This article documents the results of an exploratory qualitative study of parents of first-year college students at a doctoral-extensive institution in the Midwest. The qualitative survey instrument asked parents to respond to questions about transition and involvement issues during the first college year of their students. Findings suggest that…

Examines changes in students' sense of autonomy and in their ability to manage their emotions, as described by Chickering's vectors, in relation to residence hall environments. Results neither support nor refute the all-freshman hall. Participants moved developmentally along the Autonomy Scale. Freshman women increased their scores on the Impulse…

Data show that the first-time freshmen, who were overassigned in residence halls, did no worse than other students concerning grade point average. The peer pressure may have been a motivating force. There was no male/female difference. Data also show no difference in environment perception. (LPG)

The author presents a brief review of the literature on freshmen residence halls and concludes that existing data do not support the perpetuation of all-freshmen housing. She makes a plea for further evaluation and emphasizes that unsuccessful programs must not be perpetuated by confusing theory, observations, and strategies for change.…

Investigated how various residence hall arrangements affect the academic performance of freshmen (N=1,985) at five liberal arts colleges. Results indicated that freshman academic performance was neither positively nor negatively affected by their placement in single-sex, coed, all-freshman, or freshman and upperclass residence halls. (BL)

Examined the initial expectations and the later perceptions of the social climates of university living units reported by newly entering students (N=92). Found that freshmen have inaccurate expectations of the future social climate of their living group. Found differences between students with active and passive social exploration preferences.…

Explored differences in freshman students' perceptions of college living environments across the six residence hall arrangements typically used for first-year students to learn if freshmen evaluated various aspects of their hall social climates in different ways according to whether they lived in single-sex, coed, all-freshmen, or…

Surveyed 197 freshman residents from eight university residential programs. Respondents lived in either living-learning halls or conventional residential facilities. Results suggest that designing the environment of residence halls to promote academic integration supports other purposes as well. Living-learning programs appeared to have greater…

Examined whether self-selected roommates showed higher rapport and fewer midyear roommate changes than did randomly assigned roommates. Results from 147 residential college students seemed to indicate that self-selected incoming freshmen roommate pairs were more likely to stay together than were their randomly assigned counterparts. Such…

Results of this survey showed that most students approved of all-freshman halls. The majority of the faculty and staff disagreed. Groups also differed in views of the maturation process of students, students' ability to make friends, and willingness of upperclassmen to live with freshmen. (Author/NRB)

Describes New Student Welcome Day, an orientation program for freshmen at the University of Maine. Outlines objectives of the three-day program, including assisting students' transition to the university, fostering development of a peer group, creating an atmosphere conducive to favorable attitudes, and reducing anxiety. (JAC)