The University Experience Course: A Longitudinal Study of Student Performance, Retention, and Graduation

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between participation in an extended orientation course and student academic performance, student retention, and student graduation. Ten years of participants in Ohio University's freshman “University Experience” course were compared with comparable nonparticipants. In the comparison of student academic performance, the effects of students' prior academic achievement and students' measured academic aptitude were controlled. First-year retention and four-, five-, and six-year graduation rates were compared. In most years of the study, participating students' year-end GPAs were higher than nonparticipants‘, retention rates were higher, and four-, five-, and six-year graduation rates were higher. The purpose of the course is to help students adjust to the demands of the university environment and develop long-term academic skills, which these results support. Student motivational effects are also discussed.