The First Year Experience on an Urban Campus: A Case Study Exploring the Impact of First Year Programs on Student Perceptions of Belonging, Adjustment, Success, and Support

• Main Author: Chu, Zduy
• Format: Others
• Published: ScholarWorks @ Georgia State University 2016
• Subjects: Student retention; Orientation camp; First-year experience; Camp FYRE; First-year residential experience
• Online Access: http://scholarworks.gsu.edu/eps_diss/147; http://scholarworks.gsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1159&context=eps_diss

First-year experience programs on college and university campuses are designed to support the academic, social, and institutional transition needs of the first-year student. Retention on campuses has been an issue that educational leaders have been addressing for many years. On average, approximately 20% to 30% of first-year students will not return for the second year. A review of the literature shows that there is a positive impact of such programs on a student’s achievement and retention on college campuses. It also reflects the various factors outside of an institution’s control that can have an impact on the student’s achievement. This qualitative study included one case study that analyzed the experiences of thirteen (13) first-year students who participated in a first-year experience program consisting of an extended orientation camp and an intentional programming model on large, public, 4-year, urban campus in the Southern United States. Findings and discussion from the study revealed: (a) the perceptions of impact that first-year programs have on a student’s belonging, adjustment, success, and support after the first semester of college; and (b) common themes and trends throughout the first six weeks of the participants related to their perceptions of belonging, adjustment, success, and support. Implications of this study also prescribe future research that could explore specific resources, learning outcomes, and retention rates across other urban institutions.