This study investigated the contributions of entering characteristics and college experiences on student satisfaction and degree completion using the input-environment-outcome assessment model developed by A. W. Astin (1995). A total of 594 college students who had started college about 5 years previously completed a survey about their college…

Examines marginality issues facing transfer commuter students attending a mid-Atlantic university and what student characteristics relate to their sense of marginality. Results showed that transfer students have few sources of on-campus support, which may lead to their feelings of marginality. Results were particularly true for woman and Asian…

A survey investigated the attitudes of commuter students toward distance education. Respondents were 397 students attending Purdue University Calumet (Indiana) for at least two semesters. Results indicated that if the students had the option of taking a course at home or in a classroom, 59 percent would use the distance option; over half of these…

Indirect student costs at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington were studied: semester expenses for food, shelter, clothing, books and supplies, personal items, health care, transportation, and child care. Selected cost data were also compared to student characteristics including: whether they had ever received financial aid from the…

Results of a survey of student living expenses at the University of North Carolina, Wilmington, are summarized. Cost data were collected on food, clothing, shelter, books and supplies, personal expenses, medical costs, transportation, and child care. Of a random sample of 433 students, 145 responded to the survey. Respondents consisted of…

Student questionnaires were administered at Tidewater Community College, Virginia, to examine the following areas of interest: factors related to student transportation and their impact on class scheduling, student evaluations of counseling centers and faculty assistance during the class registration process, the students' personal work schedules,…

Information is presented about the costs of pursuing education beyond high school at different institutions. An introductory section analyzes student-expense data on a nationwide basis. Student expenses are listed for approximately 2,930 postsecondary institutions. Analyses are provided for four different budget types: budgets for dependent…

Upper-level institutions of higher education, offering course work at only the junior, senior, and in some cases postgraduate level, are discussed. Two upper-level institutions that are part of the University of Houston system are cited as examples: The University of Houston at Clear Lake City and the University of Houston Victoria Campus. In the…

This paper addresses the special problems faced by rural community colleges, their staffs, and students. Financing problems are severely felt in rural areas where distances, low tax bases, absence of community resources, and the inability to take advantage of the economies of size add to the inflationary burden. The position of the college in the…

The intent of the study was to investigate recent developments pertaining to the position of dean of students to determine what impact, if any, the recent tumultuous history and dramatic growth of higher education has had. The research was carried out in three large, urban, state-supported universities: California State University, Long Beach;…

This study examined the critical thinking skills of resident and commuter students during the freshmen year, controlled for precollege background and ability. Differences in commuter and resident students' experience, particularly aspects of academic and social integration were also considered. The study sample was a subset taken from a national…

Investigated differences in student attitudes with regard to family independence, peer independence, social consciousness, and cultural sophistication. Results imply that residency status does not necessarily foster individual growth and development as related to independence and cultural sophistication. Suggests administrators should emphasize…

The higher education system is seen as having deteriorated in the 1970s due to change in academic schedules, increased size of institutions, impaired effectiveness of faculties, inability of institutions to adjust to increased percentage of disadvantaged students, increase in part-time and nonresidential students, and excessive market orientation…

Argues that freshman seminar class reunions increase the benefits of freshman seminars for urban commuter college students, and reports results of a study testing effectiveness of class reunions in reducing attrition for high-risk students (n=40). Findings support hypothesis that freshmen seminar groups with class reunions show greater student…

At Fordham University's Lincoln Center campus in New York City, the large population of nontraditional students, primarily adults, is being encouraged to participate in the career planning process through existing programs, new scheduling, and new programing in four areas: freshman orientation; student activities; the career center; and academic…