THE FIRST YEAR EXPERIENCE by MARGARET HIGGINS B.A., North Central College, 2006 A REPORT submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree MASTER OF SCIENCE Department of Counseling and Student Development College of Education KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY Manhattan, Kansas 2010 Approved by: Major Professor Dr. Christy Craft Abstract Students have many opportunities to familiarize themselves with their college after committing to a school. Institutions offer summer orientation and enrollment sessions, and many also offer extended orientation sessions that may include spending time in the residence halls or outdoor camps and activities. Upon arrival to campus, first year students are given a great deal of information about campus resources, culture and traditions. They may also have welcome week activities, first year seminar classes, learning communities, specialized housing accommodations, and a wealth of other opportunities to connect to the university. The purpose of this report is to explore both the unique challenges facing first year students and the varying support structures in place for them. To explore this topic, the unique needs facing first-year, residential students as it relates to student development and transition theories will be outlined. Focusing on institutional concerns, persistence will also be explored as a theoretical framework. Finally, to make this report relevant to Kansas State University, the first year programming efforts at twelve institutions will be synthesized and analyzed as a foundation for comparison. A proposal for potential programs at K-State will be presented. Table of Contents Dedication............................................................................................................................... vii CHAPTER 1 - The First Year Experience: A History and Theoretical Framework ................ 1 Introduction........................................................................................................................... 1 Definitions......................................................................................................................... 2 Review of the Literature ....................................................................................................... 5 History of the Collegiate Freshmen Experience ............................................................... 5 History of Orientation Programs....................................................................................... 7 History of First Year Seminars ......................................................................................... 8 History of First Year Halls and Freshmen Interest Groups .............................................. 9 Theoretical Framework....................................................................................................... 11 Relevant Student Development Theories........................................................................ 11 Relevant Persistence Theories ........................................................................................ 13 CHAPTER 2 - Review of First Year Programs...................................................................... 18 Baylor University................................................................................................................ 18 Summer Orientation........................................................................................................ 19 Baylor Line Camp........................................................................................................... 19 University 1000............................................................................................................... 20 Baylor Freshmen Class Council...................................................................................... 21 First Year Residence Halls.............................................................................................. 21 Faculty in Residence ....................................................................................................... 21 Engaged Learning Groups .............................................................................................. 22 Successes and Future Plans at Baylor............................................................................. 23 Texas A&M ........................................................................................................................ 23 New Student Conferences............................................................................................... 24 Extended Orientation Programs...................................................................................... 24 Learning Communities.................................................................................................... 25 First Year Seminars......................................................................................................... 26 University of Nebraska-Lincoln ......................................................................................... 27 iii New Student Enrollment................................................................................................. 27 Summer Camps............................................................................................................... 27 Learning Communities.................................................................................................... 29 University of Missouri........................................................................................................ 29 Orientation ...................................................................................................................... 30 Freshmen Interest Groups ............................................................................................... 30 Successes and Future Plans at University of Missouri ................................................... 31 University of Colorado at Boulder...................................................................................... 32 Summer Orientation........................................................................................................ 32 Welcome Week Activities .............................................................................................. 33 Living Learning Communities........................................................................................ 33 Residential Academic Programs ..................................................................................... 34 Successes and Future Plans at University of Colorado................................................... 34 Colorado State University................................................................................................... 35 Orientation ...................................................................................................................... 36 First Year Seminars......................................................................................................... 36 Peer Mentoring Program................................................................................................. 36 Key Communities ........................................................................................................... 36 Getting to Year 2 @ CSU ............................................................................................... 38 Successes and Future Plans at Colorado State University .............................................. 39 University of Iowa .............................................................................................................. 40 Orientation ...................................................................................................................... 41 First Year Seminars and Online@Iowa .......................................................................... 41 The College Transition ................................................................................................... 41 Pick One! Program.......................................................................................................... 42 Courses in Common........................................................................................................ 42 Living-Learning Communities........................................................................................ 43 Iowa State University.......................................................................................................... 43 Orientation and Enrollment............................................................................................. 43 Destination Iowa State .................................................................................................... 44 Learning Communities.................................................................................................... 45 iv Iowa State University Success and Future Plans ............................................................ 45 University of Oklahoma...................................................................................................... 46 Camp Crimson ................................................................................................................ 46 Orientation Weekend ...................................................................................................... 47 On-Campus Housing....................................................................................................... 47 Special Interest Housing