Learners & Learner Assessment

photo shot from above of people at a table studying blueprints

The most important attitude that can be formed is that of desire to go on learning.

John Dewey

Learner Assessment Resources

Assessment Resources

Learner Assessment Resources (opens new page)

Learner assessment is an important part of a learning support system. Learning Support Center assessment is concerned with learning skills and strategies, learning styles, and student competency in reading, math, critical thinking, and writing so as to assist students to develop increased proficiency in these areas. This resource looks at both institutional and learning support center assessment with relevant citations and reviews and a list of testing and survey instruments:

Motivation and Growth Mindset

Motivation and Setting Goals

Motivation, Goals and Self-determination
The University of New South Wales provides a brief but well-written introduction to self-determination theory, needs, and goals, with application to postsecondary contexts. The site also offers links to useful videos on these topics.

5 Tips for Using Growth Mindset to Foster Motivation
Rather than attempting to “motivate” students, instructors (and presumably tutors, mentors, and others) should promote growth mindset for learners. A presentation of Carol Dweck’s concept of growth mindset is followed by five strategies.

What Motivates Adult Learners?
This blog article briefly discusses adult learners and relays four strategies to implement in course design. Although written for classroom instructors, the prompts, activities, and strategies may be utilized in tutor, mentor, or SI sessions.

Reducing Stereotype Threat: Strategies for Instructors
The Center for Teaching and Learning at Washington University in St. Louis provides instructors practical approaches for improving student performance by reducing concerns that students have that lead to underperformance. The three methods discussed are promoting a growth mindset, providing motivational feedback, and fostering a sense of belonging.

Goal Setting Theory of Motivation
This webpage presents a Goal Setting Theory of Motivation, including five principles of goal setting: Clarity, Challenge, Commitment, Feedback, and Task Complexity. Related pages discuss related theories.

5 Ways to Make Rigorous Content Motivating to Students
This Actively Learn webpage provides techniques to motivate middle and high school students to read assigned texts. Strategies may be adapted to learning support center contexts.

Motivating Students
Vanderbilt University’s Center for Teaching provides resources for their faculty. This webpage provides a number of strategies for matching motivation strategies to courses and students.

20 Strategies for Motivating Reluctant Learners
This webpage provides brain-based strategies to incorporate motivation for reluctant learners. Although strategies are designed for K-5students, the strategies could be adapted as warm-ups and practices to incorporate tutoring or SI groups. Types of activities involve goal-setting and active engagement.

9 Strategies for Motivating High School Students in Mathematics Courses
This webpage provides strategies for motivating students who struggle with math in high school. The strategies cover intrinsic motivation concepts: task orientation, performance achievement, and social relatedness. Strategies could be adapted by tutors or other learning support center personnel for college students.

How to Motivate ESL Students
This webpage provides 10 strategies for motivating high school students in English as a Second Language (ESL) classes. These strategies could be adapted for one-on-one, group, or Supplemental Instruction sessions at the postsecondary level.

Self-Regulated Learning and Growth Mindset

Develop Self-Regulated Learners: Choosing and Using the Best Strategies for the Task
Supporting and Advancing Geoscience Education at Two-Year Colleges (SAGE 2YC) offers approaches to a variety of useful topics. This page provides an introduction to self-regulation, a number of teaching strategies, and citations to appropriate theorists and researchers. The strategies are standard teaching and learning approaches to content across the curriculum.

How-to Instruction for Self-Regulated Learning Strategies
The National Research Center on Gifted and Talented at the University of Connecticut has posted a series (accessible from this page) reflecting research into instructional practices that promote self-regulated learning. Activities include feedback, reflection, and goal setting, all of which can be utilized by learning support center staff.

Resources for Teaching Growth Mindset
This page provides rich growth-mindset resources for parents, teachers, and others. The resources could be used in training professional and peer staff, presenting an approach that could guide the work of the learning support center.

5 Tips for Using Growth Mindset to Foster Motivation
Rather than attempting to “motivate” students, instructors (and presumably tutors, mentors, and others) should promote growth mindset for learners. A presentation of Carol Dweck’s concept of growth mindset is followed by five strategies.

Growth Mindset Lesson Plan
Khan Academy and Stanford University’s PERTS developed this lesson plan to teach students that intelligence can be developed, the brain can be changed, and doing challenging work makes people smarter.

Learners Focusing on different groups of learners

General

The Learning Support Center exists primarily to assist students to optimize their learning potential so that they can succeed academically. In this resource, you will find some books and articles below. To the right, you will see, additional learner categories with resources at each link that can be useful for learning support administrators and practitioners as they develop programs and services and as they work with a diverse student population.

Caffarella, R. S., & Daffron, S. R. (2013). Planning programs for adult learners: A practical guide (3rd ed.). Jossey-Bass.

Ennder, S. C., & Newton, F. B. (2000). Students helping students: A training manual for peer educators. Jossey-Bass.

Pascarella, E. T., & Terenzini, P. (1991). How college affects students. Jossey Bass.

Sellers, D., Dochen, C. W., & Hodges, R. (2015). Academic transformation: The road to college success (3rd ed.). Pearson.

Taylor, E. W., & Cranton, P. (2012). The handbook of transformative learning: Theory, research, and practice. Jossey-Bass.

Yaworski, J,, Weber, R-M., & Ibrahim,N. (2000). What makes students succeed or fail? The voices of developmental college students. Journal of College Reading and Learning, 30:(2), 195-221. https://doi.org/10.1080/10790195.2000.10850096

Adult/Adult Re-Entry

photo of woman and man in graduation regalia

U.S. Department of Education. Back to school: A guide to continuing your education after prison, Retrieved from https://lincs.ed.gov/professional-development/resource-collections/profile-567

Boeke, M., Zis, S., & Ewell, P. (2011). State policies affecting the “adult re-eEntry pipeline” in postsecondary education: Results of a fifty-state inventory. National Center for Higher Education Management Systems. ERIC. https://eric.ed.gov/?q=Adult+Re-entry&id=ED535366

Britton, A., & Cousins, A. (1998). Study skills: A guide for lifelong learners. Distance Learning Centre Southbank University.

Brockett, R.G., & Hiemstra, R. (1991). Self-direction in adult learning:perspectives on theory, research, and practice. Routledge.

Conrad, J. (1993). Educating part-time adult learners in transition (ED360946). ERIC Digest. ERIC. https://eric.ed.gov/?q=ED360946

Gill, C. M. (2021). College success for adults: Insider tips for effective learning. Routledge.

Greer, T. W. (2013, Summer). Facilitating successful re-entries in the United States: Training and development for women returners (EJ1014794). New Horizons in Adult Education & Human Resource Development, 25(3), 41-61. ERIC. https://eric.ed.gov/?q=Adult+Re-entry&id=EJ1014794

Kasworm, C. E. (2018). Adult students: A confusing world in undergraduate higher education. The Journal of Continuing Higher Education, 66(2), 77-87. https://doi.org/10.1080/07377363.2018.1469077

Knowles,M. (1988). Self directed learning: A guide for learners and teachers. Cambridge Book Company.

Returning to and finishing college: Tips, resources & advice for the re-entry student. Retrieved from https://www.affordablecollegesonline.org/college-resource-center/returning-finishing-college/

Siebert, A., Gilpin, B. L., & Karr, M. (2000). The adult student’s guide to survival and success. Practical Psychology Press

Simon, L. (2001). New beginnings: A guide for aAdult learners. Prentice Hall

Athletes

Athlete Students
In addition to the publications listed in the document below, the NCAA.org website is a good source of information. Because pages on student-athlete eligibility are updated by NCAA, professionals providing academic services to student athletes should check this resource from time to time: http://www.ncaa.org/themes/topics/eligibility.

Turrentine, P. (2015. Champions in the classroom. Rowman & Littlefield.
"a professional reference guide for numerous audiences including student athletes, learning support staff, coaches, advisors, parents, and school administrators"

Adelman, C. (1990). Light and shadows on college athletics: College transcripts and labor market history (ED327112). U.S. Department of Education. ERIC. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED327112

Adler, P.A., & Adler, P.A. (1985). From idealism to pragmatic detachment: The academic performance of college athletes. Sociology of Education, 58(4), 241-250. JSTOR.

Broughton, E., & Neyer, M. (2001). Advising and counseling student-athletes. New Directions for Student Services, 93(2001), 47-53. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/ss.4.

Coakley, J. (2004). Sports in society: Issues and controversies (8th ed.). McGraw Hill Higher Education.

Cohn, P. J. (1990). Pre-performance routines in sport: Theoretical support and practical applications. The Sport Psychologist, 4, 301-312.

Comeaux, E. (2011). Examination of faculty attitudes toward Division 1 college student-athletes. College Student Affairs Journal, 30(1), 75-87. ProQuest.

Denson, E. L. (1992). Integrating student services for student-athletes: Possible pathways. The Academic Athletic Journal, 16-23.

Fletcher, T. B., Benshoff, J. M., & Richburg, M. J. (2003). A systems approach to understanding and counseling college student-athletes. Journal of College Counseling, 6(1), 37-45. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2161-1882.2003.tb00225.x

Gaston-Gayles, J. L. (2004). Examining academic and athletic motivation among student athletes at a Division I university. Journal of College Student Development, 45(1), 75-83. https://doi.org/10.1353/csd.2004.0005

Grandy, J., Lough, N., & Miller, C. (2016). Improving student-athlete academic success: Evaluation of learning support tools utilized by academic advisors for athletics. Journal for the Study of Sports and Athletes in Education, 10(3), 199-217. https://doi.org/10.1080/19357397.2016.1258967

Gibson, D. E., & Creamer, D. G. (1987). Perceptions of academic support by student athletes. The College Student Affairs Journal, 7(3), 43-49.

Greener, R. (2010, November 27). Of course, Howard Cosell was right. Huff Post Sports. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/of-course-howard-cosell-w_b_788786

Hawes, K. (1999, November 8). NCAA born from need to bridge football and higher education. NCAA News. Retrieved from https://ncaanewsarchive.s3.amazonaws.com/1999/19991108/active/3623n27.html

Hodes, J. S., James, T., Martin, G., & Milliner, K. (2015). Go for the win: A collaborative model for supporting student-athletes. The Learning Assistance Review, 20(1), 47-60. Retrieved from https://nclca.wildapricot.org/resources/Documents/Publications/TLAR/Issues/20_1.pdf

Hurley, R. B., & Cunningham, R. L. (1984). Providing academic and psychological services for the college athlete. New Directions for Student Services, 1984, 51-58. https://doi.org/10.1002/ss.37119842807

Judge, L. W. (1992). The academic success rate of Proposition 48 student-athletes: A study of student-athletes at a Midwestern university. The Academic Athletic Journal, 30-46.

Keim, M. C., & Strickland, J. M. (2004). Support services for two-year college student-athletes. College Student Journal, 38(1), 36-44. Retrieved from https://www.questia.com/library/journal/1G1-115034773/support-services-for-two-year-college-student-athletes

Knight Commission. (1991-1993). Reports of Knight Commission Foundation on intercollegiate athletics 1991-1993. Knight Commission on intercollegiate athletics. https://www.knightcommission.org/commission-reports-official-recommendations/

Lotte, C. (1991). A “whole-istic” model of counseling student athletes on academic, athletic, and personal-social issues. In E. F. Etzel, A. P. Ferrante, & J. W. Pinkney (Eds.), Counseling college student-athletes: Issues and interventions (pp. 31-49). Fitness Information Technology.

Melendez, M. C. (2006-2007). The influence of athletic participation on the college adjustment of freshmen and sophomore student athletes. Journal of College Student Retention: Research, Theory & Practice, 8(1), 39–55. https://doi.org/10.2190/8GLY-G974-V7FM-E1YD

Meyer, B. B. (1993). Support services and the Division 1 student-athlete: Experiences, needs, and implications. The Academic Athletic Journal, 40-52.

Miller, P. S., & Kerr, G. (2002, December). The athletic, academic, and social experiences of intercollegiate student-athletes. Journal of Sport Behavior, 25(4), 346-368. EBSCO.

Petrie, T., Hankes, D. M., & Denson, E. (1999). A student athlete’s guide to college success: Peak performance in class and life (3rd ed.). Wadsworth.

Potuto, J. R., & O’Hanlon, J. (2007, December). National study of student-athletes regarding their experiences as college students. College Student Journal, 41(4), 947-966. EBSCO.

Rhatigan, J. J. (1984). Serving two masters: The plight of the college student-athlete. New Directions for Student Services, 1984, 5-11. https://doi.org/10.1002/ss.37119842803

Sijogren, C. (1989, March 12). Views of sport; Prop. 48 makes athletes study. New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/1989/03/12/sports/views-of-sport-prop-48-makes-athletes-study.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm

Simons, H. D., Van Rheenen, D., & Covington, M. V. (1999). Academic motivation and the student athlete. Journal of College Student Development, 40(2), 151-163. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/234644118_Academic_Motivation_and_the_Student_Athlete

Simons, H. D., & Van Rheenen, D. (2000). Noncognitive predictors of student athletes’ academic performance. Journal of College Reading and Learning, 30(2), 167-181. https://doi.org/10.1080/10790195.2000.10850094

Sitkowski, L. S. (2008). The effects of participation in athletics on academic performance among high school sophomores and juniors (Doctoral dissertation). Available from ProQuest Dissertations and Theses database. (UMI No. 3311365). https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=http://www.lsche.net/?page_id=738&httpsredir=1&article=1115&context=doctoral

Watson, J. C. (2006). Student-athletes and counseling: Factors influencing the decision to seek counseling services. College Student Journal, 40(1).

Commuters

photo by Stanley Morales of students walking into college wearing backpacks

See especially, the volume 2015, issue 150 of New Directions for Student Services Special Issue: Understanding and Addressing Commuter Student Needs, including these four articles:

Garland, J. L. (2015). Commuter students with disabilities. New Directions for Student Services, 2015(150), 56-67. https://doi.org/10.1002/ss.20127

Jacoby, B. (2015). Enhancing commuter student success: What's theory got to do with it? New Directions for Student Services, 2015(150), 3-12. https://doi.org/10.1002/ss.20122

Kodama, C. M. (2015). Supporting commuter students of color. New Directions for Student Services, 2015(150), 45-55. https://doi.org/10.1002/ss.20126

Kretovics, M. (2015). Commuter students, online services, and online communities. New Directions for Student Services, 2015(150), 69-78. https://doi.org/10.1002/ss.20128

Buckenmeyer, J. A., Barczyk, C., Hixon, E., Zamojski, H., & Tomory, A. (2016). Technology’s role in learning at a commuter campus: The student perspective. Journal of Further and Higher Education, 40(3), 412-431. https://doi.org/10.1080/0309877X.2014.984596

Jacoby, B. (1989). The Student as Commuter: Developing a Comprehensive Institutional Response. ASHE-ERIC Report No. 7. ERIC. https://eric.ed.gov/?q=ED319298

Hatch, C., Skipper, T. L., Porter, J., & Herby, C. (2017, October). A guide for families of commuter students: Supporting your student's success. National Resource Center for the First-Year Experience and Students in Transition. https://nrcfye.presswarehouse.com/browse/book/9781942072119/A-Guide-for-Families-of-Commuter-Students

Simpson, D. B., & Burnett, D. (2019). Commuters versus residents: The effects of living arrangements and student engagement on academic performance. Journal of College Student Retention: Research, Theory & Practice, 21(3). https://doi.org/10.1177/1521025117707516

Distance/Online

See the resources on the Online Learning/Teaching page.

Foster Youth

Sihouette photo of man in library. Photo by Pixabay.

NextUp: Real opportunities for foster youth at California community colleges. "NextUp provides participating current and former foster youth with support and resources while attending a California community college. Help may include:"

Books & Supplies
Child Care
Counseling & Career Guidance
Educational Planning
Emergency Housing
Food Assistance
Health Services
Life Skills & Financial Orientation
Mental Health Services
Transportation Assistance
Tutoring

From Foster Care to College: Scholarships & Support That Can Help: AffordableCollegesOnline.org lists scholarships specific to foster youth attending postsecondary education. The site also lists a variety of support resources available.

Foster Care to Success administers the federal Education and Training Voucher (ETV) program on behalf of several states and provides links or contact information for the administrators of ETV programs for all other states.

Foster Care Students' Knowledge of College Campus Support Programs: Nathan Brown, himself a former foster youth, wrote his dissertation on this topic.

Foster Care Transition Toolkit is available from the U;S. Department of Education. The purpose of the toolkit is "to inspire and support youth currently in foster care and young adults who have aged out of care to pursue college and career opportunities." The toolkit is for both foster youth and for "caring and supportive adults" including college administrators.

Guardian Scholars Programs — Many postsecondary institutions and states have Guardian Scholars Programs that provide not only scholarships but also a variety of support and referral services. A few of the many programs:

Ball State University Guardian Scholars Program
City College of San Francisco Guardian Scholars Program
University of Colorado Boulder Guardian Scholars Program
Hunter College, John Jay College, City College, and Kingsborough Community College (NY) New Yorkers for Children Guardian Scholars Program
Johnson C. Smith University (NC) Guardian Scholars Program

Comevo shared "Best Practices for a Successful Guardian Scholars Program."

The New York State Education and Training Voucher Program "is designed to help foster care youth pay for post-secondary education or training by awarding students up to $5,000 a year for qualified school related expenses."

Salazar, A. M. (2012). Supporting college success in foster care alumni: Salient factors related to postsecondary retention. Child Welfare, 91(5), 139-167. EBSCO. Retrieved from http://fosteringsuccessmichigan.com/uploads/misc/Supporting_College_Success_in_Foster_Care_Alumni_1.pdf

International/ESL

photo by Vantha Thang of Asian student graduating. Source: Pexels

Dave’s ESL Cafe (“The Internet’s Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Students and Teachers from Around the World!”) at https://www.eslcafe.com/

Lists of ESL & TESOL websites. Language Magazine. https://www.languagemagazine.com/links/

Huang, J., & Nisbet, D. (2014). The relationship between reading proficiency and reading strategy use: A study of adult ESL learners. Journal of Adult Education, 43(2), 1-11. ERIC. https://eric.ed.gov/?q=EJ1047359

Kasouha, A. (2011). The relationship between language proficiency and student performance on a locally developed mathematics placement exam at a community college in Southern California [Doctoral dissertation, Capella University]. ERIC. https://eric.ed.gov/?q=ED528124

Lakin, J.M., Elliott, D.C., & Liu, O.L. (2012). Investigating ESL students’ performance on outcomes assessments in higher education. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 72(5), 734-753. ERIC. https://eric.ed.gov/?q=EJ982328

McClanahan, L. (2014). Training using technology in the adult ESL classroom. Journal of Adult Education, 43(1), 22-27. ERIC. https://eric.ed.gov/?q=EJ1047373

Schwarz, R. and Burt, M. (1995). ESL instruction for learning disabled adults (ED379966). ERIC Digest. ERIC. https://eric.ed.gov/?q=ED379966

LGBTQI

Blue, Green, and Red Abstract Illustration by Sharon McCutcheon

See the 2020 Special Issue: Queer and Trans College Student Retention, Journal of College Student Retention: Research, Theory & Practice, 21(4).

See also the 2019 New Directions for Community Colleges Issue 188, a special issue on Representation, Space, and Place: Creating Access and Support for LGBTQIA+ Students.

Campus Pride Index
This website provides a searchable data base of information about how friendly and supportive a college or university campus is towards LGBTQ students. Students can also explore scholarships, organizations, and prospective job opportunities.

LGBTQ Student Resources and Support
This website provides an overview of factors that contribute to a healthy LGBTQ environment at college, including the eight criteria used to construct the Campus Pride Index, as well as lists of active organizations and initiatives. The website gives specific information for faculty on creating inclusive lesson plans and offering degree programs covering LGBTQ culture. Numerous scholarship opportunities are listed.

Scholarships for Gay or Lesbian Students
This website provides a full list of scholarships to students who identify in the LGBTQ community. The website also offers information on scholarships to students who identify as an ally or as a questioning member of the LGBTQ community.

Harrington Park Press
This specialized academic/scholarly print and e-book publisher is devoted to emerging topics in LGBTQ diversity, equality, and inclusivity.

LGBTQ Center: Scholarships, Fellowships, Grants and Awards
This website lists various LGBTQ scholarships, fellowships, grants, and awards for the community to utilize.

Consortium of Higher Education LGBT Resource Professionals
This is the website of the professional organization, Consortium of Higher Education LGBT Resource Professionals. Members have access to current research, upcoming conferences, job listings, and policy and practice recommendations.

UC Davis: LGBTQIA Resource Center Glossary
This website provides a comprehensive glossary and lists of LGBTQIA and transgender terminology for the use of faculty, staff, and students.

The Safe Zone Project
This website provides resources on creating and implementing LGBTQ awareness and Ally Training workshops on campus.

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, & Intersex Life: National Resources
Among the many resources that Vanderbilt University posts for their LGBTQI community (students, faculty/staff, and alumni) are lists of national resources in seven categories: advocacy and legal, higher education, queer people of color, academic and informational, families, crisis and youth, and athletics.

LGBTQ Addiction Resources
This site discusses addiction issues for the LGBTQ community and provides a number of support resources.

Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians & Gays: PFLAG
This website provides resources to support LGBTQ youth, families with LGBTQ members, and allies of the LGBTQ community.

The Trevor Project
This website provides information and resources for LGBTQ youth about how to help prevent suicide, including information about warning signs, risk factors, and facts about suicide. The website also includes resources for frequently asked questions about the LGBTQ community.

GLAAD
GLAAD promotes accurate media portrayal of the LBGTQ community and works toward full acceptance. Media guides and other resources are available on this site.

CenterLink
This website provides a way to search for LGBTQ community centers in the area. The centers were created to strengthen and provide support for the existing LGBTQ community in the area as well as provide networking, technical assistance, and training.

GetEqual
This website can be helpful in sharing knowledge about issues the community is working on at the local and international levels. Note: This site is written in Indonesian.

National Center for Transgender Equality
This website presents the NCTE’s assessment of federal, state, and local laws vis-à-vis the transgender community. The website provides information for the community about housing, healthcare, and employment in their “Know Your Rights” section of the website.

Anti-Violence Project
This website is dedicated to ending all forms of violence towards the LGBTQ community. The site presents how to get help for victims, opportunities for getting involved in the fight against violence towards the LGBTQ community, and other resources.

The American Military Partner Association
This website is dedicated to supporting LGBTQ military families. The website also provides resources on various topics such as scholarships, employment, military and benefits for same-sex couples as well as religious and spiritual resources.

The Guardian: Gay Rights in the US, State by State
In 2012, The Guardian (UK) charted what rights are available for the LGBTQ community in each US state. Topics include marriage, hospital visitation, adoption, employment, housing, hate crimes, and schools. After the Supreme Court’s decision on gay marriage, the chart was updated in June 2015.

Minorities

photo collage of thre graduating students: 1. photo by Ihsan Aditya of woman wearing Islamic head covering, 2. photo by nappy of African-American man, 3. photo by Vantha Thang of Asian woman. All are smiling.

See also the 2020 Journal of College Reading and Learning, 50(1) for a special issue on Linguistic and Cultural Diversity in Postsecondary Literacy and Learning Assistance.

Pathways to College Network
The Pathways to College Network (PCN) has aligned itself with the Institute for Higher Education Policy to improve college access and success for underserved students. This website defines underserved students as low-income, racial and ethnic minorities, working adults, and first-generation students. This website provides links to various research articles, programs and resources for families, practitioners and institutions that focus on academic preparation and support, college access and information, financial aid and affordability, and college success.

Oakland Office of Student Success
This site provides access to presentations to the 2013-2019 Great Lakes Regional Student Success conference. Presenters at the conference explored ways to assist student populations—underrepresented minorities, first-generation students, students with disabilities, and immigrant students—seeking college degrees at higher rates but completing with less success. Administrators and faculty can use these PowerPoints to develop practices and techniques to close the gap in higher education and provide all students with the opportunity for social mobility through education. While not all presentations may be relevant, sessions such as Metacognition: The Key to Closing the Gap may be useful when working with students from diverse cultural backgrounds.

Advancing Diversity and Inclusion in Higher Education
This 2016 report informs campus administration and faculty about educational inequities and opportunity gaps in promoting diversity in higher education. Additionally, the report provides examples of programs and practices that leading campuses have designed to assist students of color and low-income students.

Men of Color: Ensuring the Academic Success of Latino Males in Higher Education
This 2011 brief provides information on the academic attainment gap of Latinos and provides recommendations to institutional leaders and educational practitioners on how to support Latinos as they navigate to and through college.

The Texas Education Consortium for Male Students of Color Cross-Sector Collaboration as a Model for Improving Educational Outcome
This brief examines state and national context for males of color, highlighting key data trends that illuminate the gender gap and highlight ways of assisting this population. The authors discuss President Obama’s initiative, My Brother’s Keeper, and offer a blueprint for action.

My Brother’s Keeper Task Force Report to the President
This 2014 report from the task force discusses the problems faced by minority males in the education system and then offers recommendation for the steps that institutions and the U.S. Department of Education can take to prepare students for college and promote their success once they arrive.

National Commission on Asian American and Pacific Islander Research in Education (CARE)
The purpose of CARE is to increase awareness about the needs and challenges facing Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) students in U.S. higher education. The website provides both research and policy recommendations.

College and Scholarship Information for the Puerto Rican and Latino Community
ASPIRA provides programs that encourage Puerto Rican and Latino students to stay in school, prepare them to succeed in the educational arena, develop their leadership skills, and serve their community. This website provides information for planning for college and links to financial opportunities that are targeted specifically towards this community.

American Indian Higher Education Consortium
The AIHEC.org site serves a consortium of tribal colleges and universities (TCUs), which “serve some of the most impoverished and disenfranchised communities in the United States” (His Horse is Thunder, 2012, http://aihec.org/our-stories/docs/reports/BreakingThrough.pdf). The consortium seeks to maintain commonly held standards of quality in American Indian education; support the development of new tribally-controlled colleges; promote and assist in the development of legislation to support American Indian higher education; and encourage greater participation by American Indians in the development of higher education policy. Under the Our Stories tab can be found documents that guide professionals at TCUs to help American Indian students to attain academic success in higher education.

Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU)
The HACU website offers valuable information for faculty and administrators at Hispanic-serving institutions. Current and recent programs are described, including scholarship offerings. Under the research tab are data reports, current initiatives, and literature reviews.

Project MALES
This site provides access to a dozen research briefs of Project MALES (Mentoring to Achieve Latino Educational Success). It is an excellent recourse for educators, administrators, and policy makers seeking success for Latino males.

Nursing

hoto from the National Cancer Institute of a nurse administering chemotherapy to a patient while another nurse looks on. Source: Unsplash

The Sigma Repository (formerly the Virgina Henderson International Nursing Library) is the only repository solely dedicated to sharing works created by nurses. It is an open-access digital academic and clinical scholarship service that freely collects, preserves, and disseminates full-text nursing research and evidence-based practice materials (Enter “study skills”, “learning assistance”, or topic of interest in the search box).

Anderson, D., & Mastenbjörk, M. (2016). Medical terminology: The best and most effective way to memorize, pronounce and understand medical terms (2nd ed.). Authors.

Dunham, K. S. (2007). How to survive and maybe even love nursing school: A guide for students by students (3rd ed.). FA Davis Company.

Faulkner, A., & Stahl, D. (1999). Reading strategies for nursing and allied health. Houghton Mifflin

Fischer, M., Boshoff, E. L., & Ehlers, V. J. (2001). Student nurses' needs for developing basic study skills. Curationis, 24(1), 66-73. https://doi.org/10.4102/curationis.v24i1.804

Fowler, A., & Eagle, M. (2001) A practical guide to managing coursework. Nursing Times, 97(35), 65-66.

Heifferon, B. (2005). Writing in the health professions. Longman Publishing

Maslin-Prothero, S. (2005). Bailliere’s study skills for nurses and midwives (3rd ed.). Bailliere Tindall

Meltzer, M., & Palau, S. M. (1997). Learning strategies in nursing: Reading, studying, and test-taking (2nd ed.). Saunders.

Moore, S. G. (2002). Nursing math simplified (4th ed.). H&H Publishing.

Nugent, P. M., & Vitale, B. A. (2020). Test success: Test-taking techniques for beginning nursing students (9th ed.). F.A. Davis Company.

Palau, S and Meltzer, M. (2007). Learning strategies for health careers students (Rev. ed.). Saunders.

Poorman, S. G., Mastorovich, M. L., Molcan, K. L., & Liberto, T. L. (2011). Good thinking: Test taking and study skills for nursing students (3rd ed.). STAT Nursing Consultants.

Soltesz Steiner, S., & Capps, N. P. (2011). Quick medical terminology: A self-teaching guide (5th ed.). Wiley.

Twiname, B. G., & Boyd, S. M. (2001). Student nurse handbook: Difficult concepts made easy (2nd ed.). Prentice Hall.

White, H. L. (2004, March). Nursing instructors must also teach reading and study skills. Reading Improvement.

Pre-College

photo by Pixabay of red apple on top of books

How to Study

American Federation of Teachers. (2004, Spring). High school preparation is the best predictor of college graduation. American Educator. Retrieved from https://www.aft.org/periodical/american-educator/spring-2004/high-school-preparation-best-predictor-college

Burns, P. (2006). Success in college: From C’s in high school to A’s in college. Rowman & Littlefield Education.

Carter, C., & Lewis, D. (2017). Study skills for high school students. Lifebound.

Christ, F. L. (1967). What study skills do secondary students need? in R. Malony (Ed.). Reading in California: Issues and emerging practices. Proceedings of the Second Annual Conference of the California Reading Association (pp. 105-109).

Kirst, M. W. (2000, Fall). The senior slump: Making the most of high school preparation. National Crosstalk. Retrieved from http://www.highereducation.org/crosstalk/ctbook/pdfbook/KirstSeniorSlumpBookLayout.pdf

Marrs, B. (2001). Learning & using study skills. Phoenix Learning Resources.

Moore, R. (2006). Do high school behaviors set up developmental education students for failure? The Learning Assistance Review, 11(2), 19-32. Retrieved from https://nclca.wildapricot.org/resources/Documents/Publications/TLAR/Issues/11_2.pdf

Weinstein, C. E., & Hume, L. M. (1998). Study strategies for lifelong learning. American Psychological Association. Abstract retrieved from https://www.apa.org/pubs/books/431605A

High School to College

American Federation of Teachers. (2004, Spring). What does it mean to be prepared for college? American Educator. Retrieved from https://www.aft.org/periodical/american-educator/spring-2004/what-does-it-mean-be-prepared-college

American Federation of Teachers. (2004, Spring). What you need to do in high school if you want to graduate from college. American Educator. Retrieved from https://www.aft.org/periodical/american-educator/spring-2004/what-you-need-do-high-school-if-you-want-graduate

Baylor University. (n.d.). How college differs from high school. [Adapted by Baylor University from material developed or modified by Dominion University and Southern Methodist University] Retrieved from https://www.baylor.edu/support_programs/index.php?id=88158
[See also the YouTube video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NSCU5Cd3do&feature=youtu.be]
Discusses the following:

Personal Freedom in High School vs Personal Freedom in College
High School Classes vs College Classes
High School Teachers vs College Professors
Studying in High School vs Studying in College
Tests in High School vs Tests in College
Grades in High School vs Grades in College

MNADE Executive Committee. (2004). College readiness brochure [English, Hmong, Spanish, and Somali]. Retrieved from https://www.mnade.net/resources
An excellent resource made available under Creative Commons licensing.

Washington State University Vancouver. (n. d.). High school and college—the differences. Retrieved https://studentaffairs.vancouver.wsu.edu/student-wellness-center/high-school-and-college-differences

Wimberly, G. L., & Noeth, R. J. (2005). College readiness begins in middle school (ED483849). ACT. ERIC. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED483849

Study Skills Surveys and Tips for High School Students

Congos, D. H. (n. d.). Study skills inventory. Retrieved from https://academicsuccess.ucf.edu/sarc/form-studyskills/

Brunner, J. T., & Hudson, M. S. (2013). The HM learning and study skills program Level 2: Student text (4th ed.). R&L Education. Retrieved from https://rowman.com/ISBN/9781475803785/The-HM-Learning-and-Study-Skills-Program-Level-2-Student-Text-4th-Edition

Stephen. (2011). High school study tips & study skills. Retrieved from http://academictips.org/study-skills/high-school-study-tips/

Top ten study skills for high school students. Retrieved from https://www.campusexplorer.com/college-advice-tips/C6CA1844/Top-10-Study-Skills-for-High-School-Students/

Special Needs

CAST. (n.d.). About universal design for learning. http://www.cast.org/impact/universal-design-for-learning-udl

Barefield, T. T., Kesler, S., & Kalivoda, K. (2016). Testing Accommodations Reference Manual. Association on Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD). https://www.ahead.org/professional-resources/publications/publications-for-sale

Church, T. (2009). Veterans with disabilities: Promoting success in higher education. Association on Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD). https://www.ahead.org/professional-resources/publications/publications-for-sale

Frey, W. W. (1990, December). Schools miss out on dyslexic engineers. IEEE Spectrum 6.

HIgbee, J. L., & Goff, E. (Eds). (2008. Pedagogy and student services for institutional transformation: Implementing universal design in higher education. University of Minnesota. PASSIT Website at https://www.cehd.umn.edu/passit/

McKeown, C., & McKeown, J. (2019). Accessibility in online courses: Understanding the deaf learner. TechTrends, 63(5), 506-513. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11528-019-00385-3

Pflug, R. J. (1973). The handicapped and disadvantaged students in the learning center. In G. Kerstiens (Ed.), Technological alternatives in learning: Proceedings of the sixth annual conference of the Western College Reading Association (pp. 31-35). https://eric.ed.gov/?q=ED080947

Pacifici, T., & McKinney, K (1997). Disability Support Services for Community College Students. ERIC Digest. ED409972

Raskind, M. H., & Higgins, E. (1995). Effects of Speech Synthesis on the Proofreading Efficiency of Postsecondary Students with Learning Disabilities. Learning Disability Quarterly,18(2), 141-158. Abstract at JSTOR.

Waddell, C. D. (1998). “Applying the ADA to the Internet: A Web Accessibility Standard” – written at the request of the American Bar Association for their June 1998 national summit on disability law and policy for the next millennium

Veterans

Awaiting additional content.

Cortez, S. R. (2019). The impact of veteran peer-tutoring on mathematics course performance [Doctoral dissertation, Texas State University]. Texas State Digital Library. https://digital.library.txstate.edu/bitstream/handle/10877/8378/CORTEZ-DISSERTATION-2019.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y

DiRamio, D., & Jarvis, K. (2011). Special issue:Veterans in higher education: When Johnny and Jane come marching to campus. ASHE Higher Education Report, 37(3), 1-144. https://doi.org/10.1002/aehe.3703

Rausch, M. A., & Buning, M. M. (2022). Student veterans’ perspectives of higher education contexts: Beyond the non-traditional student. College Teaching, 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1080/87567555.2022.2106469

Women

Awaiting additional content.

Allan, E. J. (2011). Women’s status in higher education: Equity matters. ASHE Higher Education Report, 37(1), 1-163. https://doi.org/10.1002/aehe.3701
Discusses both students and faculty in higher education.

Hayes, E., & Flannery, D. D. (with Brooks, A., Tisdell, E., & Hugo, J.). (2000). Women as learners: The significance of gender in adult learning. Jossey-Bass. [Abstract at https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED441138]

Pearson, C. (1992). Women as learners: Diversity and educational quality. Journal of Developmental Education, 16(2), 2-39. JSTOR. https://www.jstor.org/stable/42774611

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Learning Support Centers in Higher Education

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