Journal of College Orientation, Transition, and Retention

Impact of Mental Health, Cultural Integration, Parental Socialization, Substance Use, and Structural Insecurity on the Academic Success among College Students

Steven Seiler — 2025-12-04

The purpose of this research was to examine variables that impact academic achievement. Using data from the 2020-2021 Healthy Minds Survey conducted by the University of Michigan, the researchers performed two multivariate logistic regression analyses (weighted N=20,476). Results indicated several connections that impact a college student's experience and academic success. Implications relating to mental health, campus experience, parental education socialization, substance usage, and structural security are examined.

An Empirical Review of Retention: Student-Instructor Relationships with First-Generation Medical Assistant Students

Stephanie Robinson — 2025-12-04

Instructor engagement with first-generation medical assistant students is minimal, resulting in decreased graduation rates. This qualitative descriptive study described instructor perceptions of how student-instructor relationships influence program completion with first-generation medical assistant students. Ten medical assistant instructors participated in semi-structured interviews. Two research questions were addressed questioning instructor perceptions of how student-instructor relationships influence program completion and perceptions of influential engagement strategies supporting program completion with first-generation students in medical assistant programs. The results included college readiness concerns, dynamics of health science education, unique challenges of first-generation students, engagement strategies, and complex factors influencing student engagement.

College Adjustment Adds Incremental Validity in Assessing Substance Misuse in College Students

Virginia Wickline — 2025-12-04

This study examined college adjustment aspects that are associated with substance misuse, complimenting demographic and individual difference factors that have successfully predicted problematic use in past studies. A stepwise regression with college students (N = 936) showed that college-specific depression, knowledge of campus resources, academic success, college-specific anxiety, and social adjustment served as risk factors for problematic substance use, as did self-esteem, negative affect, and spiritual well-being. Ethnicity, class year, and campus location also predicted substance misuse. These results can lay the groundwork for universities to address retention risk factors related to substance misuse.

LEADing an educational and social movement for first-generation college students

Jasmin Llamas — 2025-12-04

First-generation college students face numerous challenges that can impact academic success and are less likely to participate in the “Big 6” high impact college experiences. This retrospective mixed-methods study examines the impact of a first-generation college support program, the LEAD Scholars program. Comparing LEAD alumni (n = 88) with a national sample (n = 29,560), alumni were more likely to participate in nearly all Gallup-Purdue Big 6 high-impact practices. Follow-up interviews with alumni (n=5) identified key impactful experiences (e.g., awareness building, peer support, professor support) as well as areas for improvement (e.g., expanding career and emotional support).

The Effect of Cultural Immersion Experiences on College Students’ Professional Development Skills

Luis Abraham Martinez Jr. — 2025-12-04

This study examined the effect of cultural immersion experiences during study abroad programs on students’ professional career development skills. A survey was conducted among 78 participants from a Texan university, exploring the relationship between various aspects of cultural immersion and career skill development. Results show that confidence in career pre-immersion and incorporating cultural experiences into professional networking positively affect skill acquisition. However, the number of immersion experiences and belief in their career impact from their experience did not significantly predict outcomes. These findings highlight the value of cultural immersion in enhancing students’ global competency and career readiness in college students.

Escaping Boring Student Affairs Graduate Program Orientations

Amy French — 2025-12-04

After coordinating and facilitating countless graduate orientations for student affairs master's programs, my graduate assistant and I decided to bring a fresh perspective to graduate orientation by integrating an escape room as the central onboarding activity for admitted students. This involved activity expertly conveyed important programmatic material while allowing space for the students to build community within their cohort. The student affairs graduate program collaborates with partners across campus routinely, and the escape room provided ample opportunity to continue building relationships and sharing resources. This “how-to” article will explore the process of escape room design, supporting tools, and community building for a successful graduate orientation.