Many institutions have stepped up their efforts to recruit talented black students. Dartmouth's weekend, called "Experience Dartmouth," has become one of its most successful recruitment tools. Weekends planned by undergraduate students and increased involvement of black alumni are described. (MLW)

At the University of South Carolina, John Gardner directs University 101, a three-credit course designed to teach freshmen some basic "college survival skills," such as study techniques, constructive ways to relate to peers and professors, and how to use career center. In the last few years, it has been copied by hundreds of colleges in…

Many institutions are taking freshman orientation more seriously by challenging students before they start classes and giving them a more thorough introduction to campus life than ever before. The biggest changes in orientation are occurring among community colleges. Some of the experiences at Georgia Tech are described. (MLW)

Describes characteristics of adult college students and provides a composite of institutional responses to these characteristics. Suggests academic policies and services, such as orientation, evaluation, and counseling, should expand to meet the unique needs of nontraditional students. Proposes procedures for policy changes use rational rather…

A six-week summer transition program for students with disabilities entering the University of Arkansas includes academic advising and personal counseling, enrollment in six hours of college credit, and participation in a range of social and recreational activities. Participants rated the program as good college preparation. (MSE)

This report presents study results from a 1988 survey of institutions of higher education (N=1,164 responses) who have instituted freshman seminar programs. Specifically, the survey sought to determine the extent to which colleges and universities were offering a freshman seminar course, defined by the survey instrument as a special course for…

One part of the foreign student orientation program at Georgetown University is a videotape production written and acted by students of English as a second language (ESL). The production's two-year development began as a class project in an advanced ESL oral language class. Students discussed the problems of foreign students, organized their ideas…

The primary purpose of this project is stated to be to meet the expressed need for a more complete and continuous program of high school orientation for eighth grade students about to matriculate into high school. In order to achieve the objectives, a wide range of personnel, including elementary and high school teachers, school counselors,…

The use of a comprehensive academic advising program in conjunction with a sustained academic orientation program through the freshman year has resulted in a 13.27 percent increase in the retention rate of high-risk students at a regional campus of Pennsylvania State University. The components of CORE are described. (Author/MLW)

Suffolk Community College Eastern Campus (SCCEC) designed and implemented a retention program built on the belief that access for students does not necessarily lead to success. The goal of the retention program was to increase retention of students by providing them with the skills and supports necessary to succeed. The group targeted for the…

The replacement of a five-year comprehensive high school by schools at the intermediate and senior high levels created problems for students and staff members. A formal program of practices and procedures was developed to assist the students as they move through the organizational breaks that occur between the elementary and intermediate school…

Georgia State's minority retention program provides academic and social support for black freshmen by referral to appropriate campus personnel or resources for assistance with academic, financial, personal, social, and career planning problems. It uses peer counseling, faculty mentors, nonacademic staff participation, and social events to…

Describes an Auburn University (Alabama) summer program that brings high school students into the veterinary medicine and molecular biology programs, focusing on recruitment and selection of students, aspects of faculty participation, parent involvement, orientation, laboratory work, and student grouping and mentoring. Results of the program to…

This paper describes the Buddy Program for international teaching assistants (ITAs) at Michigan State University (MSU) in East Lansing and presents brief case studies of the program in action. The Buddy Program pairs new ITAs with undergraduates at MSU to help familiarize ITAs with student life at the school and help them assimilate into their new…

Since 1974, Edinboro University of Pennsylvania has provided students with disabilities the opportunity to attend a higher education institution. From a modest beginning audience of less than two dozen students, the university now provides services to nearly 300 students. Services and personnel now include over 50 full-time employees, and over 100…