First-year seminars (FYS) are well-tested and trusted programs to facilitate students' transition to college. This study adds to the body of evidence about the value of seminars through analysis of a large multi-institution dataset and documentation of the positive association between participation in a first-year seminar and student engagement in…

Student agency--the ability to exercise control over one's own thought processes, motivation, and action--is a central skill in today's information age. As technology continues to accelerate learning expectations and change, it is essential that one can make independent decisions, self-regulate, and adapt to complex, changing environments. The…

This article examines the impact of an outdoor orientation program (OOP) on a cohort of first-year university students who participated in a canoe trip facilitated by peer leaders. The curriculum included training for outdoor skills and transitional guidance to university life (i.e., strategies for time management, critical thinking, becoming…

This study sought to understand the experiences of a cohort of students who entered a strengths-based private school for twice-exceptional students during middle school and successfully completed graduation requirements. Using a case study design, the researchers analyzed data collected from student and teacher interviews, parent focus groups,…

This article explores some of the challenges that young children face when they begin formalised literacy learning in the classroom, in particular learning to write. The challenges are discussed in terms of the transitions children are faced with when moving from family and community literacy practices to more explicit and formal school learning…

A guide to implement, expand, or improve an extended college orientation course on campus is presented. Student success courses and extended orientation programs help students learn to be more effective in school and improve student performance and retention. These courses are sometimes designed for honors students, returning adults, athletes,…

A strategy to improve retention and graduation rates of culturally-diverse students in postsecondary settings is described, along with a framework for counselors and educators working with these students. A guided studies seminar in psychological education utilizes a highly-structured educational program and emphasizes the Deliberate Psychological…