Anthropologists have documented the importance of rites of passage rituals for marking the successful passage from one position in the social structure to another. The characteristics and importance of rituals and rites of passage to mark the transition high school to college will be presented. It is proposed that colleges and universities utilize this knowledge and establish sanctioned, rigorous, initiation rituals for new students (and some clubs) as rites of passage to increase the students' involvement and sense of belonging and responsibility in their new collegiate community, factors known to affect satisfaction, retention and graduation rates. (Contains 41 references.) (Author)