Faculty and medical students' conceptions of an optimal progression toward graduation as defined by academic and psychosocial markers were compared. Twenty-four academic indicators of success or difficulty, primarily examination scores or clerkship evaluations, and 10 other indicators of progress toward graduation were assessed by 23 faculty and…

The critical relationship between students and their programs of study that affects student retention is examined. Current views of retention are reviewed, and the nature of retention studies that have been conducted during the last decade is analyzed. It is suggested that studies of persistence be conducted with the following possibilities in…

Based on data from the High School and Beyond Study, a longitudinal study of high school sophomores and seniors, this report summarizes some of the study's findings on the differences between Hispanics and non-Hispanic blacks and whites in school delay, aspirations, test scores, language usage, and socioeconomic status. Tabular data indicate that:…

Postsecondary plans of over 16,000 freshmen and seniors enrolled in Pennsylvania's public and private high schools during 1983-1984 were studied. Attention was directed to the effect of community, school, family, and student personal factors and characteristics that influence student decisions to attend various forms of postsecondary education.…

Berkeley undergraduates were surveyed in 1970 and again in 1973 to identify determinants of the decision to leave college among four types of leavers: failing transfers, failing dropouts, transfers in good standing, and dropouts in good standing. The following student characteristics are analyzed: family background, academic preparation, family…

Educational and vocational plans and changing characteristics of Indiana high school seniors from 1966 to 1980 were studied. In 1966, 1969, 1972, and 1975, questionnaires were mailed to all public and private high schools in the state, while in 1980, a stratefied random sample was used. The response rate of the first four surveys was 54 percent or…

A survey was conducted at Austin Community College (ACC) to determine why students who were previously enrolled chose not to re-enroll after completing at least 12 semester units. Of the 1,641 non-returning students who were sent questionnaires, 449 responded. Survey data on students' level of satisfaction with ACC, their employment status, and…

As part of an effort to assess the postsecondary educational needs of the community of Apache Junction, surveys were administered to: (1) students in grades 9-12 at Apache Junction High School (N=420) with regard to their educational plans, the postsecondary institutions they anticipated attending, course and program interests of those planning to…

Surveys were administered to 609 students from 40 randomly selected classes at Johnson County Community College (Kansas) to update student demographic information and to assess interest in expanded student services and potential career programs. In terms of student characteristics, it was found that: the percentage of women students had increased…

A survey project was conducted from July 1977 through June 1978 to: (1) determine the occupational interests and academic plans of seventh, eighth, tenth, and eleventh grade Bergen County public and Catholic school students and their parents; (2) determine the perception of Bergen County public school superintendents regarding the status,…

This conference report contains a summary of the proceedings and the text of two papers. The paper by Gertrude S. Goldberg, "Research Issues Evoked by the Moynihan Report," presents the critical response to that report and notes the issues raised by it. She discusses the alleged pathology of the Negro family, the relationship between…

The general objective of this study was to learn the nature of associations for race and sex with several dimensions of educational orientations held by adolescents living in selected all-rural, low-income areas. A secondary objective was to evaluate the general utility of a new multi-dimensional conceptual scheme for the study of status…

Since recent growth in enrollment in colleges of agriculture has been made up of an increasing proportion of students without a farm or rural background, colleges of agriculture should look at course offerings to see if they meet students' needs. To examine the attitudes of students with nonfarm backgrounds who were majoring in agriculture, a…

The Americam College Test (ACT) assessment results for 441 freshmen who entered Grand Valley State Colleges (GVSC) in fall 1973, and who were still enrolled in fall 1974 were compared to the results for 324 freshmen who entered GVSC in fall 1973 and who were not enrolled in fall 1974. Comparisons were made of ACT test scores, self-reported high…

Thirteen objectives of the program and analyses of each in terms of procedure, evaluation, the status of procedure, and status of the evaluation are listed in this report. The objectives are: the establishment of a community relations program to promote two-way communication between school board, administration, teachers, students, and parents;…