Questionnaires were sent to 337 transfer graduates from Moraine Valley Community College (MVCC) to solicit information on their perceptions of MVCC strengths and weaknesses, the most and least effective instructional methods, principal activities since graduating, reasons for not initially attending a four-year college, suggestions for improving…

Consisting mainly of charts, graphs, and lists, this publication presents materials used in the Delaware County Community College (DCCC) planning and institutional research processes. Guidelines for establishing DCCC mission, goals, objectives, and management by objectives performance standards relative to planning changes, instructional programs,…

A 45-item questionnaire was used in a survey of 3,396 of the 39,988 black students enrolled in the 57 institutions in the North Carolina Community College System (NCCCS). Beyond identifying the students in relation to their demographic, socio-economic, academic, attendance, program area, and institutional attraction characteristics, the study…

Data on faculty and staff at Hawaii's community colleges focuses upon full-time appointees, with additional information on part-time appointees, lecturers, and professional staff on leave. Data are summarized by the program categories of institutional support, academic support, student services, instruction (general and vocational education), and…

The 1976 supplement presents higher education price index data for fiscal years 1971 through 1976. The basic study, "Higher Education Prices and Price Indexes" (ED 123 996) presents complete descriptions of the indexes together with index values and price data for fiscal years 1961 through 1974. Indexes are presented for research and…

Increasing cumulative grade point average at a public university was found to be caused not by a general relaxing of grading standards, but probably because students are moving away from traditional curricula into courses and degree programs with grading standards reflecting their abilities and/or interests. (Author/LBH)

A study investigated indicators of student academic performance in six samples (n=911 each) of men and women students from 19 baccalaureate, 27 master's, and 29 doctoral granting institutions. Measures of achievement gains associated with three good educational practices (faculty-student contact, cooperation among students, active learning) were…

Teaching portfolios, now largely used for evaluation of college teaching, can also be viewed as a form of action research, opening their use to other purposes, including examination of institutional, faculty, and student needs and demands; the dynamics of race, gender, and sexuality in structuring classroom interactions; and the relationship of…

Institutional researchers may become involved with the legal system as expert witnesses. Such experiences require patience, diligence, and tolerance beyond that normally required for conducting research. Specific experiences with litigation related to a bar examination, access and equity issues, and program transfer between state institutions are…

Arizona State University has created longitudinal student files capable of tracking each student's curricular and financial aid history from entry until graduation. The structure of the files, their creation and maintenance, and their evolution over the years are described. Uses of the files to conduct different kinds of studies to inform…

Retention and graduation rates of underrepresented minority students were studied during 1985-91 with first-time freshman cohorts at 67 U.S. colleges and universities. Data were also collected from 17 institutions for science, engineering, and mathematics (SEM) majors by race and gender. Research areas included: headcounts, average admission test…

In fall 1991, the faculty and staff of New Mexico State University-Alamogordo (NMSU-A) designed and implemented a strategic planning process which incorporates a comprehensive annual review of various aspects of student academic achievement (SAA). The faculty-based SAA assessment process includes activities focused on classroom instruction,…

This guide is designed to assist in college admissions staff development and program management, but is also suggested for use in training and accrediting efforts, presentations on admissions tasks, internal or external evaluations, preparation of periodic reports, and as a self-paced workbook when preparing for the admission profession, or for…

This case study of a student retention program for at-risk students at Mount Hood Community College (Oregon) contends that student retention programs are seldom as holistic and comprehensive as intended. The study analyzed three areas: the design and implementation of a comprehensive program to improve student retention; the organizational…

This paper addresses issues in assessment of college students, outcome studies, and attrition research in the context of trends toward requiring greater accountability from institutions of higher education. First the paper considers how assessment, student outcomes studies, and attrition research terminology might be more clearly defined. It…