First, increased academic and social integration leads to substantial gains in student learning and development. Institutional policies that meet the academic and social needs of students are necessary to create an environment that is conducive fo r learning. In a large institution such as MU, strategies where subgroups are formed based on similarities can reduce a potentially impersonal environment. Second, MU faculty members influence learning and development through their teaching. Effective teaching also can make a significant contribution to students' cognitive and affective gains during college.
Effective teaching incorporates a variety of strategies for stimulating intellectual growth.
Third, effective advising can lead to important gains in learning and development. In a ddition, faculty advising provides opportunities to demonstrate a personal interest in students, generate career-oriented discussions, and foster intellectual growth. Advising can also provide encouragement to students and enhance persistence. In this r egard, it is significant that students met with peers more often than they met with faculty, and they rated the quality of their advising lower than any other experience in the major. Fourth, the quality of lower-division courses provides a foundation for student success.