Surveyed preservice elementary teachers regarding their perceptions of the impact of portfolios on professional development and the transition from school to work. Results indicated that the process promoted reflective practice, increased self-confidence, prepared respondents for the job search, and heightened awareness of professional standards.…

Examines school-level differences in the relations between school belonging and various outcomes. Results indicated that belonging was lower in urban schools than in suburban schools. Whereas individual students' perceptions of belonging were inversely related to depression, social rejection, and school problems, aggregated belonging was related…

Self-definition plays a crucial role in complex learning. This article offers a framework for making identity central in learning to promote learning and self-authorship. Four examples of this framework in multicultural education, community development, academic advising, and teaching offer student affairs educators a foundation for leading…

Encourages development of a communication assessment program designed primarily for a nontraditional, older and more diverse student population. Concludes that the prior learning assessment philosophy is a sophisticated and suitable methodology for assessing communication competency. (KEH)

A student of the 1950s reflects on how moral issues were ignored in both the college curriculum and campus activities, and reviews research on moral development. Milestones in research on moral development since then are reviewed and applied to circumstances of individual colleges to encourage the creation of opportunities for student moral…

What higher education has to offer society is the opportunity to promote the individual development of students through open-ended inquiry. The traditional curriculum has limitations, and higher education should make a greater effort to lower disciplinary barriers and offer access to higher-order cognitive, social, professional, and physical…

Three articles--"Youth at Risk: Extension's Hard Decisions" (Sauer), "Youth Are at Risk and So Are We..." (Hoopfer), and "Youth at Risk--Time for Action" (Junge)--address the role of cooperative extension and 4-H in youth development and why leadership arising from extension's strengths is imperative. (SK)

The Center for Teacher Education at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee was designed to reform teacher education programs. The collaborative operation of a beginning course to introduce students to the field of education and to the approach to professional training applied at the center is presented. (SM)

College traditions and their role in student development is discussed. Ceremonies reflect the community of people who are involved in their creation and perpetuation. Ceremony's role in student development is described. (MLW)

Drawing from research on the non-classroom development of commuter and residential college students, presents an overview of the developmental patterns of the two groups and discusses causes of the differences between them. Considers faculty and peer group influences and the development of self-concept. (DMM)

"The Mentor Network" is a program designed for self-selected, gifted college students. In the program, highly motivated students are matched with mentors in their fields of interest and meet weekly to share ideas and experiences. Vignettes describe the successful results of three mentor-student partnerships. (JDD)

Describes dilemma discussion approach used in 10-session program, based largely on cognitive-developmental theory, that is aimed at helping middle school students progress in their reasoning about using drugs. Ways in which the program provides students with opportunities to examine their current reasoning on drug use, consider peer perspectives,…

Describes five trends that have contributed to increased importance of student affairs administrators on college campuses. Concludes that student affairs professionals during the next decade will be key players in institutional planning and policy making. (CM)

Describes changes in college student characteristics that have increased gulf between teachers and students. Contends that student affairs professionals can fill gap through use of innovative tools like Tracking Retention and Academic Integration by Learning Styles (TRAILS) that provide faculty with information about individual student learning…

Reports on collaborative effort at Seattle University to bring closer together academic and student life administrative components. Describes typical academic and student life model and "Horizon Model" that structurally integrates academic and student life missions to promote student cognitive and affective growth. (Author/CM)