Student-centered Orientation Courses: College Transition and Successful Foundations

Historically, colleges and universities haveimplemented programs and courses that assistfirst-year students in developing academic and socialskills. Developing these types of skills allowfirst-year students the opportunity to make atransition to college life. It is important for acollege to provide a support system to studentsthrough effective advising, and courses that areconcentrated on first-year success. Orientationcourses have been a part of the overall first-yearexperience for students in large numbers of collegesand universities. This study investigated theperceptions of first-year students, enrolled in aneight-week orientation course at the University ofToledo. Considering the effectiveness of the coursein achieving first-year objectives the orientationinstructors perceptions were also investigated. Course objectives that were ranked high included thefirst-year objectives of academic advising, balancingcampus life, resource discovery, and having alearning community present in every class meeting. This book is intended to assist academic and studentaffairs administrators interested in establishing astudent-centered foundation for first-year success.