Reports on a four-year longitudinal study of 2,544 college students to determine the relationship between academic self-concept and withdrawal from school. Finds that the most significant predictor of school withdrawal was the students' self-concept of their overall academic ability. (CFR)

Attitudes of a panel of 124 young adults in the Corner Brook (Newfoundland) area on a variety of politically relevant topics were examined over a two-year period to measure the possible effects of a university education. Generally, those who attended college did not change significantly in their attitudes, compared with high school graduates who…

Constructed a path model mapping the effect of career decision-making self-efficacy (CDMSE) and degree utility on persistence of underprepared college students. Found that students who believed college would provide employment opportunities and better careers were more likely to persist, and that CDMSE has a direct effect on social and academic…

The college participation rates of African Americans and Latinos continue to lag behind those of other racial and ethnic groups in the United States, despite the efforts of financial aid and affirmative action policies. Two recent federal policies that are "work-first" in nature threaten to further exacerbate racial and ethnic…

In this paper we measure the impacts of tougher graduation requirements on course-taking patterns, college attendance and completion, and post-high school labor market outcomes for vocational concentrators and non-concentrators. Our main goal was to assess whether vocational education students were specifically affected (positively or negatively)…

This paper discusses whether the massification of higher education (HE) in the majority of developed countries over the last few decades has led to changes in the form of involvement in universities for the masses, or massive universities for the expanding middle classes. Situating our argument with the evidence of massive expansion of HE in…

Recent changes in national and state mathematics standards have increased the level of algebraic thinking taught in younger grades. These changes have prompted more inclusive curriculum designs that open the opportunity to enroll in advanced mathematics courses at younger ages. Of particular interest to this study is the access to eighth-grade…

The first in a series, this study uses newly available data to describe the measurable changes in coursetaking, academic achievement, educational aspirations, and college enrollment rates of American high school students in the decade since the 1983 publication of "A Nation At Risk." The study's principal findings are: (1) high school…

A study was undertaken at the City College of San Francisco (CCSF), in California, to examine the decline in credit and noncredit enrollments from 1991-94 and determine possible reasons for the decline. Over the period, credit enrollment declined 32,406 in fall 1991 to 25,709 in fall 1994, while noncredit enrollment declined from 34,589 to 27,200.…

Examining the flow of students between the credit and noncredit programs at the City College of San Francisco (CCSF), in California, this report analyzes the patterns of student enrollment, attendance, persistence, and transition between programs from fall 1984 to fall 1994. Following a brief introduction and a discussion of terminology and trends…

In order to determine what constraints lead students to enroll in television-based courses, personal interviews were conducted in the fall of 1989 with students enrolled in at least one telecourse at four institutions, i.e., Governors State University in Illinois, Northern Virginia Community College, Memphis State University in Tennessee, and the…

Trends in college attendance of black and white high school graduates were examined, with a focus on whether black and white students of similar academic achievement and economic levels attend colleges at similar rates. Data were obtained from the Current Population Survey, the Higher Education General Information Survey, and the High School and…

A study was conducted at MiraCosta College (MCC), in Del Mar, California, to investigate various aspects of retention and attrition and to make recommendations for possible program enhancements. The study sought to determine when students drop out of classes, which students drop out of school completely, and the drop out rate for various…

Results of the Delaware High School Post-Graduate Survey for the class of 1986 are presented, with attention to graduate ratings of school services and programs, high school curriculum, present employment or student status, job salaries, vocational graduates, and graduates continuing their education. Delaware public high schools graduated 5,498…

Enrollment management and marketing strategies employed by the largest state university users of American College Testing (ACT) program tests were studied. The primary objective was to develop a descriptive profile of institutional practices and role performance factors. The study population was the 54 largest state university users of ACT student…