Research investigating this sobering statistic indicates that students who complete their program of study share several defining characteristics. Utah State University's new First-year Success program will maximize those characteristics for 300 incoming freshmen next fall. Concern about retention and attrition rates in higher education have increased over the years. Colleges and universities across the nation have intensified efforts to identify and treat potential dropouts. These efforts have resulted in a variety of schemes ranging from enhanced orientation periods to extended mentoring and socialization programs.
Research indicates that freshmen who persist in their education are full-time students.
They feel a sense of community and shared purpose with their colleagues. They feel a sense of institutional support. They understand the expectations of the academic community, and they receive help and advice from faculty and advisors during periods of difficulty. The First-year Success program offers a learning community of freshmen focused on success. A special curriculum will be designed for students based on their anticipated majors and pre-entry standardized test scores.