A qualitative study of contemporary problems and issues encountered by college students with disabilities used a nominal group process to incorporate student perspectives into the assessment. Critical issues and suggested solutions were identified in six categories: physical/sensory access; service provision; information access; social inclusion;…

The extent to which students are well matched with the universities they attend was investigated. The outcome of the choice process was examined with cross-sectional data on students at two private (Northwestern and Chicago) and one public (Northeastern Illinois) Chicago metropolitan area universities. Between and within school variation in…

A literature review of barriers to women who re-enter higher education studies is presented. Several factors are thought to influence the experience of re-entry women: the type of institution she attends, the type of program that she finds there, and her personal and social situation. Re-entry women are discussed in terms of inner city women, low…

In an investigation of Australia's declining rate of college bound students, a social psychological model of academic attainment (linking students' social origins to school experiences, perceptions of others' support, self-assessment, and high schools seniors' aspirations and grades) is applied to the processes used by students in adjusting to…

The effectiveness of formal mentoring programs for high-risk undergraduate students was examined. Formal mentoring is defined as a deliberate matching of university personnel with high-risk students, a group which may include people of color, women, low-income persons, the physically challenged, and first-generation college students. Formal…

Interviews with five students with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) at The George Washington University (District of Columbia), their families, and professionals in student disabilities resulted in five clinical vignettes representing a spectrum of ADD students. Six recurring personal issues emerged: self-esteem, family/peer support, stress,…

This study assessed student perceptions of service at the Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane (Australia). Data were based on open-ended discussions with 48 undergraduate focus groups during which participants were asked what they perceived to be the good and bad aspects of university life, what they did to cope with obstacles, and how…

In an inter-institutional action research project, seven teachers from three high schools and two colleges in Canada interviewed 88 students as they looked forward to college, experienced the first semester, and looked back after the second semester. The purpose was to discover what student perceptions and what institutional policies and practices…

Student attrition was studied in relation to the quality of the interaction between the student and the college environment, using a modified version of the Total Adjustment Scale, a self-report rating scale. Academic functioning, social functioning, and bonding to the college setting were assessed for 459 college freshmen at the University of…

An article and descriptions of programs for first-year college students are presented. In "As Freshmen First," John Orr Dwyer recounts the history of the word "freshman" and outlines some of the characteristics of the 1980s first-year student. Recognizing the problems that face students entering college for the first time, he…

Needs and concerns of 35 black students enrolled at Mansfield University in spring 1985 were assessed. Biographical information and opinions of the respondents were obtained using a questionnaire, which is appended. Characteristics of the sample include: 66.67 percent were males and 33.33 percent were females; 22 of the students were 18 to 21…

Experiences of 60 women over 30 years old who returned to college after being out of school at least four years were studied. Thirty graduates and 30 undergraduate students were interviewed. Institutional barriers women confront include inadequate student services, limitations on financial aid, and admission practices and screening procedures…

Reviews literature on Black students on White campuses in terms of eight noncognitive variables affecting Black student life: self-concept, realistic self-appraisal, understanding and dealing with racism, community service, long-range goals, availability of a strong support person, successful leadership experience, and knowledge acquired in a…

This doctoral study examined the literacy practices of two rural adolescents as they crossed between the social contexts of their rural community, Winnona Hill, and higher education. Data collected primarily through semi-structured e-mail interviews over a 4-year period indicated that both informants used multiple literacies and a range of…

To determine the factors that have contributed to persistence in successful Native American students, this study investigated student expectations, life experiences on campus, perceptions of support and lack of support for cultural identity, difficulties encountered, perceptions of how the Native American's college experience differs from that of…