The Michigan Center for Career and Technical Education (MCCTE) at Michigan State University conducted a study on a rural college (dubbed "Riverdale") in the Midwest to collect quantitative and qualitative data that could be used to improve student retention in developmental courses. The research team analyzed student profiles, student…

Thirty-one correlates of critical thinking skills were studied for 79 Black and Latino engineering students at three American universities in programs designed to retain students with academic difficulties. Results suggest that minority students with better critical thinking skills are at greater risk in college, especially on predominantly white…

Describes a survey of academic and personal stressors experienced by developmental college students. High ranking academic stressors included career and future goals, studying, tests/finals, and financial aid problems, while living conditions, personal appearance, lack of free time, and roommate conflicts were highly ranked personal stressors.…

Describes a follow-up study on student performance that investigated whether students' lack of success in an introductory psychology course was specific to the class or part of a general pattern of failure. Finds that 9.5% of the students did not finish the course successfully and that academic intervention did not help. Contains 14 references.…

This study examined the impacts of institutional and instructional stressors on college students' intentional persistence. The study used a causal-comparative design with 219 students (188 developmental and 31 nondevelopmental) who had persisted beyond freshman and developmental curricula at Grambling State University (Louisiana). Of these…

A study was conducted at Stark Technical College (STC) to determine whether high risk students who participated in STC's developmental program experienced a higher degree of academic success than similar high risk students who did not participate in the program. High risk students entering STC in fall 1980 were identified on the basis of composite…

This study identified predictors of academic performance in college algebra for postdevelopmental students at a predominantly black college. Questionnaires were randomly distributed to 175 students who were enrolled in college Algebra I and II. The sample included 142 students (classified as developmental on college entry by their own reports) who…

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,…

As a continuation of a study of the effects of mandatory student placement in communications courses at Oakton College, a follow-up study was conducted of students enrolled in Communications 051, a developmental course. The study sought to assess the patterns of behavior of students enrolling in developmental communications courses, completion…

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.…

This study examined the impacts of student gender, academic achievement (cumulative grade point average), familial influence, and academic aptitude/characteristics on intentional persistence at Grambling State University (Louisiana). The sample consisted of 219 students (188 developmental and 31 nondevelopmental) who had persisted beyond the…

This paper briefly examines the key contexts of developmental education as it has evolved in the United States, focusing on historical perspectives; demographics of student diversity; evolving definitions; and the philosophical, political, and financial contexts of developmental education. The first section traces the evolution of developmental…

This paper discusses the role of developmental or remedial education in higher education. Some students enroll in developmental courses because they are reentering college after many years out of a classroom. Others are recent high school graduates seeking better study skills and yet others are students lacking required course work from high…

This descriptive report focuses on Milwaukee Area Technical College's Crossover Program, which was designed to help students who have demonstrated a low level of academic preparedness on their admissions placement test to improve their basic academic skills and choose a realistic program of study. The first sections of the report describe the…

The Student Tracking System (STS) at San Antonio College is designed to increase retention of high risk students, and primarily students enrolled in developmental education courses. In addition to identifying students experiencing difficulty in the classroom, STS alerts educational support services personnel to these students, provides a system of…