Whatever forms they take, colleges of the 21st century must incorporate the educational fundamentals that underlie traditional residential institutions. Key ingredients of these educationally powerful environments include clear purposes, maximization of human interaction, pedagogies for active learning, recognition of individual differences,…

Discusses work-based learning in the United Kingdom and traces its history, examines the shift from work experience to work-based learning, and the nature of current work-based learning. Key variables that appear to distinguish different styles of work-based learning are identified, and attention is given to the nature of the relationship between…

Asserts that the Model of Institutions of Excellence (MIE) program encourages institutions of higher education to increase the quantity and quality of students who have been traditionally under-represented in the fields of science, engineering, and math. Includes student perceptions of how technology and federal aid have helped improve their lives…

Article begins by emphasizing the economic benefits of a bachelor's degree. A short discussion of both limitations and virtues of other kinds of postsecondary educational options follows. The basic purpose is to provide information that counselors can use to help students and parents become aware of and understand the many postsecondary options…

Two measures, perceived academic control and action control (i.e., preoccupation with failure), were administered to college students. Achievement-related cognitions, emotions, motivation, and final grades were measured at the end of the course. Of note, high-control, high-failure-preoccupied students outperformed the other groups by one to two…

The background, rationale, and framework of the multicultural competencies documents are discussed. Central concepts include development of awareness of personal assumptions, values, and biases; understanding the worldview of the culturally different client; and developing appropriate intervention strategies and techniques. Operationalization is…

Recounts the growth of service learning programs in community colleges nationwide and discusses their impact on student learning and real-world application, where there are clearly demonstrated connections between service and academic concepts. Examines the benefits of service learning, challenges to implementation, impact on the community, and…

Cross-cultural experiences in teacher education are an important part of multicultural education because they allow preservice teachers to examine their world view and develop culturally sensitive dispositions critical for teaching in our diverse society. Research has shown that effective cross-cultural experiences can lead to personal…

This paper describes a method of introducing ethics to a second-year class of civil engineering students. The method, known as a "structured controversy", takes the form of a workshop where the students assume the identity of stakeholders having an interest in a proposed development in an environmentally sensitive region. The instructor…

The Student as Learner Inventory, which was developed at Alverno College (Wisconsin), is described. Alverno College is a private, 4-year liberal arts college for women with an enrollment of 2,500 students. The inventory, which is completed by entering and second semester students in an undergraduate program, is integral to the curriculum. The…

This paper describes the process and content of The Columbus Project, designed to provide an opportunity for preservice teachers to explore in depth the complexity of intercultural encounter. The project required students to gather and analyze data from schools, libraries, the media, and interviews with children, to ascertain how the story of the…

This digest provides a review of the research literature on assessment of the effectiveness of higher education in producing graduates with the knowledge and skills necessary for well-educated citizens today. Major findings are grouped as answers or partial answers to the following nine questions: (1) "what are the critical competencies and…

This study examined the effects of alcohol use on the transition experiences and development of eight female freshman college students. The theories developed by Erikson, Chickering, Perry, Kohlberg, Gilligan, Belenky, and Eisenhart were examined and related to student development. A qualitative case study research design involved data collection…

A longitudinal study was undertaken to assess the effect of a one-credit, 8-week freshman seminar on student development and retention. The study sought to measure student outcomes related to knowledge of college resources and services, utilization of academic support services, increases in self-assessed learning skills, increases in students'…

This study examined the relationships among college students' perceptions of their personal (constructivist-based) learning environments, the extent to which they viewed selected teaching and learning activities as enhancing their personal learning, and their personal learning efficacy. A total of 2,190 students in 145 evening classes offered by…