In fall 1980, a self-paced, individualized, mastery learning approach was adopted at Hibbing Community College for four chemistry courses in order to increase student performance and success and to provide scheduling flexibility for adult students with outside commitments. While both the traditional approach used prior to fall 1980 and the new…

This volume contains a comprehensive review and analysis of existing Australian research on early school leaving behavior, focusing on girls. Part One gives an overview of school leavers, and data on general trends are considered. Observable trends in school leaving statistics are examined from antecedents through the school leaving decision to…

An investigation was conducted at Prince George's Community College to determine Fall 1980 course passing rates within college divisions and departments; passing rates and grade distributions in courses using different modes of instruction; within-term course withdrawal rates; term-to-term retention and attrition rates; students' reasons for…

PREVIOUS THEORIES OF THE AGING PROCESS HAVE DERIVED BEHAVIOR AS NECESSARY FUNCTIONS OF SOCIAL OR INDIVIDUAL VARIABLES. AN INTERMEDIATE THEORY, PERSONAL ORIENTATION, ALLOWS THE INDIVIDUAL THE POSSIBILITY OF CHOICE WITHIN HIS CAPACITIES AND SOCIAL SITUATION. THIS THEORY IS BASED ON A DISENGAGEMENT THEORY OF AGING THAT SUGGESTS THAT A PERSON…

Of the 10,402 students enrolled at Loop College (Chicago) in fall 1972, 4,529 did not return in spring 1973. In October 1973, a questionnaire was sent to all of the nonreturning students. Nonreturning students were divided into two categories: (1) 274, or 3 percent of the total enrollment, did not return because they graduated; (2) 4,255, or 41…

This report presents the findings of a research study conducted by Alvin Community College (ACC) as a subcontractor for Project FOLLOW-UP, which analyzed orientation and exit interview effects and their relationship to follow-up research on selected withdrawing and graduating students at ACC. Subjects of the study were 595 ACC students, 257 males…

Characteristics and perceptions of nonreturning students for the spring 1973 semester at Arkansas State University were determined by mailed questionnaires, and the College and University Environment Scales (CUES), Second Edition (Modified), and comparison data. The sample group of 585 academically qualified students, was compared to the fall…

Four studies conducted at Harcum College (Pennsylvania) in fall 1969 were presented. From a survey to determine students' reasons for attending Harcum, it was concluded that substantial numbers of students view their college education as a means of acquiring future direct, material rewards. A study on student attrition demonstrated the variety and…

Information pertaining to the overall grading standards and practices within the five Peralta Colleges is compiled and analyzed here. The report is presented in three parts. The first part deals with the historical background of traditional and non-punitive grading, the national trends toward innovation and experimentation with various forms of…

Higher-education regents, administrators, and faculty often make decisions of inclusion and exclusion with regard to students and programs. There is abundant professional literature, opinions and/or research, related to college success. Specifically this paper includes summary statements and bibliographies of college academic achievement, college…

Grading policies and practices within the nine colleges comprising the Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) were examined in order to analyze past and present grading policies and practices in each college and the district as a whole, to relate findings to statewide and nationwide grading practices, and to discuss possible future trends…

A study conducted at Florida State University attempted to identify the reasons for students' leaving behavior. Three models of leaving behavior are identified: discouragement, academic difficulty, and financial problems. Implications for advising are discussed. (Author/MLW)

This document explores the relationship between application date and early attrition in access colleges. The author notes that students applying to rolling admission colleges can be registered without demonstrating forethought or preparation. Institutions that allow late admission may be doing a disservice to students who have not adequately…

Prerequisite courses are essential tools in many university curricula, but some educators have suggested that they may be detrimental if applied too stringently to exclude students from courses. A measure of the value of prerequisites is whether or not they promote student success. The strongest way to test the value of prerequisites is to compare…

Voluntary withdrawals did not differ from the persisters on precollege ability and achievement measures. The male failures had lower achievement in high school than the withdrawals, while the female failures did less well than the withdrawals on the precollege ability tests. No generalizable differences were apparent among the groups on…