A three-day program at the College of the Holy Cross (Massachusetts) was developed to address low retention rates for African-American students meeting the usual predictive criteria for academic success. It familiarized students with the college, allowed them to meet significant college community members, and assisted in adapting to academic…

Describes a comprehensive summer program for freshmen at a large research university. Freshmen enroll in common courses, are housed together, attend workshops on using university resources, and receive the assistance of an upper-division mentor. Evaluation suggests that freshmen who participate in transitional programs are significantly more…

Investigated what new student orientation coordinators perceive to be the most effective strategies for incorporating technology into orientation programs. Found that coordinators agreed most strongly with the notion of emphasizing the importance of technology to new students, coupled with providing email accounts to new students immediately upon…

Studies have shown that college enrollment among students of color is increasing (McTighe Musil, Garcia, Hudgins, Nettles, Sedlacek, & Smith, 1999). In the last decade, enrollment of students of color in higher education has increased by over 48%, including a gain of approximately 15% since 1995 (Harvey, 2002). Although these statistics indicate…

New student orientation programs are designed to ease the transition of new students into their collegiate environments. As diverse enrollments have increased throughout higher education, new student orientation programs have been identified as a key tool for establishing levels of expectation and performance, including the promotion of diversity…

This study investigates the experiences of mature students across three higher education institutions in the UK. The issues arising are of relevance to academics who are involved in widening participation and in evaluating support in their own programmes for the diversity of students. The sample includes mature students from programmes in Health,…

Investigated parents' attitudes regarding the university during their son's or daughter's second semester in college as correlated with parental attendance at or absence from orientation, level of student-parent contact, and student academic performance during the freshman year. Parents who had attended the orientation program reported greater…

Provides school counselors with information about relocated adolescents and the format for a support group to assist relocated students in assimilating into their new school settings. (Author)

To insure that parents were aware of faculty other than those teaching their children, teachers at St. Monica School prepared small group presentations for the Home and School Meeting on professional topics such as the teaching of reading and the parent's role in education. (SJL)

The author describes three "icebreaker" activities she uses to help a class of students get acquainted with one another--learning names and personal information--during the first days of the school year. (SJL)

Uses a national survey of large, public institutions (N=95) to examine the best administration location for student orientation programs. Looks at programs from both a student affairs and an academic affairs perspective. Results indicate a greater chance of orientation moving from student affairs to academic affairs than the reverse happening.…

Studied the perceptions of first and second year college students about their preparedness and technical competence at college entry to use the computer and software applications. Survey responses from 338 students suggest that entering students felt better prepared than second year thought they had been, and that all students make gains over time…

A study examining the long-term influences of a university wilderness orientation program interviewed 16 participants 17 years later. Three consistent themes emerged: assumptions of themselves and others were challenged; peer friendships developed had strong, positive, and lasting effects; and the orientation program positively affected their…

Describes the condition of the adult returning student. Lists the factors that make for good positive socialization for these students. Describes the University of Rhode Island's College of Continuing Education's entry course for new adult students, which facilitates their successful socialization into the educational community. (JS)

International schools can benefit from new students' fresh vision. Some students exhibit "culture shock" on arrival, while others, like Kipling's cat, act as though "all places are alike to them." This article examines the newcomer's adjustment process by proposing a model of personal identity development and poses questions to test the theory…