Describes New Student Welcome Day, an orientation program for freshmen at the University of Maine. Outlines objectives of the three-day program, including assisting students' transition to the university, fostering development of a peer group, creating an atmosphere conducive to favorable attitudes, and reducing anxiety. (JAC)

Grouping by type may increase a sense of community in residence halls. Residence life staff can develop programs that better address the unique needs of these different groups. Students who feel better about their living circumstances have more energy to devote to the intellectual requirements of college. (Author)

Reported is a study to determine whether the homogeneous residential grouping of female prepharmacy students would increase persistence and satisfaction with both the pharmacy curriculum and residence hall living, facilitate peer relationships, and enhance behavioral development. (JMD)

This study reports how often residence hall personnel felt potential problems occurred among residents and also how interested they were in receiving help on the problems. The general problems that emerge are career preparation and choice, personal and social adjustment, and behavioral control. (Author)

College students' attitudes toward peers with learning disabilities (LD) serving as resident assistants (RAs) were investigated in a study involving 45 students and 24 RAs. Results indicated that, after one semester of interaction with RAs with LD, fellow RAs' attitudes toward LD peers remained favorable and student attitudes became more…

Examined how the preestablished framework of social relationships affect adjustment to the transition from home to a college dormitory. Subjects were 61 female first-year college students. Found that agemate-dominant-type students more easily developed relationships with new agemates and reported fewer difficulties in making the transition than…

The article addresses the design of college student housing including whether to renovate existing dormitories or build new ones, possible floor plans, size of student residential groups, room size, methods of handling noise, the design of common spaces, provision of storage space, design of eating places, and overall planning. (DB))

Examined influence of on-campus residence, as compared with off-campus residence, on academic performance, progress, and retention of first-year college students. Findings from 5,414 students revealed that progress and retention were significantly higher for on-campus students regardless of race, gender, or admission type. On-campus students…

A study found that college freshmen (n=29) housed in a living and learning residence hall had higher grade point averages in all four semesters of their first 2 years of college, compared with those of a matched control group (n=55). The experimental group did not, however, have a higher retention rate. (MSE)

The authors report on an advertising campaign to communicate the availability and desirability of using Sexual Assault Nurse Examination (SANE) services. They used social marketing precepts to develop posters to educate college students about using SANE as a health service and as an arm of prosecution. After 2 advertising campaigns, they conducted…

This is a statement of policy and procedures for drug and alcohol use at Gwynedd-Mercy College (Pennsylvania). A brief first section states the campus prohibition of possession or consumption of illegal drugs and alcoholic beverages. Several guidelines are listed, first, for special events at which alcoholic beverages may be consumed by those 21…

This study compared differences between resident assistants (RAs) and conduct code violators in alcohol and drug knowledge, reported use, and perceptions of reasons for abuse and role of the institution. Twenty conduct code violators participated in an alcohol and drug education program and 35 RAs participated in an abbreviated program as part of…

This report is the ninth in a series of studies that have examined student life at Indiana University residence halls using an ecosystem perspective. In the 1986 study, a representative sampling of dormitory residents was drawn. A questionnaire used forced-choice items on a Likert-type scale. An environmental referrent section gave students the…

Data on the utilization of residence hall facilities at campuses of the State University of New York are presented for fall 1985, with summary data for 1976-1985. In addition to trend data for each college and college type, graphic displays of percent utilization of residence hall facilities are provided. Tables for fall 1985 cover: (1) aggregated…

Steps colleges can take to minimize the likelihood of violent crime on campuses are recommended, and administrative responsibilities are identified. Important basics are to inform campus members about security risks and about procedures for summoning aid during an emergency. While attending to educational values, colleges should consider whether…