Student affairs professionals at smaller institutions are encouraged to research their commuter students' characteristics and needs and to create or enhance services and programs to improve the college experience for commuters based on their findings. (KS)

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 adjustment factors using College Inventory of Academic Adjustment (Borow, 1951). Results show significant differences in areas of mental health, curricular goals, aspiration, indicating justification for special programs to assist commuter students. Supports previous findings by Stark (1965) and Drasgow (1958). (CJ)

Questionnaire responses from 782 undergraduates suggest that the perception of educational benefits seemed to be the most critical variable in predicting student satisfaction. Other variables examined were age, student level, grade, and satisfaction with college experience. (Author/LB)

A comparison of commuting and noncommuting college students indicates that a student's residential context has a significant influence on his relationships with his parents and with his peers, and on his self-esteem. (EB)

Black commuters in this study, as compared to white commuters, tended to be older; to be married; if female, to travel further; to spend more time and money to commute; and to receive lower grades. Blacks were also more interested in day care; a place to change and stay overnight. (Author)

A study regarding student attitudes at a residential campus was partially replicated at a commuter campus. The hypothesis tested was that student attitudes would be unrelated to commuter or residential status. Commuter students typically had a more positive response to their educational experience than did residential students. (Author)

A study investigated how long it takes Frostburg State University (Maryland) (FSU) commuter students to drive to courses and how long they were willing to commute to pursue their educational goals. Students and graduates of two local two-year colleges, potential matriculants at FSU, were also asked how long they were willing to drive. Little…

Discusses commuter college students; presents a model to help librarians offering bibliographic instruction better accommodate commuter students that includes services for students, programs to interact with students, advocacy for students, and appropriate research; and considers faculty impact on commuter students. (LRW)

The honors program at the University of Texas at San Antonio serves an ethnically diverse, often underprepared, and commuter student population with special courses and support. The program's success to date illustrates the importance of strong support and effective leadership at all levels within the institution. (Author/MSE)

This study examines the influence of parenting on alcohol and drug use among teacher trainees in Nigerian universities. The sample includes students who leave home after secondary school (residential-students on campus) as well as those who continue to live at home after secondary school (non-residential). Seventy-nine residential and 124…

Commuter students are often left out of college programs because their needs and schedules differ substantially from the traditional student for whom the programs are planned. Once the basic educational needs of the commuter student are being met, planners can focus on developing programs geared to other needs of the commuter such as personal…

Colleges and universities are admitting increasingly larger numbers of commuter students, many of whom have only recently developed aspirations for higher education. This article defines and outlines recommendations designed to ease the entry of these students into college and to increase their rate of academic and personal success. (Author)

This bold experiment should serve as an inspiration to commuter colleges across the country. (Editor)