Ongoing action research at the University of Pretoria investigates first-year students' preparedness for a study in calculus. In 2005 first-year engineering students completed a mathematics diagnostic survey at the beginning and end of the year. In this article the results of the 2005 survey are compared with the students' final school marks in…

The differences in academic performance among two levels of provisionally accepted (Learning Support) college students--System-placed (S) and Institutionally-placed (I)--and other students were investigated. Of 523 Learning Support students in a required reading course (RDG 099A), 402 students exited the course. Chi-square analyses and t-tests…

This paper reports on the results of a survey of remedial programs at public and private colleges and universities in the southern region of the United States and highlights remedial education patterns by state, race, and gender. Responses were received from 606 of the 826 institutions surveyed (73%). Among the report's findings are the following:…

This study examined characteristics of passive and active learners among college students enrolled in remedial classes and students enrolled in regular academic classes. Active learners are typically analytical, focused on task, tolerant of new ideas, curious, adept at processing information, able to develop other ways to solve a problem,…

Two studies on monitoring and assisting high-risk college students are compared. Individualized intervention was provided in the first study, whereas the second attempted a reduced form of the same intervention in a large-group course. Both emphasized student awareness of appropriate study behavior. Only the first study had positive results.…

In 1989, Midlands Technical College implemented a comprehensive student tracking and retention reporting system to provide data on first-time students beginning in fall 1988. Highlighted findings for 1988 through 1991 included the following: (1) the freshman to sophomore retention rate for the fall 1990 cohort was 53.8%, a 6.4% increase over the…

These three issues of "Research in Developmental Education," examine the demographic characteristics and academic achievement of developmental students. Included are the following: (1) "Demographics and Developmental Education," by Hunter R. Boylan, which examines trends in the developmental student population and their college enrollments;…

This paper describes the development of the University of Georgia's Division of Developmental Studies--a program providing special developmental instruction to students who otherwise would not have been admitted to the school. It consists of four components: English, mathematics, reading, and counseling. The objectives of each of these components…

In spring 1992, a program was initiated at San Jose City College (SJCC) in California to assist underprepared student entering reading, writing, and math courses below the level of transfer English and math courses. The program entitled Gateway U (GU), included the following components: weekly surveys of students during the first 4 weeks of class…

A retrospective comparative analysis of data collected between 1975 and 1979 was undertaken at Westmoreland County Community College (WCCC) to quantitatively determine the impact of WCCC's developmental education program on: (1) the persistence and academic performance of underprepared students; (2) the college's financial situation; and (3) the…

Gainesville College (GC) in Georgia conducted a study to determine how many traditional-aged students enter the school with General Education Development (GED) certificates and how well they progress academically. Students monitored were those who received their GED at 21 years of age or younger and entered GC within 4 years of receiving the…

Drawing from studies conducted at Prince George's Community College (PGCC) between 1989 and 1991, this report offers a profile of developmental students at PGCC and an analysis of the remedial education needs of fall 1990 first-time students. The first section of the report reviews findings from a number of statewide and institutional studies…

In fall 1990, Johnson County Community College (JCCC) in Overland Park, Kansas, conducted a study of the effectiveness of the college's developmental reading, English, and mathematics courses. The study examined developmental students' course grades and completion rates, grades in related college-level courses, overall academic progress, and…

The Early Warning System (EWS) of the Individualized Study Program (ISP) at the University of California, Davis, was evaluated. Disadvantaged students who have not met the university's entrance requirements are tracked by the EWS during their first year in order to identify academic problems and provide advising and support. Findings include: EWS…

In fall 1985, a study was conducted at Cosumnes River College (CRC) to obtain information about the college's PREP (Personal development, Reading/writing skills, Educational goals, and Preparing for the future) program, follow-up data on students who have enrolled in remedial and non-remedial courses, and enrollment data on remedial students and…