From a sample of 304 college freshmen, 68.8 percent reported experiencing homesickness (57.5 percent of males and 75.4 percent of females). Approximately 41 percent were experiencing homesickness for the first time. Homesickness lasted more than 1 week for 2-thirds of the students and more than 8 weeks for 18.2 percent of them. (DB)

This study, with 228 freshmen at the University of Hartford (Connecticut), found significant intellectual growth (especially in movement away from dualistic thinking) in most students over the year, with the amount of growth related to the number of completed interdisciplinary general education courses, which were specifically designed to promote…

A study of 1,587 first-year students at 1 university investigated the usefulness of 16 noncognitive factors as predictors of (1) academic difficulty or success after the first year and (2) attrition or retention into the second year. Data were drawn from a survey and academic records. (MSE)

Comparison of matriculated freshmen from 1988 and 1989 at the University of Washington found that those students participating in the Freshman Interest Group (200 students from 1988 and 435 students from 1989) were more likely to stay in a competitive course, had higher grade point averages, and were less likely to drop out of college than…

Questionnaire responses of 132 entering freshmen (University of Maryland, College Park) found a fairly high degree of tolerance toward people from different backgrounds, with some ambivalence through behavioral distancing. University programs to increase contact among students are encouraged. (Author/DB)

The study developed an economic model for the evaluation of Seaton Hall University's freshman studies program. Two techniques used to evaluate the economic success of the program are break-even analysis and elasticity coefficient. (Author/MLW)

This essay is a reminiscence of a life-shaping experience from the author's freshman year and an attempt to draw certain lessons from that experience for the freshmen of the eighties. He describes a personal discovery made at the "March on Washington" in 1963. (Author/MLW)

Despite variation in structure and activities of campus retention programs, successful programs are similar in the way they approach retention, emphasis given to retention efforts, and objectives. Focus should be less on what types of programs retain students and more on how and why programs have been successful. (Author/MSE)

A study of first-year University of South Carolina students indicating interest in a orientation course found that of the 77 enrolling and 80 not allowed to enroll, a higher retention rate was found among enrollees. Results indicate the course is successful in increasing retention rates among interested students. (Author/MSE)

The "Problems in Time" survey is a 35-item questionnaire assessing common time management difficulties in 7 general categories: academic goal setting, work overload, procrastination, poor planning and organization, inadequate speed, distracting activities, and irrational thinking. This survey is appended. The survey's use in college…

This paper examines several models of freshman seminar programs, reviews the assessment and research literature showing the efficacy of these programs, and discusses research emphases of the new National Center for the Study of the Freshman Year Experience at the University of South Carolina. (Author/MLW)

Second-semester college freshmen (n=354) on academic probation participating in a one-credit study skills course had statistically significant improvements in grade point average, academic hours attempted, and academic hours earned during the same semester. Differences persisted after one and two years, and retention data also favored the…

Student response to an anonymous questionnaire administered to 364 freshmen in 1978 and 499 in 1988 indicated a pattern of decline in drug use similar to national trends. Gender differences have lessened. More recent freshmen were more conservative regarding both use and legalization of certain substances. (Author/MSE)

Advances in theory and practice make it possible to measure moral reasoning empirically and offer college-level educational programs enhancing moral understanding. Bases for these advances are reviewed, a longitudinal study and curriculum development effort is described, and the next research frontier, the relationship of moral reasoning to moral…

A study identified and compared the self-reported social, emotional, financial, and health problems of nontraditional, urban commuting college freshmen to determine their impact on academic success or failure. No significant correlations with achievement were found. Other findings included a greater number of emotional and health problems reported…