This study examined the benefits of early involvement in co-curricular activities and first-year seminars among first-year college students with respect to alcohol and other drug use, self-worth perceptions, attitudes toward social justice, engagement in the academic process, and community service involvement approximately 6 weeks into the fall…

Examines changes in students' sense of autonomy and in their ability to manage their emotions, as described by Chickering's vectors, in relation to residence hall environments. Results neither support nor refute the all-freshman hall. Participants moved developmentally along the Autonomy Scale. Freshman women increased their scores on the Impulse…

Surveyed 197 freshman residents from eight university residential programs. Respondents lived in either living-learning halls or conventional residential facilities. Results suggest that designing the environment of residence halls to promote academic integration supports other purposes as well. Living-learning programs appeared to have greater…

Residence life programs play a key role in recruiting students, helping them make a successful transition to a new institution, and in retaining them, whether students are enrolling for the first time, transferring from another institution, or entering graduate school. Chapters in this book address theories of learning and development, new…

Overcrowded residence halls at Rutgers University form the basis for this research study on the effects of overcrowding. Subjects were the occupants of 31 rooms (7 triple male rooms, 7 triple female rooms, 7 double male rooms, and 10 double female rooms). Two sets of measures were used to determine whether crowding caused arousal and stress. The…

The responses of freshman samples from 1973 (N=2407) and 1974 (N=1492) to the University of Maryland Census are described and compared. Results indicated: (1) A greater percentage of freshmen in the 1974 sample was found to be living on campus in a resident hall or Greek house. Of the entering students who commuted to school, a greater percentage…

An environmental assessment of 855 students investigated differences between freshmen and other students in attitudes toward their residence hall environment. Findings suggest that differences may be a function, partially, of institutional policy rather than classification status. (Author/TE)

Examined how resident directors (RDs) and residential assistants (RAs) defined and enforced college alcohol policy in three freshman residence halls. Findings suggest that alcohol violations vary with academic quarters, that recidivism varies with alacrity of RD sanctions, and that RAs' reporting practices vary with gender. (Author/NB)

This study was designed to measure affective, behavioral, and cognitive variables in a sample of 3159 first-year students, and to compare these variables by the type of residence building in which the student lived. Students living in suite-style buildings reported a greater sense of belonging, and higher activity levels than students living in…

This monograph contains 14 papers on residential colleges and their role in successful freshman year experiences. Residential colleges are defined as colleges in which the faculty live among the students. The papers are as follows: (1) "Introduction: Why a Monograph about First-Year Residential Colleges?" by Terry B. Smith; (2)…

That the impact of the college experience is a product of more than just the classroom and library has become a recognized fact. Many variables determine the content of what a student learns and also the degree and direction of his personal growth and development. This study sought to examine one facet of the learning environment--the house within…

This study explored the relationship between the occupational-educational background of engineering students and outcome after one year of college. The variables of ability, financial aid, part-time employment, and residence were explored to determine their effect on the relationship between occupational-educational background and outcomes.…

A stratified random sample of 100 residence hall freshmen and 100 freshmen living in university apartments was surveyed to determine whether the two groups differed in levels of satisfaction with their living environment, in their academic performances and in their use of on-campus student services. Significant differences were found. (Author)

Examines the relationship between residential learning communities and students' experiences and persistence during the first year of college. Data taken from 2,678 students indicated that the residential learning communities did not improve students' academic achievement and persistence directly, but did indirectly improve students' success by…

Used concepts from community psychology literature to elaborate a revised version of Tinto's model of individual student departure. Employed a longitudinal analysis of 718 college students. Results indicate that students' sense of community in their residence halls was a source of social integration and a precursor to student departure decisions.…