A new, national survey study examined programs designed to help first-year students become acclimated to college life and offered suggestions on how these vital programs can be created at two-year institutions to better support students.
The survey, “The First-Year Experience in Two-Year Public Postsecondary Programs,” revealed that programs for first-year college students are the norm at four-year universities, but are less common at two-year colleges where such programs can be equally useful.
The composition of first-year programs differ from school to school but all aim to help students transition smoothly through educational programming.
That was not the case, however, at two-year universities where the concept didn’t take root as quickly. The trend is starting to catch on, partly because of evidential information from four-year colleges, according to the study.
First-Year Experience (FYE) programs vary and can include mentorships and first-year seminars, but are designed to retain students. Two-year colleges have low retention, according to the study, thus making the programs especially useful to those institutions.
Those at two-year colleges are often enrolled in school part-time, live off campus and work. These are all factors in student retention, according to the study. Work and family obligations are other reasons affecting student retention; this is less likely to be the case at four-year colleges.
The same circumstances that make it difficult for two-year students to finish school also make it a challenge for colleges to design fitting FYE programs, according to the study.
