Followed the progress of eight cohorts of first-year college students taking an orientation course between 1986 and 1993. Found that, compared to students who did not take the course, they fared significantly better in retention, graduation rate, grade point average, and other satisfaction, participation, and skills measures. (EV)

We conducted an archival study of at-risk students who had "stopped out" of college for many reasons (academic dismissal, financial problems, personal problems, etc.) and who later were accepted to return to school. Approximately 27% of the accepted students chose not to return. Those who returned had higher grade point averages, had completed…

The design and rationale for the University of South Carolina's required credit-bearing freshman orientation course are described, and ways in which the course offering could be made better are discussed. (MSE)

Suggests freshman performance and school climate may dramatically improve if high school principals capitalize on freshmen enthusiasm by establishing a theme for the school year, developing a friendly orientation day, reevaluating the homeroom, and communicating with parents. (DCS)

The freshman orientation process at Fordham College is used to illustrate the processes and advantages of building a sense of community for freshmen, one element supporting successful advising. Among the techniques used was a Values Program, a grouping of courses to encourage learning and stimulate moral development among students. (MSE)

A Southern California orientation program involves a new optometry student immediately by having the student see an actual clinic patient in a college clinic. The program gives students a feeling of belonging to the profession and also demonstrates the relevance of basic and visual sciences to practice. (Author/MSE)

A trial program to improve the quality of liberal arts education gave freshmen students at Pennsylvania State University an introduction to a particular discipline, improved advising, and a college orientation. Results suggest that the program led to more favorable attitudes but no perceptible differences in performance or retention. (Author/CM)

Describes the design and application of the Student Affairs Program Evaluation Process at the University of Nebraska. An evaluation team including students and faculty was set up to study counseling, recreation and orientation programs. Weaknesses and strengths of the process were discussed and suggestions made for appropriate followup activities.…

Describes an economically and educationally effective experimental approach to orientation, developed by the University of Kentucky, involving the creation and implementation of videotapes on topics of interest to freshmen. (NRB)

A program devoted to discussion of a patient and the patient's problems, given to incoming medical students at the State University of New York at Buffalo as part of a three-day orientation, is described. The exercise gives the student immediate exposure to medical-school-level information. (Author/MLW)

Argues that little research has focused on the preparedness of new college students to cope in a technologically driven campus, particularly in community colleges with a large percentage of non-traditional students. Identifies strategies for exposing students to technology during student orientation programs. (Contains 13 references.) (NB)

Suggests that if children's emotional concerns are not met, any attempt at cognitive learning is useless. Describes the Right Start Program, which smoothes the transition from home to school through a school picnic, "let's read" night, class visit, and optional home visits. Notes some possible impediments to implementation such as teachers'…

Discusses academic support programs for distance education students and describes the results of an evaluation of the orientation program at the University College of Central Queensland (UCCQ). A questionnaire was used to determine the costs of the program, whether student needs were being met, orientation attendance, and needed changes or…

A telephone registration system for first year students implemented at Alma College (Michigan), involves having freshmen confer with advisors during orientation week, then having the registrar's office contact the advisors. Despite limitations, the low-tech solution works well at extremely low cost. (MSE)

Discusses model designed to provide effective academic, personal, and social support programs to minority college students. Describes model as intrusive and developmental in nature and able to be modified to accommodate groups of students with unique needs. Identifies model's three major areas of focus: academic and developmental monitoring, peer…