Alberto F. Cabrera

Professor

2205 Benjamin Building
University of Maryland
College Park, MD 20742
(301)405-2875
cabrera@umd.edu

Background

Dr. Cabrera holds a Ph.D. degree in Educational Administration and a MS in Industrial Relations from the University of Wisconsin at Madison. He specializes in research methodologies, college choice, college students, classroom experiences, minorities in Higher Education and economics of education. Dr. Cabrera serves in the advisory boards of the Bill & Melinda's Pathways to College Network and the National Postsecondary Education Cooperative (NPEC)'s Student Outcomes. He has also consulted with the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU), the US Congress' Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance, the Cooperative Institutional Research Program at UCLA, the American Council on Education, Western Interstate Commission on Higher Education, the US Department of Education, the National Postsecondary Education Cooperative, the Argentinean Minister of Education, and with several universities in the USA and abroad. Dr. Cabrera has been a member of the editorial boards of Journal of Higher Education , Review of Higher Education and Research in Higher Education . His work on the role of finances on college persistence and on determinants of default behavior has received several awards.

Expertise:

Examples of sponsored research:

Center for the integration of research in teaching and learning (CIRTL). Project funded by the National Science Foundation to improve graduate education in Sciences, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). Co-leader of the Diversity Team seeking to create inclusive teaching practices in STEM fields (http://www.wcer.wisc.edu/cirtl/diversityinstitute ).

Latinos in postsecondary education. Project funded by the LUMINA foundation. Using the National Education Longitudinal Study of 1988 (NELS:88/00), this grant seeks to gain a better understanding of how Hispanic middle high school students ready themselves for college and how these decisions impact their entry into the workforce. (Co-PI: Watson Scott Swail. Educational Policy Institute).

The dream deferred: Increasing the college preparedness of at-risk students . Project funded by OERI for the purpose of documenting the impact of GEAR UP supported activities in preparing economically disadvantaged 8th graders for college.

Using national databases to study the collegiate experiences of lowest-SES students. Project funded by NSF and the Association of Institutional Research for the purpose of examining factors affecting collegiate experiences among socioeconomically college students.
Research report can be downloaded from the list of online papers, below. ("On the Path to College")

Using national databases to study the college choice of low-income students. Project funded by NSF and the Association for Institutional Research for the purpose examining how socioeconomically disadvantaged 8th graders and their families ready themselves for college.
Research report can be downloaded from the list of online papers, below. ("On the Path to College")

A Portrait of America's Low-Income Students: Their Characteristics, Experiences, and Performance. Project funded by the College Board with the purpose of providing a comprehensive review of the literature on low-income students.
The research report can be downloaded from: http://www.collegeboard.org/research/html/RDReport2001_1.pdf .

Effects of Student Financial Aid on College Persistence. Project funded by the U.S. Department of Education through the Office of Research and Improvement.

Awards:

• Early Career Award. Granted by the Association for the Study of Higher Education, this award recognizes exceptional contributions to the field of Higher Education.
  
  
• Two best paper awards granted by the Southern Association of Institutional Researchers and the Southern Association of University and College Planners.
  
  
• 2002 Wickenden Award granted by the American Society for Engineering Education recognizing the paper entitled "Collaborative Learning vs. Lecture/Discussion: Students' Reported Learning gains." The award recognizes the paper published in the Journal of Engineering Education that is most responsive to the goals and objectives embodied in the Board's Editorial Policy.

Recent and Selected Publications:

Cabrera, A. F., Prabhu, R., Deil-Amen, R., Terenzini, P. T., Lee, C., & Franklin, R. F., Jr. (2006). Increasing the college preparedness of at-risk students. Journal of Latinos and Education, 5(2), 79-97.

Cabrera, A. F. & La Nasa, S. (2005). Classroom teaching practice: Ten lessons learned. In W. de Vries (Ed.). Calidad, eficiencia y evaluación de la educación superior (129-151). Spain, Madrid: Netbiblo.

Cabrera, A. F. Burkum, K. R. & La Nasa, S. M. (2005). Pathways to a four-year degree: Determinants of transfer and degree completion (pp. 155-214). In Alan Seidman (Ed.). College Student Retention: A formula for success. ACE/Prager Series on Higher Education.

Cabrera, A., Weerts, D. J., and Zulick, B. (2005). Making an Impact with Alumni Surveys. In D. Weerts and J. Vidal, Reframing the Benefits of Alumni Surveys: Lessons from the United States and Europe (pp. 5-17) New Directions for Institutional Research. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass Publishing

Swail, W. S., Cabrera, A.F., Lee, C., & Williams, A. (2005). Pathways to the bachelor's degree for Latino students. Washington, DC.: The Educational Policy Institute.

Swail, W. S., Cabrera, A. F. & Lee, Ch. (2004). Latino youth and the pathway to college. The Pew Hispanic Center/USC Annenberg School for Communications. Washington, DC: Educational Policy Institute, Inc.

Cabrera, A. F., Weerts, D. & Zulick, B. J. (2003). Encuestas a egresados: Tres fundamentos conceptuales en el seguimiento de egresados universitarios. In J. Vidal (Editor), Métodos de análisis de la inserción laboral de los universitarios León, España: Universidad de León Press.

Cabrera, A. F. and La Nasa, S. M. (2002). Hispanics in Higher Education. In Forest, J. JF and Kinser, K. (eds.). Higher Education in the United States: An Encyclopedia. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO.

Paper [6.5 MB]; Cabrera, A. F. and La Nasa, S. M. (2002). Camino a la universidad: Tres tareas críticas que enfrentan los estudiantes de menores recursos. [pp. 111-158]. Nuevas miradas sobre la universidad. Buenos Aires, Argentina: Editorial de la Universidad Nacional de Tres de Febrero.

Paper [3.5 MB]; Cabrera, A. F. and La Nasa, S. M. (2002). Sobre métodos de ensenanza en la universidad y sus efectos. Anibal Y. Jozami, A. (Editor). Nuevas miradas sobre la universidad. [pp . 63-88]. Buenos Aires, Argentina: Editorial de la Universidad Nacional de Tres de Febrero.

Paper [1 MB]; Cabrera, A.F., Crissman, J. L., Bernal, E. M., Nora, A., P.T. & Pascarella, E. T. (2002). Collaborative learning: Its impact on college students' development and diversity. Journal of College Student Development. 43(2), 20-34.

Paper [1.5 MB]; Cabrera, A. F. & La Nasa, S. M. (2001). On the path to college: Three critical tasks facing America's disadvantaged. Research in Higher Education, 42(2), 119-150.

Terenzini, P. T., Cabrera, A. F., Colbeck, C.L., Bjorklund, S. A. & Parente, J. M. (2001). Racial and ethnic diversity in the classroom: Does it promote student learning? Journal of Higher Education. 72(5), 509-531.

Paper [1.3 MB]; Cabrera, A. F., Colbeck C. L. & Terenzini P. T. (2001). Developing performance indicators for assessing classroom teaching practices and student learning. Research in Higher Education, 42(3), 327-352.

Cabrera, A. F. & La Nasa, S. M. (2000). Understanding the college choice of disadvantaged students. New Directions for Institutional Research. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. See image of College Choice Process

Paper [1.5 MB]; Bernal, E. M., Cabrera, A. F. & Terenzini, P. T. (December, 2000). The relationship between race and socioeconomic status (SES): Implications for institutional research and admissions policies. Removing Vestiges: Research-based strategies to promote inclusion. A publication of the American Association of Community Colleges. Number 3, pp. 6-19. http://www.aacc.nche.edu/Template.cfm?Section=Bookstore

Paper [163 k]; St. John, E. P., Cabrera, A.F., Nora, A. & Asker, E.H. (2000). Economic influences on persistence (pp. 29-47). In J. M. Braxton. Reworking the student departure puzzle: New theory and research on college student retention. Nashville: Vanderbilt University Press.

Paper [1.5 MB]; Cabrera, A. F., Nora, A., Terenzini, P. T., Pascarella, P. T. & Hagedorn, L.S. (1999). Campus racial climate and the adjustment of students to college: A comparison between White students and African American students. Journal of Higher Education, 70(2), 134-160.

Paper [4.8 MB]; Cabrera, A. F. (1994). Logistic regression analysis in higher education: An applied perspective. Higher Education: Handbook for the Study of Higher Education, Vol. 10. New York, NY: Agathon Press. John C. Smart (Editor).

Paper [1.1 MB]; Cabrera, A. F. & Nora, A. (1994). College students' perceptions of prejudice and discrimination and their feelings of alienation: A construct validation approach. Review of Education/Pedagogy/Cultural, 16(3-4), 387-409.

Most recent monographs and technical reports:

Cabrera, A. F., La Nasa, S. M. & Burkum, K, R. (June, 2001). Pathways to a Four-Year Degree: The Higher Education Story of One Generation. Center for the Study of Higher Education. Penn State University.
Research report can be downloaded from the list of online papers, below. ("Pathways to a 4-year degree")

Terenzini, P. T., Cabrera, A. F. & Bernal, E. M. (2001). Swimming against the tide: The poor in American Higher Education. New York: College Entrance Examination Board.

Cabrera, A. F. & La Nasa, S. (May, 2000). On the path to college: Three critical tasks facing America's disadvantaged. Center for the Study of Higher Education. Penn State University.
Research report can be downloaded from the list of online papers, below. ("On the Path to College")

Most recent conference papers

A. National conferences

Power-Point or Paper; Cabrera, A. F. (September, 2001). On the path to college: How America's disadvantaged ready themselves for college. 20th Annual Conference of the Council for Opportunity in Education. Access & opportunity: Our progress, our reality. Chicago, Illinois.

Power-Point or Paper; Cabrera, A. F., La Nasa, S. & Burkum, K (June, 2001). Pathways to a four-year degree: Lessons from a generation. AIR forum 2001. Long Beach, California.

Colbeck, C. L., Cabrera, A.F. & Marine, R. J. (June, 2001). Assessing overall competence of faculty. American Society for Engineering Education. Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Cabrera, A. F. (May, 2000). Member of the opening panel on Who will go to college? Access issues in postsecondary education. A western regional conference. State Higher Education Executive Officers. Seattle, Washington.

Cabrera, A. F. & La Nasa, S. M. (November, 2000). On the path to college: Three critical tasks facing America's disadvantaged. Association for the Study of Higher Education. Sacramento, California.
[Adobe PDF of a PowerPoint Presentation]

Cabrera, A. F. (September, 2000). Hispanics in Higher Education. 19th Annual Meeting of the Council for Opportunity in Education. Washington, D.C.
Paper can be downloaded from the list of online papers, below. ("Hispanics in Higher Education")

B. International conferences

Cabrera, A. F. & La Nasa, S. (January, 2002). "Enseñanza en el aula: Diez lecciones aprendidas en los EEUU" (Classroom Teaching Practices: Ten Lessons Learned). II Seminario Calidad e Innovación en el Sistema Universitario. Universidad de Concepción, Chile.
Paper can be downloaded from the list of online papers, below. ("Classroom Teaching Practices")

Cabrera, A. F. & Burkum, K. R. (November, 2001). "Criterios en la admisión de estudiantes universitarios en los EEUU" (College Admission Criteria in the United States: An Overview). Balance del sistema de acceso a la universidad (selectividad y modelos alternativos). Cátedra UNESCO de Gestión y Política Universitaria. Universidad Politécnica de Madrid. Madrid, España.
Paper can be downloaded from the list of online papers, below. ("College Admission Criteria")

Cabrera, A. F. (May, 2001). "Facilitadores de la finalización de la licenciatura universitaria: lecciones de una generación". Seminario internacional. Deserción universitaria: Nuevas perspectives para su medición. Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Cabrera, A. F., Ratcliff, J. & de Vries, W. (September, 2000). Of institutional strategic decisions & performance indicators: A strategy to improve institutional effectiveness. 22nd Annual European Association of Institutional Research. Freie Universität, Berlin, Germany.
Paper can be downloaded from the list of online papers, below. ("Of Institutional Strategic Decisions")

Cabrera, A, F. & La Nasa, S. M. (June, 2000). La evaluación de los métodos educativos y la mejora de la enseñanza universitaria. III Jornadas de Intercambio de Experiencias en la Mejora de la Universidad. Universidad de Valladolid. Valladolid, Spain.

Cabrera, A. F., Colbeck, C. L. & Terenzini, P. T. (1999). Desarrollo de indicadores de rendimiento para evaluar las practicas de enseñanza en el aula: El caso de ingeniería. Javier Vidal. (ed.). Indicadores para la universidad: información y decisiones. Madrid: Ministerio de Educación y Cultura.
Paper can be downloaded from the list of online papers, below. ("Desarollo de Indicadores")

Selected Papers

[Paper 98 k]; Cabrera, Alberto F. and Stephen M. La Nasa. (2002). "Classroom Teaching Practices: Ten Lessons Learned."

[Paper 28 k]; Cabrera, Alberto F. and Stephen M. La Nasa. (2002). "Hispanics in Higher Education," in Forest, J. JF and Kinser, K. (eds.), Higher Education in the United States: An Encyclopedia . Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO.

Paper or Power-Point; Cabrera, Alberto F. and Stephen M. La Nasa. (2001) "Pathways to a Four-Year Degree: The Higher Education Story of One Generation."

Paper or Power-Point [4.5 MB]; Cabrera, Alberto F. and Kurt R. Burkam. (2001) "College Admission Criteria in the United States: An Overview."

[Paper 83 k]; Cabrera, A. F., Colbeck, C. L. & Terenzini, P. T. (1999). "Desarollo de indicadores de rendimiento para evaluar las practicas de enseñanza en el aula: El caso de ingeniería." Javier Vidal. (ed.). Indicadores para la universidad: información y decisiones . Madrid: Ministerio de Educación y Cultura.

[Paper 67 k]; Cabrera, Alberto F., James Ratcliff, and Wietse de Vries. (2000). "Of Institutional Strategic Decisions & Performance Indicators: A strategy to improve institutional effectiveness."

Paper or Power-Point; Alberto F. and Stephen M. La Nasa. (2000). "On the Path to College: Three Critical Tasks Facing America's Disadvantaged."

Paper [1.5 MB]; Bernal, E. M., Cabrera, A. F. & Terenzini, P. T. (December, 2000). The relationship between race and socioeconomic status (SES): Implications for institutional research and admissions policies. Removing Vestiges: Research-based strategies to promote inclusion. A publication of the American Association of Community Colleges. Number 3, pp. 6-19. http://www.aacc.nche.edu/Template.cfm?Section=Bookstore

Cabrera, Alberto F.; Amaury Nora; Patrick T Terenzini; Ernest Pascarella; Linda Serra Hagedorn; (1999). "Campus racial climate and the adjustment of students to college: A comparison between White students and African-American students," The Journal of Higher Education, (Mar/Apr) 70(2), pp 134-57.

Dr. Cabrera's Curriculum Vitae

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Courses Taught

• EDPL 664 The College Experience
  • Study Guide 1