Around 28,000 full-time and 87,000 part-time students who started first-degree courses in 2004-05 were no longer in higher education a year later. There has been little improvement in student retention since 2001-02, though participation in higher education has increased from around 40 per cent to nearly 43 per cent of 18-30 year olds. Universities have received around £800 million over the last five years to help improve retention and participation. In 2001-02 the Committee concluded (HC 588, ISBN 9780215005496) that there was a need for improvement in several areas: reducing the wide variation in retention rates; funding to support students from low-income backgrounds; tackling skills gaps; supporting disabled students; better information. The Committee's findings in this report include: there has been no reduction in the variation in retention rates; by widening participation in higher education, higher education institutions need to understand the needs of their changing student populations through the use of market research techniques; the Higher Education Funding Council for England should agree clear expectations for planned improvements in retention of students and make it part of any improvement plans; that only about half of part-time students obtain a qualification within six years and there is no specific framework to encourage improvement; that some students feel that academic and pastoral support is limited and does not meet their needs; information on why students withdraw from their courses is not reliable; substantial variations exist between universities in the proportions of students with disabilities that receive the Disabled Student's Allowances.

This report finds that, when compared internationally, England achieves a high rate of student retention. However the variation between retention rates of different institutions and the worsening of some institution's continuation rates shows that there is scope for further improvement. This will be increasingly important as access to further education is broadened, bringing in students who are likely to need more support. Amongst the recommendations are: the monitoring of retention at student, faculty and course level; the use of early-leaver surveys when problems are identified; more positive student support that emphasises ways to improve grades; identification of students eligible for Disabled Students' Allowances; the adoption of good practice from other institutions.

In a crises-ridden society such as ours, politicians in leadership positions are mostly honest, but the disregard for truth and neglect of the needs of the citizenry create pain, anger, and apathy. Political inexpediency results in policies that hurt minorities and the poor and also leads to useless and ill-planned expensive wars that cost human life and emotional distress. Our political actors’ ill-conceived policies and ideologies often create chaos here at home and overseas and pitch different races and sociopolitical groups against each other. In recent times, lying, bullying, and reckless talk by political actors in leadership positions against each other and against journalists and political commentators have characterized our fight against pandemics and our overall health-care system, resulting in untold death and dying. Never in our country’s history have the two ideological poles—left-wing socialism and ultranationalist right-wing—taken a stranglehold on our polity, creating depravity, political corruption, and shameless sycophancy. Our actions have led to the creation of an emperor who kills dissent, disrespects women, mutes voices that dare reason, and induces cognitive and emotional tumultuous discordance in the minds of most citizens, including even the sycophantic chorus that sings to hail the emperor. However, all is not lost. The United States’ exceptionalism projects inner strength that liberates the soul of the nation. Ordinary Americans have always found ways to come together, seek and found liberty, and prospered like no other nation. Patriotism, selflessness, and goodwill are deeply imbued in the fabric of our society such that no matter what the crisis is, we see the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel and therefore persevere.

At the time of his death, Stanislavsky considered Nikolai Demidov to be ‘his only student, who understands the System’. Demidov’s incredibly forward-thinking processes not only continued his teacher’s pioneering work, but also solved the problems of an actor’s creativity that Stanislavsky never conquered. This book brings together Demidov’s five volumes on actor training. Supplementary materials, including transcriptions of Demidov’s classes, and notes and correspondence from the author make this the definitive collection on one of Russian theatre’s most important figures.

"Containing the public messages, speeches, and statements of the President", 1956-1992.

Many of us have the desire to make a difference. But when it comes down to it, how many really know what steps to take and how to fit philanthropy into our lives. The Generosity Plan shows readers the unexpected benefits and joys of generosity in our daily lives. This smart, practical guide to philanthropy illuminates the power of giving by helping readers to discover what inspires them, clarify what he or she can afford to give, and direct that generosity toward a better world. Contributing time or money to causes far removed from the immediacy of our individual lives may feel overwhelming, especially in times of financial stress and uncertainty. Author Kathy LeMay breaks through these initial roadblocks to give easy and valuable tools to spur definite and rewarding action, demonstrating how our time, treasure, and talents can make a world of difference. By building and acting on a generosity plan, each one of us can create change simply by doing what we can, where we are, with what we have.

Living With The King is a disciple-centric read that stresses the importance of building a relationship with Jesus Christ. It is crafted in the conversational tone of writing, directed by the Holy Spirit and influenced by authorial experiences. It includes a study section after each unit which allows for penned prayers, journaling, private devotions as well as group discussions. There are three exciting features of Living With The King. The first feature offers a wealth of noted scriptures to under gird a topic or thought. They are useful for reflection, referencing and research. The second feature encourages the reader to think critically by asking the author a question at the end of the Study Guide section. The question can be forwarded to the authorvia e-mail, her facebook or twitter pages which are on the Home page of thewebsite, www.stephanniesolomon. The third feature consists of thirty-one days of affirmations; an excellent companion for fasting and prayer. Like its predecessor, Conversations With The King, this page turner highlights the endorsements of three reputable Christian leaders on its back cover. Truly, Living With The King is an asset to any home, office, church and community library as well as church and commercial bookstores. No ministry should be without it.

Implosion is a focused study of the history and uses of high-reliability, solid-state electronics, military standards, and space systems that support our national security and defense. This book is unique in combining the interdependent evolution of and interrelationships among military standards, solid-state electronics, and very high-reliability space systems. Starting with a brief description of the physics that enabled the development of the first transistor, Implosion covers the need for standardizing military electronics, which began during World War II and continues today. The book shows how these twin topics affected, and largely enabled, the highest reliability and most technologically capable robotic systems ever conceived. This riveting history helps readers: Realize the complex interdependence of solid-state electronics and practical implementations in the national security and defense space programs Understand the evolution of military standards for piece parts, quality, and reliability as they affected these programs Gain insight into the attempted reforms of federal systems acquisition of security- and defense-related space systems in the latter half of the twentieth century Appreciate the complexity of science and technology public policy decisions in the context of political, organizational, and economic realities Written in clear, jargon-free language, but with plenty of technical detail, Implosion is a must-read for aerospace and aviation engineers, manufacturers, and enthusiasts; technology students and historians; and anyone interested in the history of technology, military technology, and the space program.

"In Power of Positive Impact: Using the Little Things to Make a Difference," Dr. Love Otuechere explains that making a difference enables members of society to realize their full potential to impact others. Making a difference allows us to assist each other in realizing economic recovery. As technology grows and shifts our capabilities to new heights, businesses and educational systems need the positive integration of talent to transition. Sometimes, change begins with a small action, like not buying lunch out for a year and then using that money to help others in need. Much has been written focusing on how to achieve economic recovery in the midst of cutting-edge technology, a global economic meltdown, and the high unemployment rate. However, many have missed the fact that recovery, growth, and economic reform are dependent upon the positive impact of people using whatever materials they have on hand, to transform the lives of others. "Power of Positive Impact "highlights the benefits of doing little things to bring meaning to others' lives, impacting the development of a positive mindset. Accentuating the importance of creating a positive effect on today's society can go a long way toward fulfilling a sense of purpose for each of us in today's ever-changing world.