Colleges and universities today understand that positive public attitudes about higher education are important because they affect their financial stability and public support of their academic programs. Recent opinion surveys highlight the public's view that colleges should provide more adequate career preparation, while students also see their…

It is argued that colleges tend to have a high opinion of themselves and would be wise to learn how their various publics (community, business community, guidance counselors, college-bound students, parents, current students, alumni, staff) perceive them. Comparison with competitors and monitoring of change over time is also recommended. (MSE)

Data from the Current Population Survey of the U.S. Census show that black educational attainment, net of family background, became higher than that of whites in the 1950s, too early to be attributable to affirmative action. Other possible explanations, including a favorable orientation toward education in the African-American community are…

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock (UALR) and Little Rock's Pulaski Technical College (PTC) have both used the focus group process with key constituents to understand institutional needs and priorities and public expectations of their institutions. The model followed by both institutions consists of the following three phases: forming the…

The "Access to Democracy" project has two broad goals. It is an effort to understand community beliefs, attitudes and conditions that shape educational outcomes for community youth, and it is a way to focus community discussions on efforts that support higher educational attainment for residents. This report focuses on the lessons…

Presents edited excerpts of some of the major convention speeches presented at the National Science Teacher's Association National Convention in New York City, including those of Rosalyn Yalow, Peter Fenner, Verne N. Rockcastle, F. James Rutherford, John Brooks Slaughter, and Majorie H. Gardner. (CS)

This research analyzes language development in the classroom as fostering the development of students who are community builders, problem solvers and critical thinkers. Examples of both positive and negative classroom situations are used to illustrate these three language domains. Successful classrooms are safe communities where children are…

This paper examines the views of economic and higher education leaders concerning the potential socio-economic importance to Americans of establishing continuing links between communities, colleges, and universities, and international students and alumni. A literature review is presented that examines: (1) the past relationship and importance of…

In 1970, a randomly selected sample of 101 residents of the community surrounding the University of Maryland, College Park, were surveyed to determine their perceptions of campus unrest, and their responses were compared to student perceptions of the same events. Study variables were liberal-conservative self-ratings of the residents, political…

A study investigated the attitudes of Boise State University faculty, students, and community members concerning their educational expectations of a metropolitan campus with community college offerings. The study looked at whether faculty priorities were consistent with a community college mission, how unified were the voices of students and…

Increasing the college enrollment and graduation of minority students will require systemic change in educational institutions. Currently, school systems are not equal in all communities and there exists a widespread lack of awareness of the importance of higher education and visible mobilizing forces in minority communities. Moreover, increasing…

This report of a New York City Technical College (NYCTC) task force focuses on a diminished sense of campus and institutional community. Three committees were formed to explore the problem. The committees' findings are reported in an early section. The Research Committee found a lack of studies on college community and recommended some models for…

Personality and a social support system are two factors that may influence women medical students' choice of a rural primary care specialty. The 2-year study of 11 University of New Mexico School of Medicine women students engaged in 4-month rural primary care preceptorships included interviews and a personality inventory. Three women had…

The Grand Junction Metropolitan Statistical Area is the fifth largest metropolitan area in Colorado and the 12th fastest-growing in the Southwest. Latinos make up approximately 8 percent of total population and 15 percent of school enrollment; these numbers are increased by migrant farmworkers and their families. In May 2001, a public forum was…

This paper explores community perceptions of students and faculty involved in service learning and campus outreach initiatives, examining how communities and campuses engage in service activities; how the service mission of higher education is perceived; whether service learning students help or hinder community agencies; and how partnerships…