(1991). A Predictive Validation Study of the Methods Used To Select Eligibility Technicians. The effectiveness of the current selection system used to hire eligibility technicians was studied, and the predictive relationship between existing selection instruments and job performance criteria was investigated. Eligibility technicians are employees of San Diego County (California) whose duties include determining the eligibility of applicants for social services. The current selection system consists of a multiple-choice examination and a composite assessment including a training and experience application blank and an interview. Job performance criteria were subjective (supervisory ratings and factor scores) and objective (job tenure and turnover). Scores on the subjective criteria were taken at three points in time: mid-probation, final probation, and first annual performance review. Information was gathered for all applicants for the position of eligibility technician between 1986 and 1990 (449 employees at mid-probation, 409 at final probation, and 250 at the first annual…
(1991). African-American Males: A Demographic Study and Analysis. This paper examines the position of the African American male in three categories identified as critical indicators in assessing important sociological trends. For each of the following indicators, the report gives a general, comparative, and projective analysis: (1) economics and labor; (2) education; and (3) incarceration. The section on economics and labor looks at reasons for the rising disparity among groups and their present economic welfare using statistics from the Census Bureau, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and the Department of Labor. The section on education addresses the historical context for controversy in education; elementary school, primary school, and secondary school education; 2-year versus 4-year institutions; and financial support for African Americans in higher education. Also included in this section is an analysis of the African American male in the educational system and the possible need for alternative schools for this population. The section on… [PDF]
(1991). Minority Graduation Rates: Comparative Performance of American Engineering Schools. NACME Research Letter, v2 n2 Dec. A study was done to compare the success of undergraduate engineering schools in graduating minorities from their programs. The study developed the following three parameters that can be used to define the performance of engineering schools in graduating minorities: (1) graduation rates of minorities; (2) graduation rates of minorities relative to those of non-minorities (the Relative Retention Index); and (3) absolute number of graduates. The study used national enrollment and graduation data supplied by 118 individual institutions. Findings indicate that only 35.6 percent of the minority freshman engineering majors studied had obtained a bachelor of science in engineering degree, while the rate for non-minorities was 68.4 percent. When minority graduation rates were recalculated beginning with a sophomore year baseline, the study found that minority sophomores were retained at rates somewhat better than freshmen, with 56.7 percent of them graduating, while almost 87.4 percent of…
(1993). Working with Black Adult Learners. A Practical Guide. This guide identifies the key skills for the delivery of education and training for black adult learners in Britain. It provides a rich resource of examples of good practice and case studies of innovative approaches to policy development, curriculum, and support. Each section is structured to include introductory comments to clarify current thinking and contextualize recommended good practice; an outline, in checklist form, of some key issues for students, practitioners, and managers (as appropriate) for use as a training aid or to inform planning, review, and policy development discussions; a practical example, case study, or resource; and a list of resources and useful contacts. Section 1, Pre-Course, covers community consultation, policy development, outreach, and marketing and publicity. Section 2, Recruitment and Selection, addresses educational guidance; precourse assessment and accreditation; recruitment, selection, and admissions; staffing issues; and ethnic monitoring…. [PDF]
(1990). Minority Culture-Based Programming in the Six Four-Year Public Institutions of Higher Education in the State of Washington: An Illuminative Evaluation. This study utilized illuminative, ethnographic evaluation to examine the range and complexity of minority student programming at the six public institutions of higher education in Washington, namely Evergreen State College, Eastern Washington University, Central Washington University, Western Washington University, Washington State University, and the University of Washington. It focused on minority student programming in seven areas: (1) institutional mission; (2) academic programs; (3) recruitment and admissions; (4) retention and student services; (5) local community role; (6) administration; and (7) physical facilities. Data were gathered through interviews of administrators, faculty, and staff; examinations of public documents and institutional literature; and observations. The study found that a heated debate over curricular change occurred on every campus, with some calling for the establishment of ethnic studies programs, while others advocated the strengthening of current… [PDF]
(1982). Annual Report to the President and the Congress on Federal Activities Related to the Administration of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as Amended. Fiscal Year 1981. Executive Summary. The fiscal year 1981 annual report of the Rehabilitation Services Administration's activities under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, is presented; program operations, program development activities, functions of the National Institute of Handicapped Research, and other provisions of the Act, are described. Program operations include: the basic vocational rehabilitation program; services for the deaf, the blind, and the visually handicapped; the Helen Keller Center for Deaf-Blind Youths and Adults; and rehabilitation facilities. Program expenditures versus accomplishments are also examined. Program development, which is designed to improve service delivery and the vocational rehabilitation and independence of handicapped persons, includes the following activities: special projects for the severely disabled, projects with industry, special recreation programs, and Centers for Independent Living. In addition to the activities of research and training centers and special… [PDF]
(1989). Preparing Women and Minorities as Rural School Administrators. The traditional underrepresentation of women and minorities in administrative positions continues to be a reality in most states. This paper describes the Women and Minorities in Administration Program, developed by the South Dakota Equal Educational Opportunities Office in an attempt to alleviate this disparity. The program was developed to provide an alternative means for females and minorities to pursue and complete a masters degree in elementary or secondary administration. The core of the model program included a weekend scheduling format, reduced tuition rates, and innovative elective courses designed specifically for the participants. Short-term program success is evidenced by positive individual evaluations and through preliminary data reflecting the number of participants who went on to secure leadership positions. (Author/TES)… [PDF]
(1986). Minority Participation in Community Colleges. While the largest growth in the college-age population (i.e., 18 to 24 year olds) is among minority group members, the largest decline in college-going rates is among minorities. Because of poor academic preparation, rising tuition rates, and declining financial aid resources, the community college has become the college of necessity, rather than the college of choice, for most minority students. It is the duty of community colleges to recognize the importance of their mission to provide quality education to their minority and disadvantaged population to enable them to become skilled and productive members of society. It is the duty of trustees, presidents, and faculties to accomplish these goals by exercising leadership, creativity, and innovativeness; by taking risks; and by providing the necessary resources. While studies show that currently community colleges are not meeting their obligation to minority students, certain states and institutions are serving as excellent models. A…
(1988). Fostering Black Student Enrollment at Community Colleges and Historically Black Colleges in the Same Service Area. Within the context of trends in minority student education, this paper urges community colleges and historically black colleges and universities to cooperatively encourage the enrollment, retention, graduation, and continuing education of black students. First, the paper points to such alarming trends as a sharp decline in the number of associate degrees awarded to black students, declining enrollments in historically black colleges and increasing enrollments of blacks at community colleges, and high dropout rates among black community college students. Next, the paper describes a study conducted at Florida Community College at Jacksonville (FCCJ) and Edward Waters College (EWC) to determine influences on students' choice of college and FCCJ students' plans for transfer. The study found that cost and location were major factors in college choice, and that most FCCJ students were not considering EWC or any other black college as a transfer institution. Next, the paper describes the… [PDF]
(1981). Women's Scholarship: A Curriculum Handbook. A Project for Curriculum Development in Women's Scholarship. Curriculum and instructional development approaches that are designed to promote scholarship on women are described in 22 articles. The articles, which are based on the Women's Scholarship Project at the University of North Dakota, concern: career planning, women's studies courses, professional studies, research, and the theoretical applications of women's scholarship. The following are among the articles presented: "What Can Be Done to Aid a Woman in Her Career Decision-Making Process" (Jole A. Williams); "Women and Mathematics" (David J. Uherka); "Some Milestones on the Road to Equal Employment Opportunities for Women" (W. Fred Lawrence); "The Issue of Sexism in Multicultural Education" (Janet Goldenstein Ahler); "Integrating Women's Issues into the Course 'Human Behavior in the Social Environment'" (Leola Furman); "Toward Equity in Nursing: The Role of Education" (Sandra L. Warner); "Women in Music Education: Some…
(1984). Hispanic Student and Staffing Patterns in Community Colleges. An overview is provided of Hispanic enrollment and staffing patterns in U.S. community colleges. After an initial discussion of changes taking place in postsecondary education, information on the low participation rates of Hispanics in higher education is presented; e.g., in 1978 Hispanics made up 6% of the population of the mainland United States, but only 3.4% of the nation's undergraduate students; and Hispanic college enrollments as a percentage of high school graduates declined from 35.4% in 1975 to 19.9% in 1980. The next section looks at the high concentration of Hispanics in community colleges, which enroll 45% of all Hispanic full-time college students. Information on the exceptionally high concentration of Hispanics in central city community colleges and on enrollment patterns is followed by a discussion of reasons for the relatively high participation rate of Hispanics in community colleges (e.g., the indifference of four-year institutions, the open admissions policies…
(1977). School Districts, Limited English-speaking Students and the Law. No. 2 in the Bilingual Education Mini-Booklet Series. This booklet contains the major mandates, from a variety of sources, used to assist school districts and their personnel in identifying the tasks required by law to fulfill the educational obligations related to equal educational opportunity. It covers specifically a summary of major court cases involving bilingual education; Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act and its regulations;the May, 1970 Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (DHEW) Memorandum on discrimination against limited English speaking students; the Equal Educational Opportunity Act of 1974; the Bilingual Education Act of 1974; the August, 1975 DHEW \Lau Compliance\ Memorandum; and the Education Language Rule adopted by the Washington State Human Rights Commission. (Author/MC)…
(1981). 504 and Admissions: Making the Law Work for the Applicant and the College. Recognizing the legislative and institutional difficulties involved in complying with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, this paper describes the efforts of St. Mary's Junior College (SMJC) to develop technical (i.e., non-academic) standards for college admission. The paper first points to particular legislative variables which must be considered, such as which section of the act applies to the college. Next, institutional considerations are discussed, including the importance of applying admissions procedures uniformly, examining the effects of present procedures on the handicapped, and studying the possible outcomes of revising those procedures. Steps to be carried out in revising admissions procedures are then reviewed. Next, the paper defines academic and technical standards for admission and discusses the role of faculty in establishing these standards. After reviewing the variables that should be considered in determining whether a college really needs technical…
(1981). Supportive Services for Women Project (SSWP): End of Project Report, 1980-1981. This seven-part report describes the objectives and outcomes of the Supportive Services for Women Program (SSWP) which operated at Oxnard College between October 1980 and June 1981. After Part I provides introductory material on the need for and genesis of the program, Part II outlines the SSWP's dual goals: to meet the vocational training needs of poverty-level, female heads of households in Ventura County and to simultaneously rectify the gender imbalances within six program areas: agricultural mechanics, industrial maintenance mechanics, diesel mechanics, auto mechanics, truck driving, and landscape maintenance. Part III reviews the specific program objectives corresponding to these goals. Part IV describes the SSWP's design with respect to staff and activities in the areas of recruitment and retention. Part V focuses on the counseling and support services in which the SSWP staff members were involved, while Part VI examines program outcomes with respect to increases in the…
(1979). Employer Reactions to Efforts to Place Disabled and Disadvantaged Workers. Studies in Placement Monograph No. 4. Surveys in Portland, Oregon, and San Francisco, California, asked 448 employers about their exposure and reactions to job development activity by agencies serving disabled and disadvantaged persons. Respondents were generally favorable or indifferent to being contacted, rated the performance of their disabled employees as being average or above average in comparison to other workers, and said that state rehabilitation agency clients tended to be as qualified as other applicants. Almost all indicated that they would hire a disabled person who was more qualified than other applicants and a third indicated they would give preference to a disabled person who was as qualified as other applicants. Self-reported hiring of disabled persons and hiring of state agency clients increased with the number of employees and with the number of positions filled. Firms which reported being contacted by an agency representing disabled persons were more likely to report hiring a disabled person than…