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This paper reports on the first phase of a three-part study meant to provide information, in an expanded context, for decisions related to marketing communications at Western Iowa Tech Community College (WITCC). The Marketing Department proposed focus groups to examine dropouts, students who are admitted but do not enroll, and business persons in charge of training (gatekeepers). (For this study, dropouts were defined as students who enrolled in the fall semesters of 1999 or 2000 but were not enrolled the following spring semester.) The first contact was by telephone, describing the project and asking if the potential subjects were interested in participating. Focus groups were scheduled during 3 evenings in March, 2001. Participants were rewarded with a $20 gift certificate from the mall. When each of the more than 20 people indicated they were interested in participating, they were scheduled for 1 of 3 sessions. A follow-up letter reminded them of the time and place and offered further details. Finally, each was given a reminder call within 2 weeks of the session. The participants were nontraditional students in terms of age, career choice, and pattern of enrollment. This report details the qualitative findings of the study, stating that dropouts were nontraditional students whose attitudes toward the college were generally positive. Also included are: a literature review; and the survey instrument. (Contains 17 references.) (Author/NB)

1Boy Crusoe

By Allan Eric

Also published as" A Yankee Crusoe" . A 15 year old hard working and studious farm boy finds the lure of adventure on the seas as a merchant seaman more than he can resist. This is his story. " I was born in a little town in the State of Maine, near the close of the Civil War. My boyhood life did not differ materially from that of the average farmer's son in the remote country districts of New England--except, perhaps, that I read more and thought more. Hard work on the rugged soil, two terms each year in the little yellow country schoolhouse, a day's fishing now and then filled the early years of my life full to over-flowing. " What he gets is enough excitement and adventure to overflow his wildest dreams. How he experiences disaster and uses his wits and knowledge to overcome every problem makes for a great read. - Summary by Phil Chenevert