The purpose of this working paper is to understand the extent to which competing methodologies for measuring degree completion affect the comparability of information presented, and to better position the Indiana State Commission for Higher Education to make comparisons with national data. This working paper compares seven national studies of…

Recent research indicates that college students who transfer from community colleges are significantly less likely to complete a 4-year college degree than students who begin at 4-year institutions. This paper estimates models of college completion for both types of students. Based on these results, an Oaxaca decomposition indicates that students…

Students who were awarded university fellowships for their first year of study at a major research university were compared to nonfellowship students. The students' completion of the Ph.D. and the time required to obtain the degree were assessed. Data for about 3,200 Northwestern University students were analyzed. Three models were developed for…

Increasingly, states are establishing policies designed to decrease the time public-college students take to attain their undergraduate degrees, stimulated by private college claims of four-year degrees that actually take only four years. State financial aid for summer school attendance is a major part of the strategy. The approach appears to be…

Examined why graduate students take longer to complete humanities and social sciences degrees than natural sciences degrees. Found that field differences in knowledge structures and the organization of research have significant implications for research training. "Hard" fields have a directed supervision model and close relationship…

In an archival study, the academic outcomes of 653 Dawson College students with and 41,357 without disabilities were compared over a 12 year period starting in 1990 and ending in 2002. Results indicate that students with both physical and learning disabilities had graduation rates that were virtually identical to those of nondisabled students,…

This information brief examines four factors contributing to Florida's overall high graduation rates in public four-year institutions: (1) Graduation rates for the largest race/ethnic groups were higher than for the nation as a whole; (2) The gaps between racial/ethnic groups were smaller than in the nation as a whole; (3) Florida's largest…

To measure the amount of time it takes to earn an Associate of Arts degree at the San Diego Community College District, a study was undertaken of the number of years and number of semesters graduating students at three district colleges had been enrolled. A random sample of 300 students was drawn from the 1,130 students graduating in June 1992,…

Traditional Masters of Social Work (MSW) students versus extended MSW degree students who took a combination part-time/full-time work-study arrangement were compared. Comparisons were made on a variety of self-inventories, measuring attributes of personality, values and initial helping skills. (Author/MLW)

This report is one in a series examining performance measures adopted by the Commission as part of an accountability framework for higher education in California. All measures correspond to one of four goals: (1) Student Preparation for College; (2) Affordability and Access; (3) Student Success in Progressing through College; and (4) Public…

A study based on national data found that the average duration of doctoral study was related to departmental emphases on scholarly careers and the resources to implement those emphases. Patterns varied by general discipline area and by specific discipline, suggesting a need for detailed analysis by discipline. (Author/MSE)

A study was conducted at the University of British Columbia (UBC) and the University of Victoria (UV) to assess the academic performance of community college and technical institute transfer students in terms of baccalaureate degree attainment, time taken to complete the degree, rate of withdrawal, and final academic standing at the time the…

Data from a National Collegiate Athletic Association survey indicate trends in graduation rates, length of time in school, and student financial aid for men, women, minority groups, and all colleges students. Graduation rates at 298 Division I institutions for all students and for men and women athletes are presented. (MSE)

The role that independent colleges and universities play in meeting the national interest of providing educational opportunity is not always recognized. The information in this report demonstrates how independent colleges and universities provide affordable access to students from a diverse array of backgrounds. Students who attend these…

Studies on the time bachelor's degree recipients required to earn their degrees at California State University (CSU) and the University of California during the years 1975 to 1985, were reviewed by the California Postsecondary Education Commission. The California Legislature requested information on: the number of graduates, by campus and…