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…

This study assessed the learning outcomes of students with disabilities who attended the "New Student Orientation Program" at California State University, Northridge in the fall 2003 semester. Forty-two students completed a locally developed pretest and posttest that contained 25 core questions. These questions covered the content areas of…

A study of first-year University of South Carolina students indicating interest in a orientation course found that of the 77 enrolling and 80 not allowed to enroll, a higher retention rate was found among enrollees. Results indicate the course is successful in increasing retention rates among interested students. (Author/MSE)

The number of minority, particularly Latino, students attending community colleges is on the rise in the United States. Such students frequently lack academic preparation and financial resources. These difficulties, when added to family obligations, often require that minority students attend institutions that offer the most flexible…

This report describes the Summer Transitional Program (STP) at Duke University as analyzed by the principal leadership of the program and by others who participated in its evaluation. The program, initiated in the summer of 1969, was designed to provide academic and social orientation for approximately 40 participants. Evaluation of the 1969,…

This study examined how time spent caring for a teenage sister's child and experiences in providing care related to youths' young adult outcomes. Latino and African American youths (N = 108) were studied during middle and late adolescence. Results indicated that youths who provided many hours of child care were more stressed and had lower school…

Many students are unaware that academic difficulties may be related to their sleep habits. This article introduces key elements of a student sleep education program that can be easily incorporated into many universities first-year orientation classes or as part of residential housing programs. (Author)

This study sought to evaluate the impact of orientation, general levels of adjustment, differences between orientation attending and non-attending students, and differences between faculty and student academic performance evaluations for freshmen at Slippery Rock University in Pennsylvania during the crucial first six weeks on campus. From a pool…

Compared the effect of study skills or adjustment workshops on college freshmen (N=304). Workshops were held the first week of the fall term, and students were evaluated at the end of the term. No enduring changes were found, but students who attended the adjustment skills workshop earned higher mathematics grades. (JAC)

Reviews retention research and examines programs that use freshman orientation courses and student leadership development as components in aiding retention. Concludes that overall awareness of university and its resources and integration into academic and social aspects of college life seem to be key factors in student retention. (Author/ABL)

Many minority students face problems when attending community colleges. Adjustment to college life requires skills and knowledge for understanding the higher education system that minority students often lack. Minority students could benefit by being involved in decisions affecting them; an orientation to higher education is essential. (JOW)

A quasi-experimental design using four matched groups of 88 students each of entering college freshmen investigated the question of whether increasing exposure to different types of orientation programming would have any effect upon freshman academic performance and reaction to college. The types of orientation included: (1) traditional…

Discusses research investigating whether differences in students' perceptions of the interracial climate of the school relate to differences in individual student achievement; a sample of seventh to twelfth grade students was used in a three year longitudinal design. (Author/JM)

The results of this study suggest that problems involving students' feelings of control of environment and academic achievement can be resolved within the context of the school. (Author/SF)