Using a revised, more parsimonious version of the Senior Concerns Survey (Pistilli, Taub, & Bennett, 2003), differences in the concerns of college seniors living in campus residence halls (N = 166) were explored. Significant differences were found based on gender, race, post-graduation plans, and major. Results indicated that concerns in the…

Little research on first-year programming has focused on the adjustment and persistence of international students. This qualitative study investigated the first-year experiences of international students at an institution where large numbers of international students enroll, but few persist to graduation. Interviews with international students who…

This study uses longitudinal data comprised of responses to the Cooperative Institutional Research Program's (CIRP) 2000 Freshman Survey and the 2001 Your First College Year (YFCY) Survey to investigate the impact of first-year seminars on key student outcomes. Specifically, descriptive analyses address the relationship between taking a first-year…

Two studies compared a lecture-only with a group-activity instruction method to determine whether enhancing student involvement in an introductory class would increase learning and persistence in college. Exam grades, instructor evaluations, and student persistence were measured. It was predicted that first-year students in active-learning classes…

This study examined the impact of emotional intelligence (EI) on the successful transition from high school to university. The short form of the Emotional Quotient Inventory (EQ-i) was completed by 1,426 first-year students attending four different universities within the first week of classes (September). At the end of the academic year (May),…

A first-year interest group (FIG) is a learning community using course clusters. An effective model of FIGs and an innovative faculty development process are briefly described. Evaluation results found that University of Hartford FIGs improved student learning, improved curricular integration, fostered student community, and promoted faculty…

This study examined the first-year college experience of students from migrant farmworker families. Data were obtained through a written survey and subsequent small group interviews with 13 participants in a federally supported program for students from farmworker backgrounds. Information regarding the students' decisions to pursue a college…

Linear models of two of the most salient motivations for undergraduates to attend college--learning (intrinsic) and enhanced post-graduation earnings (extrinsic)--are estimated from a sample of 2,199 respondents to the 2000 Cooperative Institutional Research Program (CIRP) survey of first-year students, supplemented by institutional records. Model…

Today, academic assistance efforts are frequently geared to all students, not just the underprepared, with study skills offered in various formats. In this article, the authors describe a learning community model with the theme, "Strategic Thinking and Learning" (STL). Results of data analysis indicate that participants of the STL community…

Research on first-year students' perceptions of their learning environments revealed the aspects of their experiences that enhanced and hindered their learning. End of the semester reflection essays from first-year seminars were analyzed to ascertain students' views. Data analysis revealed that students need peers who provide personal and…

This study investigated the relationship between residence hall climate and students' adjustment to their collegiate environment. The questionnaire was administered via the web to first-year students living in coeducational residence halls at a public university in the southeastern United States. The residence hall climate was examined in two…

A new policy requiring faculty members to take attendance in first-year courses was implemented in a large public, metropolitan university. In the first semester, the number of first-time, full-time, first-year students earning grade point averages of 2.0 or higher improved by more than 10% compared to the previous four years. A detailed analysis…

While an expansive body of literature exists on the performance and retention of first-year students, there is a paucity of research examining the persistence and attrition of faculty who teach these seminars and colloquia. The present survey of 18 full-time, first-year seminar faculty members at Northern Michigan University identifies marked…

This study explored men's and women's emotional health during the first college year and identified college environments and experiences associated with changes in emotional health for both groups. The sample included 17,331 first-year college students who were surveyed in fall 2000 and spring 2001 at 50 institutions nationwide. Findings revealed…

First-year seminar courses are used to provide students with a structured orientation to resources at a college or university. These courses almost invariably emphasize academic, social, and career development. Recently, first-year seminar courses have been adapted to meet the unique needs of students in different academic disciplines. Very little…