Based in part on a study at Towson State University, Maryland, retention was found to be linked to advising. In response to this defined linkage, a freshman advising program was developed which emphasized mandatory participation, increased faculty awareness of the complexities of advising, self-assessment, the merger of Academic Affairs with…

First year students perceive their transition to college in a variety of ways. They may look at their first year as a new beginning or chapter in their lives; as either gaining or losing status; as confusing, challenging, or enlightening; or as a pleasant or unpleasant experience. Because these students are "simultaneously trying to adapt to…

Concern about retention and attrition rates in higher education have increased over the years and efforts to identify and treat potential dropouts have grown considerably. Studies investigating the retention and attrition of community college students have found specific characteristics related to outcomes, including full- or part-time attendance,…

This study examined effects of a Dalton Junior College (Georgia) student success course, Dalton College Studies 101 (DCS 101) since it was first offered in 1987. The course meets twice a week, is strictly elective, and carries institutional credit. All students were first-time students and since most students enroll during the Fall quarter, only…

Developments and issues in academic advising are addressed in this collection of program abstracts from the 1982 conference of the National Academic Advising Association. Summaries are provided of the general sessions, preconference workshops, conference workshops, focus and special sessions, topical sessions, and paper sessions. In addition to…

Components of a student retention program at Eastern Michigan University are examined; for each effort to improve retention, project objectives and design, results, and recommendations are presented. Retention initiatives, decided upon as a result of a campus-wide mobilization of effort, include: a student-focused orientation system, a fast track…

In order to help teachers and students assess the preferred cognitive styles of individual learners, Mount Hood Community College introduced and tested the use of cognitive mapping in its orientation program. A task force of managers, counselors, and instructors: (1) decided to use the Modified Hill Model to assess nine dimensions of student…

The paper is intended to meet the Human Renewal Service demonstration project objective: to review the status of supportive services of adult basic education programs, focusing on how exemplary services were developed, implemented, and evaluated. The first of three major sections looks at what constitutes supportive services and why they are…

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)

A study explored the nature of intake procedures of Texas adult education programs. Research on barriers to attendance and strategies for retention were reviewed, and the current use of intake procedures to identify and address barriers to attendance was summarized through a survey of 374 Literacy, Even Start Family Literacy, Adult Basic Education…

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…

Reviews the literature on the reasons that students drop out of college. Offers a plan for freshman retention that asks students about their goals at registration, provides them with a six-hour orientation emphasizing academic excellence, teams them with a faculty mentor, and includes a mandatory for-credit seminar on attending college. (DMM)

Compared three types of orientation programs offered to new students at Salisbury State University (Maryland) traditional, alternative, and outdoor. Findings suggested enrollees in the outdoor program had better adjustment and higher retention rates than enrollees in other programs. The study concluded that interaction/ collaboration among…

This handbook provides guidance for implementing orientation activities for international students at Middlesex County College (MCC), in New Jersey. An introduction describes the development of MCC's orientation plan, indicating that, in response to problems faced by international students, the college developed an overnight orientation and…