These proceedings contain 68 author-prepared abstracts of presentations given at the Seventh International Conference on the First-Year Experience, a 5-day conference that focused on the foundations for improving the undergraduate experience. The majority of the one- to two-page abstracts report on specific programs undertaken by colleges or universities to help students make the transition from secondary school to higher education, to improve the educational and extracurricular experiences of first-year college students, or to improve freshman retention. Other topics addressed include multicultural awareness, programs for disadvantaged students, program effectiveness and evaluation, and student employment. Programs from institutions in Canada, the United States, Ireland, the United Kingdom, Russia, and South Africa are included. (MDM)