Describes Wytheville Community College orientation program and its use of the resources of the Virginia Vital Information for Education and Work (VIEW) program to assist students in making curricular choices. Considers adult learners' use of Virginia VIEW resources, student reactions, and implications for other colleges. (DMM)

Describes a collaborative project between Canadian elementary and junior high school counselors designed to ease the transition between elementary and junior high school. The orientation program included school visits and tours, counseling sessions, a buddy system, and a concentrated effort to combat rumors. (JAC)

Orientation at the graduate level can serve many functions such as reducing anxiety, familiarizing students with new academic challenges, and orienting students' spouses. It can also improve student retention, satisfaction, and success. Guidelines for developing programs responsive to graduate students' diverse needs are offered. (Author/MSE)

The transition from elementary school to middle school brings apprehension to both students and their parents. At one school, parents and teachers worked together to improve the transition process with visits to the middle school, an information packet, orientation programs, and a teacher-made video. (MLF)

Examines induction and admission practice for refugee school children into Britain's public schools, highlights the educational issues and concerns of newly-arrived refugee families, and discusses what schools can do to make their entry into the school system less problematic. The author explains how good admission and induction practices can…

This chapter describes how an action research framework facilitates using evaluation and assessment results to improve programs and demonstrate institutional effectiveness. (Contains 1 table.)

New 9th graders reflect on the worries they had as middle school students about moving into high school. They also suggest ways of easing the transition and providing support in 9th grade. Teens want teachers to connect middle school students regularly with high school students, give them more responsibility in middle school, and focus on…

In an effort to inform commuter students of services and programs on a regular basis, the University of Maine at Orono launched a campaign consisting of a newsletter and orientation sessions targeted directly at commuter students. The newsletter included topics of special interest to commuter students such as housing services, ridesharing, child…

This paper describes the development and operation of a high school orientation program using peer facilitators. The activities of the administrative team (two school social workers, a guidance counselor, and an assistant principal) are described, as is training of upper classmen to be peer facilitators for freshmen orientation. A brief…

An optional summer explorientation program for new students at York College, Pennsylvania, is described, and a literature review and York College survey results are presented. The program is designed to orient students to campus life and provide exposure to campus facilities, faculty, administration, and other students. The literature suggests…

The 1974 Survival Week Program was an orientation program designed for entering minority and economically disadvantaged students at the University of Texas at Austin. The major purpose of the program was to assist the participants in acquiring the knowledge and skills for academic, financial, emotional, and social "survival" in a complex…

A program was developed in the Norwalk, Connecticut schools to smooth student transition between elementary, intermediate, and high schools. It includes spring orientation activities and staggered opening of school in September to give each new class full staff attention on the first day of school. (SJL)

Presents a multifaceted staff development model for newly hired and rehired continuing education teachers. Describes elements for new hires such as interviews and hiring, orientation, meeting other teachers, mentors, and individual learning plans. Discusses elements for rehired teachers, including formal learning opportunities, communication,…

This paper examines the experiences of seven new faculty at a charter school of education at California State University Los Angeles. The seven new professors in the study were asked to engage in ethnographic interviews that described and categorized their experiences, and contrasted them with other events. Interview questions focused on:…

Examined the effect of orientation in altering concerns of new college students. Measured the change in level of student concern about academics, finances, physical layout, university structure, social integration and identity, housing, and social relationships. Results indicated that overall student concerns were reduced for the seven areas. (RC)