Forging Connections: An Investigation of New Students’ Perspectives of Their Transition to the University

Authors

Adele Baruch PhD, University of Southern MaineFollow
Zark VanZandt, University of Southern Maine
S Auguste Elliott, The Fielding Institute Graduate University

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2009

Publication Title

NACADA Journal

Abstract

We studied first-year students through an integrated group workshop and longitudinal interviews that focused on students' transitional experience at the university as well as the strategies they developed to adjust to university life. Four themes emerged: the challenges of forming connections to other students with similar interests during the first few weeks on campus, the need to balance competing demands, varied experiences of connection with faculty and staff, and the need for translation of university life for minority students. To address the issues and concerns that emerged from our findings, we offer a number of advisory recommendations and programmatic initiatives.

Comments

All materials in the NACADA Journal are copyrighted by NACADA: The Global Community for Academic Advising.

Recommended Citation

Baruch-Runyon, A., VanZandt, Z., Elliot, A. (2009). Forging connections to new student engagement. NACADA Journal, 29(1), pp. 31-42. doi.org/10.12930/0271-9517-29.1.31