Retention of students in university or other postsecondary education programs is a common problem for many institutions, with retention from first year to second year of study being particularly problematic in Canada and the United States. A number of factors are known to affect retention, and a number of measures have been identified which can…

First-year students experience academic, social, and emotional adjustments as they transition to college. First-year experience courses support students in this transitional phase by helping them integrate into the campus environment and by teaching them college-appropriate learning strategies. This study explored the role that participation in a…

Undergraduate research experiences have been shown to enhance the educational experience and retention of college students, especially those from underrepresented populations. However, many challenges still exist relative to building community among students navigating large institutions. We developed a novel course called "Entering…

The Fordham College at Sixty Program is intended as a bridge into Fordham's liberal arts college, with an outlook and curriculum designed specifically for older students. One of the program's founders, Dr. Robert W. Adamson, discusses the course of study and how students feel about going back to college at the "retirement" stage of life.…

Information on a Northern Kentucky University course entitled "The Mind of the University" is presented in several articles. After Darryl Poole briefly discusses the origins of the course, H. L. Wallace describes the background of the project, course themes, class materials, and testing/grading. The objective of the course is defined as…

There is a large body of well-conducted research that supports the value of freshmen orientation seminars in promoting the success of first-year students at community colleges. Orientation programs have been shown to improve retention, program completion, and the level of academic performance of these students. In addition to improving student…

Based on the academic improvement of a sample group of students who participated in a loosely structured human potential seminar, a syllabus was prepared for future seminars at North Greenville College, a small, private, church-related community college in South Carolina. The following thematic objectives were used for the course: learning to work…