Date of Award

2018

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Psychology

Abstract

This qualitative case study took place at Indiana State University, a Midwestern, mid-sized, public university. The sample for this study was made up of students enrolled in University College 100, a college preparedness course taken during the freshman year of a students academic career. With college attrition rates across the nation rising, many public universities are responding. Universities such as University of South Carolina are leading the way for college preparedness by implementing a required, credit-based, college preparedness course for first-time incoming freshmen. Indiana State University has such a course, not required for all freshmen to complete. Class observations took place, and faculty survey and student essay instruments were used to collect data in this study in an attempt to answer two research questions focusing on the perceptions of both students and faculty of University College 100 courses with regard to the overall effectiveness of the course with successful student transition into the university. This study concluded that while overall perceptions of both the students and the faculty were positive, some data revealed areas of consideration for refinement of the delivery of university-established course objectives.

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