This study analyzed data from the Illinois Shared Enrollment and Graduation Information System concerning attendance and graduation patterns of two groups: students who entered Illinois public universities as first-time freshmen between 1987 and 1992 and students who had graduated from Illinois public universities by spring 1998. Major findings…

This report tracks the degree completion and persistence rates of freshmen entering an Indiana public college or university in Fall 1990. Entering freshmen are defined using data provided by the institutions in the Student Information System as first-time freshmen enrolling in the Fall 1990 enrollment term. Statistics on degree completion,…

A study of degree completion rates, time taken to earn degrees, and final academic standing in two universities showed wide variation between faculty and academic department, between the universities, between males and females, and between direct entry and transfer students. Assessment of the impact of rising admissions standards is recommended.…

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)

This report is an executive summary of two previously-released reports presenting findings from Wave 2: The Academic Achievement and Functional Performance of Youth with Disabilities and After High School: A First Look at the Postschool Experiences of Youth with Disabilities. Some key findings presented in the Overview include the following: (1) A…

Dual enrollment--the arrangements by which high school students take college courses during the junior and senior year--is a promising "next best thing" for states wishing to increase the number of underrepresented students gaining a postsecondary credential. Dual enrollment also has the potential to save money for families and taxpayers…

This study aims to quantify progress to the Associate degree. Transcripts of approximately half a class of degree recipients at a large multi-campus urban community college were analyzed to determine total time to degree, both in years elapsed since the first semester of enrollment and in resident semesters completed. A total of 1,581 transcripts…

This study demonstrates how an institutional research process focused on Ph.D. students contributed to programmatic changes that increased the effectiveness of the program for part-time, adult graduate learners. From 1985-92 faculty in an adult and vocational education doctoral program gathered feedback from students on challenges regarding…

Interviews with 48 Mexican American college students who excelled in high school revealed that Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) scores did not predict time to completion of degree, college grade point average, or likelihood of applying to graduate school. However, many students with low SAT scores were initially traumatized and were aware of missed…

State legislatures' 1998 sessions have produced an array of new laws and programs intended to improve access to college: by overhauling higher education systems, particularly two-year colleges; creating or expanding scholarship programs; increasing appropriations substantially so public colleges can hold down tuition; and helping students avoid…

Analysis of transcripts and survey responses of undergraduate students in one university identified three types of student extenders (full-time students taking longer than normal to complete a degree), determined by financial need, grade-consciousness, and special situations. Characteristics of these groups are compared with those posited by…

Two groups of students enrolled in Georgia technical college diploma programs were studied: one group matriculated in fall 1992 (n=9,463) and a second group matriculated in fall 1997 (n=12,467). Z?scores and logistic regression were used to determine differences and relationships in attrition, completion, and graduation rates before and after the…

The academic progress of minority and nonminority community college transfer students toward baccalaureate degree completion was studied using term-by-term longitudinal files. The study sample consisted of 1,179 students entering community college in fall 1985 as first-time students and transferring to the university by 1991, and 990 students…

This research brief presents data on transfer students in the University of Wisconsin (UW) system, with emphasis on student access, enrollment, and outcomes. Among the findings are the following: (1) The number of transfer students enrolled in the UW system reached a 10-year high of 9,684 in fall 1996, followed by a slight decline in fall 1997;…

This report responds to Colorado Senate Bill 92-155 by describing the policy changes, new policies and practices, and incentives established to accomplish the legislative purpose, namely, to reduce the average length of time that undergraduate students take to complete their degrees. The report summarizes governing board reports and the actions…