The Latino population of the United States has grown dramatically in recent years, but Latino postsecondary participation and graduation rates have not increased. In 1998, only 7 percent of Mexican Americans (11 percent of all Latinos) held college degrees, versus 25 percent of the total U.S. population. This digest reviews the research on…

This report presents the results of a study of higher education in California, focusing on the impending fiscal crisis of increasing demand, tuition, and costs. The study found that at a time when the educational needs for productive employment are increasing, college costs and demand are rising faster than funding. Until now, institutions have…

In fulfilling their mission to provide services to diverse groups, community colleges often find that their retention rates suffer as a result. Current research reviews the theoretical basis of retention, focusing on how it pertains to two-year schools in particular. Numerous variables influence persistence, and there is some support for…

The term "educational pipeline" refers to the lifetime of educational experiences incurred by students in the American education system. It is thought that students' experiences at any point in the pipeline can affect future outcomes. For colleges and universities, access and retention are critical issues affected by "leaks" in…

This paper examines the relationship of the Chinese National Academy of Educational Administration, the Asian Development Bank, and a consulting U.S. university in a project to provide technical assistance for senior Chinese university administrators in management training and modernization of facilities. Although the higher education component in…

This study examines the relationship among Chicano students' sense of belonging to colleges and universities, their cultural development, and their subsequent persistence. A survey questionnaire was given to a random sample of 687 Chicano students at 3 institutions of higher education in San Diego: a University of California campus (247 students),…

The effect of higher education on the self-esteem and values of male and female college students was studied. Trends over the last decade in freshman self-ratings and goals, individual changes in these two variables, and the impact of various college environmental characteristics on these changes are discussed. (Author/MLW)

Discusses a study using data from the National Longitudinal Study of the High School Class of 1972 to explore patterns of postsecondary education. Describes the sample, the methodology, and the findings in terms of students' educational aspirations, college attendance, academic aptitude, family background, sex, race, and academic achievement. (AYC)

Offers a personal account of the changes undergone, difficulties surmounted, and incentives involved in a Mexican-American woman's achievement of a doctorate and a post as a university professor. Concludes that just as students adapt, institutions must also change to accommodate culturally diverse populations. (DMM)

Describes programs in place at LaGuardia Community College which meet the needs of first-generation students, including alternative high schools; programs in critical thinking, speech and communication, and neighborhood history; and a partnership with Vassar College to enhance transfer opportunities. (DMM)

A 1-credit career orientation course at Texas A&M University was evaluated based on 5 years of entry and exit surveys and student performance. Students strongly preferred peers to introduce outside speakers and gain experience in communication, compared with having a faculty member lead the class. Outside assignments--involving resume…

Two-year colleges used to be a small part of higher education, but they now enroll almost half of all entering college students. This report suggests new data is needed on this evolving sector of academe, including: (1) What are the unseen barriers in two-year-colleges?; (2) What are the unseen college options?; (3) What are the implications of…

A follow-up study was undertaken of 284 adults who were diagnosed as learning disabled during second grade in 1968. At the time of follow up, the sample was 26 to 27 years old; 91 of these individuals were located by telephone and 4 were contacted by mail. The follow-up study used a questionnaire to determine participants' current status in five…

A mail survey was conducted of all migrant youth who had received awards from the Gloria and Joseph Mattera National Scholarship Fund for Migrant Children during 1986-1992. Of the 354 scholarship recipients, 129 responded. In addition, 26 scholarship recipients were interviewed through structured telephone surveys. Over 92 percent of the mail…

This publication, one in a series of biennial reports, consists of tables and figures detailing the status of and projections for higher education enrollments in the state of Washington. The major sources of enrollment data are from the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges Management Information System and from the Higher Education…