The history of affirmative action, current requirements, myths concerning these requirements for higher education, and the responsibilities of college trustees are considered. Affirmative action is defined as follows: steps taken to ensure that there is nondiscrimination and equal opportunity in employment and educational programs; result-oriented…

The impact of admission criteria to teacher education programs in Alabama and the impact of a recently established exit examination required for certification were examined. Current admission criteria included: (1) completion of 60 semester hours of the approved general studies program with a grade point average (GPA) of at least 1.2 on a 3.0…

A sample of 217 students (from grades 4 to 8) who were enrolled in an elementary school science-oriented gifted and talented program were compared to 91 mainstreamed subjects in grades 7 through 10. Assessement instruments included: a battery of Piagetian measures designed to assess combinatorial reasoning, probabilistic reasoning, and the ability…

Studies were conducted to determine whether measures of intellectual merit that are used as criteria for admission to the University of Karachi in Pakistan have predictive validity. The predictive validity of the intermediate examination score was studied with recent graduates of the pharmacy, medicine, and engineering schools. Additional studies…

The problems raised by the development of affirmative action and by the Jewish community's response to the complex social and legal issue are analyzed. The analysis focuses upon: initiation of affirmative action by presidential decree and its interpretation and implementation by the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare in the areas of…

Reviews the historical arguments for the abolition of freshman college composition courses, analyzes the assumptions that undergird them, and assesses their influence. Concludes that the fundamental ideological conflicts must be faced if the teaching of writing is to take a full place in university English departments. (SD)

The goal of increasing the number of physicians from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds who practice by choice in medically underserved poor and minority communities was the focus of a special admission policy at the University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine. A survey of graduates is discussed. (MLW)

To create an effective plan and marketing strategy, administrators, faculty members, trustees, alumni, and students need to be involved. Each group needs to understand that it must subordinate individual and departmental concerns to those of the college. (MLW)

To comply with the district desegregation plan, the San Francisco Unified School District previously required higher scores for Chinese American students applying to the academic magnet, Lowell High School, than for more under-represented groups. Several Chinese parents sued the district, challenging the legality of the desegregation plan, which…

This study examines the role of religion in Korean elite and higher education during the premodern and modern periods with descriptive analysis. The study focuses on the contribution of Buddhism and Confucianism to premodern elite education in Korea, particularly the interaction between Confucianism and Christianity with modern higher education in…

As secondary school enrollment declines in Great Britain in the 1980s, local education authorities will face problems in deciding which schools and/or programs to cut. School districts must recognize that, whether they like it or not, parents will have an increasing impact on decision making. (IS)

Suggests guidelines teachers and counselors should follow when writing letters of recommendation for high school students applying for college admission. Focuses on the need to describe students, document their abilities, and provide details to support assertions. (PGD)

Sampled colleges nationwide to determine whether admissions criteria differed significantly for minority groups. Results indicated minorities are expected to show evidence of quantifiable accomplishment. Noncognitive factors were less important. Private and Protestant colleges were more likely to consider motivation and admissions interviews. (JAC)

Study of freshman applicants and persistence at Arizona State University revealed that at first years end the ethnic composition of applicants and students was very similar. However, no admissions model that attempts to match some community's ethnic composition can be constructed to assure adequate representation of all minorities, although steps…

Looks at the problem in the Federal Republic of Germany over the past two decades of regulating access to higher education in the face of a growing demand for admission. (SJL)