Journal of College Orientation, Transition, and Retention

Creating a Successful Transition for Working-Class First-Year Students

Krista M. Soria

DOI: https://doi.org/10.24926/jcotr.v20i1.2820

Keywords: First-year students, working-class students, middle/upper-class students, public research unversity, campus climate, academic, engagement, transition, orientation, practitioners

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Abstract

This study explored differences between working-class and middle/upper-class first-year college students enrolled at large, public research universities. Results from administering the Student Experience in the Research University survey at 11 universities in 2010 (n = 23,331) suggest that working-class first-year students reported a less welcoming campus climate, lower academic engagement, higher academic disengagement, and fewer academic interactions with classmates compared with middle/upper-class students. Recommendations for first-year transition programs and new student orientation practitioners are discussed.