A study analyzed a range of factors associated with male and female low attainment and the subsequent routes of low attainers leaving S4 up to the age of 19, using the Scottish School Leavers Survey data from 1978-96. The most significant trend was the extent to which low attainment declined, although significant differences in terms of gender…

The impact of hiring temporary workers during the tight labor markets of the 1990s was examined through case studies of six hospitals and five automobile plants. The hospitals varied in size from 450 to 6,000 employees. The auto suppliers included unionized and nonunionized small and large companies. The case studies included extensive interviews…

The recession has fueled calls in Congress to extend and expand unemployment insurance (UI) benefits. Although UI expansion is needed in the short run, the program is also in need of more fundamental and permanent reform to transform it from an industrial era program to one that is better suited for the New Economy. Policymakers must take the…

Data on the sophomore cohort of the original High School and Beyond (HS&B) study were analyzed to determine the value of the General Educational Development (GED) credential versus that of the conventional high school diploma in explaining the earnings of 27-year-old males in the early 1990s. The study sample consisted of those 4,899 male…

This paper reviews evidence from industry-specific and case studies that shed light on the extent to which computers and automation eliminate jobs, raise job skill requirements, and, consequently, contribute to increased wage inequality between less- and more skilled workers. This paper complements a previous review of large-scale econometric…

A review of literature from 1981 to 1995 investigated issues concerning underrepresented minorities in medical education in seven areas: increasing representation of these groups; long- and short-term enrichment programs to improve performance; predictors of academic performance; predictors of student admission; specialty choices and career…

Describes the process and timeline of a "cultural audit" of the University of Michigan School of Dentistry, to determine ethnic and minority group distribution among students, faculty, and staff. Lessons learned include the needs for absolute administrative support, a committee representative of stakeholders, adequate time for…

This review summarizes what is known from research about the limited presence of African-American teachers in U.S. schools. Reasons why African-American teachers are important and reasons for their underrepresentation are discussed, with a review of recent trends in the teaching profession. (SLD)

Case studies of 10 medical schools identified innovative mechanisms of faculty governance and management to enlist faculty in meeting demands of a competitive marketplace, including appointment letters explicitly specifying roles and responsibilities; annual, objective, performance reviews; salary tied to performance; lengthened pretenure period;…

More youths with disabilities are successfully making the transition from school to higher education, jobs, and adult responsibilities than they did in the late 1980s, according to a federally financed study that has tracked thousands of secondary school students with disabilities over time. The percentage of students completing high school rose…

This study examined community adults' conceptions of successful early adult outcomes for rural African American adolescents from 2 low-resource communities in the Deep South. Focus groups were conducted with parents, teachers, and community leaders. Parents also completed semistructured phone interviews. The focus groups identified 2 general types…

A study examined the current and projected labor market for graduates of master's degree, doctoral degree, and other professional continuing education programs in Great Britain. The latest available data regarding employment patterns, supply, and recruitment postgraduates in scientific/engineering fields were reviewed, and future trends were…

The following activities were conducted to identify strategies for improving the representation of women in professional, managerial, and technical occupations in the United Kingdom's building industry: literature review; mail questionnaire to which 468 (63.8%) of the 733 women contacted responded; group discussions with 32 women employed in the…

Extensive data tables on higher education in Missouri present information on: the academic preparation of college freshmen (fall 1995), including distribution of American College Testing (ACT) scores and high school rankings; tuition, fees, and financial aid (state and federal, by aid type, including merit-based scholarships) and trends;…

The Baccalaureate and Beyond Longitudinal Study (B&B:93) tracks the experiences of a cohort of recent college graduates, those who received the baccalaureate degree during the 1992-93 academic year and were first interviewed as part of the National Postsecondary Student Aid Study. The experiences of this group in the areas of academic…