Despite increasing graduation requirements and the limited vocational offerings in rural schools, many rural high school students still enroll in vocational education courses. This study examined factors influencing the decisions of rural Ohio high school students to select vocational education courses. In spring 1988, an interview and…

In 1989, a study was conducted at Saddleback College (SC) to analyze the success rates of students who delayed enrollment into a mathematics class after completing the assessment process. The study population consisted of 1,027 students who participated in the mathematics assessment process between July and August 1988 and who enrolled in at least…

The question of whether noncredit, continuing education courses at the college level compete with or complement credit offerings is considered, based on surveys at Lakeland Community College (Ohio) and Lee College (Texas). For Lakeland College, there was some potential competition from noncredit classes in specific subjects. Lakeland Community…

In view of the steady decline in vocational enrollments since 1979, a study was conducted to identify factors that influence students not to enter into a high school vocational curriculum. The study questionnaire was given to 633 nonvocational 11th-grade students from 5 randomly selected southwestern Ohio high schools. One month after the student…

In fall 1988, Mt. San Antonio College undertook a study to determine the effect of prerequisite waivers on students' academic progress. Two groups who received waivers in the fall 1987 and spring 1988 semesters were selected for the study. Group I included 222 students who applied for and received waivers both semesters. Group II was comprised of…

Web-based education is a popular format for the delivery of college courses. Research has shown that it may not be the best form of education for all students. Today, many students (and student advisors) face a choice in course delivery format (i.e., Web-based or more traditional classroom courses). This research study examines the relationship…

A survey by the American Council on Education of undergraduate programs in international studies and foreign languages at colleges and universities is described. The project's goal has been to examine how students use these programs including what types of students take what patterns of language and international studies courses. (MLW)

The Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) is currently implementing two comprehensive school reform initiatives, Making Middle Grades Work (MMGW) and Making Schools Work (MSW). The purpose of both initiatives is to raise student achievement, and they both rest on the belief that all students can complete a rigorous program of studies at middle…

In fall 1996, California's Los Rios Community College District (LRCCD) undertook several initiatives to increase enrollment, including the construction of state-of-the-art computer laboratories to meet demands for high tech training and the expansion of course offerings to non-traditional times. To evaluate the effectiveness of these efforts,…

The academic crossover study was developed to answer two questions: (1) What is the course-taking pattern of the different groups of academic majors? (e.g. what is proportion of academic load taken outside the major); and (2) What is the client-serving pattern of the different subject disciplines? (e.g. what are the groups of students served by…

This study examined the relationships between students' noncognitive characteristics and their performance on the ACT Assessment. Of particular interest were the contributions of these noncognitive variables to explaining ACT Assessment performance (over and above course work taken, grades earned, and high school attended). The sample for the…

Describes the course content and structure of a one-credit, elective senior seminar designed to inform a college psychology department about the effectiveness of their instruction. Assessment measures included a faculty-generated multiple choice test, a student-generated multiple choice test, student surveys, focus groups, and a student essay on…

Describes a study done at Oakton Community College which assessed how student characteristics, self-perceptions, academic skills, and course-taking patterns can predict academic achievement. Findings show that students have unrealistic perceptions of their own academic competency and that math skills are a stronger predictor of academic…

Analyzes enrollment and other statistical data from Harvard University toward discussing the question of why women are less likely than men to major in economics. Discovers little evidence to suggest that the dichotomy is dependent on mathematics aptitude. Alternative explanations include a lack of interest and socialization. (MJP)

Discussed are the results of a questionnaire which concerned students' course choices and why students chose not to study computing. The lack of human orientation, mathematical ability, and lack of computer contact in secondary schools are identified. (KR)