The Influence of a New Student Orientation Program on Freshman Student Academic Performance and Retention at a Comprehensive Two-Year Community College

Abstract

This study examined the differences in first-year students at a selected community college who participated in a new student orientation program. The study compared academic success, attrition, and retention of new students who participated in the freshman orientation course at a community college to those who did not participate in the program. Data were derived from records of first-year students over during the Fall 2010 and Fall 2011 semesters. Fall data represented the freshman enrolling for the first time in the fall semesters of 2010 and 2011. The research tracked students enrolled in the fall into the subsequent second and third semester. Results of this study found that a significant relationship does not exist between community college students enrolling in a freshman orientation course, in the fall semester and retention for second semester. However, a significant relationship does exist between community college students enrolling in a first-year orientation course in the third semester and their GPA at the end of the semester.