, although some found a relatively warm professional climate for women, for many the experience was not positive. Devaluation of female faculty, counseling of women out of administration, sexist language, and other evidence of sexism were found.…

Development and validation of the Ethical Climate Index, designed to measure perceived ethical climate of an institution's graduate and professional school programs, is described. The instrument was found to be valid and reliable, and variability was found in student perceptions of ethical climate across major academic areas. Research needs are…

A study with 2,453 college students investigated the construct validity of the student commitment to institution as a factor in academic persistence. Results suggest factors such as institutional quality, practical educational utility, student-institution fit, and loyalty to institution were more predictive of persistence than similarity of…

A study of 76 college students with learning disabilities (LD) participating in a liberal arts college LD program found that students with more inclusive, less structured supported programs within the secondary school settings were more successful in graduating from college. Although neither performance nor full-scale IQ interacted with these…

A survey of 10 national systems of higher education found that less than 10 percent of professors were women, and the proportion of female professors was negatively related to institutional prestige. This academic "glass ceiling" was related to women's shorter careers, tenure issues during hard times, and women's lower level of academic…

Conducted small group discussions with college students to identify what helped or hindered achievement of learning outcomes. Identified four student factors (self management, motivation and needs, understanding, and support), which operate within a context (course organization, resources, and facilities; assessment; and learning activities and…

This study describes an empirically derived framework for understanding issues and contexts in which difficult interpersonal events, grounded in identity differences, occur between and among college faculty and students. Interviews with 34 student affairs professionals on 11 college campuses generated 153 student stories of uncomfortable…

This study examined freshman college students' attitudes about date rape and how such attitudes changed over the course of their college experience. It is based on a subset of data from the 1990 annual national survey of freshmen and a follow-up study in 1994 collected by the Cooperative Institutional Research Program (CIRP) survey, namely 10,155…

A survey of 37 college students with various disabilities was conducted to assess their perceptions of the accommodation process at a medium-sized midwestern university. Students were interviewed about particular accommodations requested and positive and negative aspects of the accommodation process. They also provided quantitative information on:…

A study of institutions of further education (FE) and higher education (HE) in Scotland evaluated the content and presentation of their current charters; assessed the reactions of students, employers and members of local communities to varying examples of local charters; identified the steps that institutions have taken to monitor the impact of…