College-based interventions

Lack of academic preparation Lack of knowledge about college admissions process & financial aid First generation student Learning disabilities Lack of understanding about college resources Part time status Commuter status Age

Average college retention rates from first to second year remain at 65% Interventions to increase retention often focus on first-year college students Most critical time for freshman: week 2-6 - half of all dropouts drop out between those time periods Penn State: 92% retention rate for University Park, 78% commonwealth campuses.

First year GPA has been found to be statistically significant predictor of retention Probability of returning increases drastically with higher GPA

Programs that provide new students with short-term and long-term skills needed for academic success and transition into college life. Began at University of South Carolina in 1972 - Orientation Programs: if done correctly, integrate new students into academic, cultural, and social context of their new college or university. Should happen before classes begin. - Academic Advising: choosing classes, meeting professors ect. - First Year Seminar: Started in 1882- Lee College. Goals: improve retention, improve GPA, help students cope with new environments.

Putting the strongest, most student-centered people, programs, and services in the first year.

Fall 1999- first-year seminar mandated: 20 or less students. Need to pick the right one. Must be done correctly to work.

- Inconsistent Format: could be either 1, 2 or 3 credits. - Content of Seminar: faculty who don't know what a seminar should be make it 100% academically based- they eliminate the seminar adjustment part/ resources/ transitions, ect. - Some are overviews of majors/ colleges at PSU, others are mix of academic content to college & major, time management skills, resources, time management skills.