Past research has supported the idea that involvement in extracurricular activities has a positive impact on students' evaluation of their college lives. This study investigated whether involvement, as measured by time commitment to campus activities, had a differential impact on the students' adjustment to various aspects of college life,…

This book presents the findings of a longitudinal study of 101 college students and the development of their ways of knowing over a 5-year period, focusing particularly on the role of gender in intellectual development. Part 1, "Understanding Gender-Related Patterns of Knowing," introduces different ways of knowing. Chapter 1 reviews the…

Workshops that help students develop leadership are offered twice a year by the Office of Student Activities at the University of Pittsburgh. Soon after the 12 programming committee chairs and the student coordinator are selected in December, they meet with advisory staff in a local hotel for a training workshop, the first session of the…

Student perceptions of the University of Maryland Baltimore Campus (UMBC) as well as student interactions with the campus were studied through a formal needs analysis. It was found that UMBC students were fairly pragmatic and career-oriented, based on their reasons for attending college, their choice of UMBC, their current employment, and their…

A study among white college undergraduates investigated the kinds of activities that promote interracial contact, and the extent to which interracial contact in high school determines interracial contact in college. Results indicated that school sponsored activities both in high school and at the university level encourage contact between students…

To obtain information about student constructivists (students whose social concern is expressed through involvement in restitutive work), this study investigated the extent of college student involvement in constructive social activities, and compared the characteristics of these students with a random sample of undergraduates at the University of…

A study is reported of how students in an honors program and a transition program for academically disadvantaged students, as well as students in the regular curriculum, become engaged in a variety of experiences and how their quality of effort in the activities is related to student growth and development. (Author/MLW)

As student populations change, so do the students who volunteer for cocurricular activities. The challenges for campus activities organizers include recruiting older students and providing adequate rewards for volunteering. Students can be attracted by emphasizing the job-related aspects of volunteer jobs or offering course credit. (MSE)

Since the late 1800s, factors that stimulated growth of outing clubs at colleges and universities included the desire to get outdoors and explore and the clubs' ability to provide outdoor training, access, and equipment. Outing clubs were initially formed by students. The outing clubs at Williams College, Dartmouth, and Allegheny College were all…

The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of 6 factors that affect college students' self-rating of change in problem solving and critical thinking abilities after 4 years of college. Based on the available literature, these six factors were selected for investigation: (1) Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) scores; (2) a socioeconomic…

A four step model, developed to help college union staff help students independently determine and fulfill their leisure time needs, features identification of needs and skills, classification of these needs and skills, participation, and evaluation. (CJ)

Examines the impact of learning activities and college environments on learning. The GRE Verbal and Quantitative subtest scores for a national sample (N=2,281) of students were dependent variables. Student involvement in learning activities and environments that were most directly related to the learning outcomes enhanced learning. Studies of…

Organizational growth in student government, Greek-affiliated organizations, and activities councils can occur through the use of properly planned student leadership training programs. Low adventure training can enhance such programs while promoting optimal organizational and personal growth, providing a framework from which to view group…

At Clarion University of Pennsylvania, the campus activities programming board and a student organization adopted a joint publicity program for campus events. Benefits and drawbacks of the arrangement are outlined. For other colleges, it is suggested that the college communications department be a source for developing similar cooperative…

Two brief stories about attitudes toward higher education in North America are presented. One notes criticisms of college faculty as underproductive and overpaid and of distorted values in academe. The second focuses on two trends: cheerleading scholarships and endorsement income for athletic coaches. (MSE)