This project was designed to develop a curricular and pedagogical model for teaching multidisciplinary engineering design to senior-level undergraduate students at the Colorado School of Mines. The two-semester course sequence involved students from seven engineering disciplines working in multidisciplinary teams under the direction of…

A total of 284 first-year undergraduate business studies students in a post-1992 university in Greater London completed a questionnaire regarding their motives for deciding to participate in higher education. The questionnaire also queried whether the decision to enroll had been "marginal," or was something about which they had never had…

In an effort to improve educational institutions' recruitment and retention of undergraduate students of color, particularly members of underrepresented groups, a self-assessment guide was produced by a group of large public research universities. Common patterns of challenges and opportunities at the various institutions yielded nine crucial…

This paper examines the role of work in a psychology work/study curriculum at Antioch College (Ohio), and argues that the view of student's work that is described may represent a missed opportunity to help students learn. Students, through interviews and journal entries, provided their opinions regarding if and in what ways their classes…

This report uses data from the 1995-96 National Postsecondary Student Aid Study to profile undergraduates who were enrolled in U.S. postsecondary institutions in the academic year 1995-96. The report begins with an essay that explores the extent to which undergraduates work while they are in school. This essay found that 79 percent of…

This report presents findings of a study of the off-campus employment status of undergraduate college students attending all of the public and most of the private institutions of higher education in Washington State during the winters of 1997 and 1998. Specifically the study examined: (1) characteristics of working students; (2) work patterns…

This paper explores the possibilities presented in examining taken for granted aspects of pre-service teacher practicum practices, especially in terms of naming and positioning within teacher education, as they present at a regional university in Ballarat, Australia. The University of Ballarat has introduced a new P-10 teacher education course…

This study extends previous research on university attrition and course completion by its focus on the reasons for attrition and tracking the subsequent enrolment and other outcomes of students who discontinue their university studies. It also looks at older students as well as students from younger groups. It finds that attrition from first year…

Although colleges and universities interested in the most cost-effective way of diversifying their entering class or meeting enrollment targets have an array of analytical techniques to choose from, issues of accuracy, scope, and usability continue to slow their widespread use. To address these issues, this article develops an institutional…

Academic departments in kinesiology and physical education have historically struggled with the important issue of interdisciplinary collaboration in the areas of teaching, research, and service. The resultant lack of coherence can prove problematic as undergraduates attempt to complete the often difficult transition from student to professional…

The principal purpose of this empirical study was to identify factors in the backgrounds and college experiences of American undergraduate students that affect their interest in studying science and in pursuing science-related careers. Four-year longitudinal data were obtained from 27,065 freshmen who entered 388 four-year colleges and…

This paper summarizes evaluation data of at-risk student outcomes within the California State University (CSU) System in terms of student retention and academic performance. Findings concerning student retention are presented in the following areas: retention by ethnicity and by admission basis; retention by entering test performance; and the…

Periodic revisions of the physics and astronomy curricula have been made to make scientific course-work more appealing to a greater number of college students and ultimately create a more positive image of these disciplines. This report, in an attempt to determine how effective these revisions have been, provides 13 tables and 3 figures of trend…

The Integrating Studies Program at Vermont College was designed not only to help students master the dictates of established disciplines, but also to inquire about the nature of knowledge. As such, it reflects the growth of the general studies movement and that movement's desire to restore the bond between education and character-formation. The…

Findings are presented of a study of some of the characteristics of nontraditional students in an undergraduate social work program, as compared to the characteristics of traditional students. Curriculum and service changes that social work programs can implement to accommodate some of the special needs of nontraditional students are also…