The author describes three "icebreaker" activities she uses to help a class of students get acquainted with one another--learning names and personal information--during the first days of the school year. (SJL)

Uses a national survey of large, public institutions (N=95) to examine the best administration location for student orientation programs. Looks at programs from both a student affairs and an academic affairs perspective. Results indicate a greater chance of orientation moving from student affairs to academic affairs than the reverse happening.…

Studied the perceptions of first and second year college students about their preparedness and technical competence at college entry to use the computer and software applications. Survey responses from 338 students suggest that entering students felt better prepared than second year thought they had been, and that all students make gains over time…

A study examining the long-term influences of a university wilderness orientation program interviewed 16 participants 17 years later. Three consistent themes emerged: assumptions of themselves and others were challenged; peer friendships developed had strong, positive, and lasting effects; and the orientation program positively affected their…

Describes the condition of the adult returning student. Lists the factors that make for good positive socialization for these students. Describes the University of Rhode Island's College of Continuing Education's entry course for new adult students, which facilitates their successful socialization into the educational community. (JS)

International schools can benefit from new students' fresh vision. Some students exhibit "culture shock" on arrival, while others, like Kipling's cat, act as though "all places are alike to them." This article examines the newcomer's adjustment process by proposing a model of personal identity development and poses questions to test the theory…

A total of 137 students--72 program and 65 nonprogram participants--took part in a longitudinal study investigating the effect of an outdoor orientation program for freshmen at a small liberal arts college in the Northeast. Principal instrument was the Environmental Preference Questionnaire. Results indicated that the orientation program had a…

Identifies the extent to which the "Self-Directed Learning Readiness Scale" (SDLRS) is a reliable and valid instrument for use with graduate students (N=356). Argues that the results of the study warrant the integration of such developmental constructs as tolerance, self-concept, creativity, initiative, self-understanding, and…

Discusses the integration of wilderness pursuits and outdoor opportunities with more traditional student orientation activities, an area of programming that has become increasingly popular over the last several years in response to changing student interests. Addresses the structure of wilderness pursuit orientation programs, liability issues, and…

Examined the effects on teaching techniques of faculty (n=68) at the University of South Carolina who taught a freshman seminar after completing a training workshop. Many faculty reported that they had transferred the new teaching techniques learned in preparation for the freshman seminar to their discipline-based courses. These included lecturing…

This study investigates the experiences of mature students across three higher education institutions in the UK. The issues arising are of relevance to academics who are involved in widening participation and in evaluating support in their own programmes for the diversity of students. The sample includes mature students from programmes in Health,…

Accompanying the growth of freshman seminars and extended orientation courses has been a rich body of literature depicting the process and outcome aspects of the course. This paper provides an annotated review of the investigations on freshman seminar/extended orientation courses. The review is designed to provide faculty and administrators with…

This handbook for incoming students describes procedures, services, programs, and opportunities at St. Louis Community College at Forest Park. First, the handbook outlines procedures for enrolling in classes, covering admissions, placement tests, registration, fee payment, and adding, dropping, or changing classes. A section on new student…

Describes the Open Campus program of the University of Rochester in which during a 10-day period in April applicants who have been offered admission but have not decided to enroll are invited to the campus for one to three days. They room with volunteer student hosts, sit in on classes, etc. (JT)

This handbook provides students at the Tuscarora Intermediate Unit Adult Education Center with information about the General Educational Development (GED) test, staff, alumni association, programs and services, and rules and regulations. It provides a summary of Adult Center programs, lists rules, and contains practical information on location,…