Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, April 14, 1991                   TAG: 9104140240
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: D9   EDITION: STATE 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: WISE                                LENGTH: Short

EDUCATION, HOUSING TOPICS OF SYMPOSIUM

Tom Johnson, assistant professor of agricultural economics at Virginia Tech, will examine the results of more than 700 interviews with high school seniors, dropouts and parents. He will summarize preliminary conclusions on ways to reduce dropout rates and improve student performance.

Sharon Dwyer, a graduate student at Tech, interviewed seventh-grade students about their future goals and ambitions relating to their education and future jobs or careers. She will talk about what the students felt were important in shaping their future, along with their views of family.

Rosemary Goss, associate professor in housing, interior design and resource management at Tech, will outline her findings on constraints to quality housing in Southwest Virginia.

The availability of low-cost housing, housing for large families and the availability of land for construction help determine how people view housing needs. Policy implications for local officials and housing agencies resulting from her study will be highlighted.

Further information is available from Jon Rockett, area extension agent for mined land reclamation, at 328-0162. - Southwest bureau