PDF pending restoration
ERIC Number: ED349056
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 1992-Aug-27
Pages: 6
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
An Evaluation of a College Orientation Course.
Rudmann, Jerry
The first-semester orientation course at Irvine Valley College (IVC), in California, a non-required course taught by counselors, covers time management, study skills, academic policies, career and academic major exploration, and support services. In an effort to evaluate the effectiveness of the course, a study was conducted of the 1990 freshman cohort. The study population was divided into full-time and part-time students, and was further classified by orientation course status as successful students (those receiving letter grades of A, B, C, or Credit); unsuccessful students (D, F, Withdraw, NoCredit); and students who did not take the orientation course. Independent variables of the study included grade point average (GPA), course passrate, units earned, and return rate for spring and fall of 1991. In addition, a survey was administered toward the end of the semester asking students in the orientation course how sure they were of their college major and career goals at three points since applying to IVC. Study findings included the following: (1) successful course completers (SS) included 144 full-time and 56 part-time students, unsuccessful students included 26 full-time and 31 part-time students, while 87 full-time and 322 part-time students did not attend the course (NA); (2) both full- and part-time SS's had higher persistence rates through three semesters (59.7% and 39.3%, respectively) than full- and part-time NA's (34.5% and 27.3%, respectively); (3) differences in GPA's, units earned, and pass rates for SS's and NA's were not statistically significant; and (4) SS's reported much stronger career and academic goal focus by the end of the course. Data tables are included. (PAA)
Publication Type: Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: Irvine Valley Coll., Irvine, CA.
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A