This study was designed to develop a procedure for the identification of freshman students at risk in the academic and social integration process at Texas Christian University. The data for the study were collected from the Student Information Form (SIF) and student records system at Texas Christian University. The data included demographic, attitudinal, educational background and one-year persistence indicators (retain and drop) as well as one-year cumulative grade point averages for the fall 1990 entering freshman class.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hong Kong, 1999. / Includes bibliographical references.

M.A. / The objective of this research is to determine the effectiveness, or lack of, the mentor program, as part of the Rand Afrikaans University's (RAU) project 100, as well as obtaining workable suggestions to improve the mentorprogram. Project 100 was developed through RAU for first year students who did not obtain full exemption, but who were conditionally accepted. In the program the focus is on three main fields, namely: cognitive, meta-cognitive development, personal development and social adaptation. A variety of skills are taught to the students, in every field, so that the student can develop in total. The hope is through acquiring these skills the student will become more self-sufficient. Data is obtained through qualitative and quantitative research methodologies. Qualitative research consists of the interviews with students that took part in Project 100, as well as the analysis of mentor reports. Quantitative research is obtain by using the following measurement instruments: ability, processing of information and learning (LASSI), the learning and the General Questionnaire about Lifeskills and Aptitude. Exam marks were also used. Quantitative results shows that most students are positive towards the mentorprogram, but factors such as transport, freedom of choice of attendance and uncertainty about procedures influenced the program negatively. Results in turn shows that students who attend the program did not obtain higher academic results than the student who did not attend the program. Even though the student attended Project 100, this does not guarantee the students academic success. The students attitude, motivation and preparedness to acquire new skills and the ability how to implement them influences the success of the students academic, personal and social life.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Agricultural Economics / Hikaru H. Peterson / The prevalence of obesity and overweight has heightened over the last 40 years. Over two thirds of the US adult population is overweight or obese. Further, 18% of adolescents, ages 12 to 19, are obese, which is an increase of over 13% since the late 1970’s. Food environment and peer influence have been emerging areas of study and are thought to be catalysts to unhealthy eating choices. College students present a unique opportunity to look at the impact of a changing food environment, including changes in peer groups. This study is concerned with how students’ peers impact their food consumption and ultimately weight. College freshmen were recruited during their first month on campus at Kansas State University. The students participated in a year-long, three-part study to track their eating habits, weight and height. The students’ parents were also asked to participate by filling out a survey on eating habits. The students also asked one friend they ate with at least once a week to fill out a food record with them. The collected information was transformed into daily average calories for each of six food groups and for macronutrients. A peer ratio was created from the parents and friends calorie intakes to determine the similarity in consumption by each food group or macronutrient. A system of equations was specified and estimated for both food groups and macronutrients. For the food group model, beverages were the only food group with a statistically significant peer ratio term. The coefficient on the ratio was positive, indicating that students would consume more calories from beverages, as their college friends consumed more calories from beverages relative to the students’ parents at home. In the macronutrient model, protein had a statistically significant and positive peer ratio. An examination of the impacts of predicted calories consumed from food groups, along with other individual characteristics, on student’s BMI in the spring term, indicated that increasing snack consumption led to an increase in BMI while increasing bread consumption caused a decrease. Eating more meals at the university dining center also increased BMI. An analysis for the predicted macronutrient values revealed a similar relationship with eating more meals at the dining center, but the predicted macronutrients did not have statistically significant impacts on BMI.

The purposes of this study were to identify selected characteristics of American Indian entering freshman students and to identify selected factors related to the increasing number entering two- or four-year colleges or universities. In addition, the identified characteristics and factors were compared with a sample of Mexican American/Chicanos and in selected areas with other white/Caucasians to determine similarities and differences between the three groups. Six research questions were formulated and examined to achieve the purposes of this study. The data were extracted from the annual freshmen surveys for fall 1966, 1972, and 1978 of the Cooperative Institutional Research Project (CIRP), and the National Longitudinal Study of the High School Class of 1972 (NLS). The variables selected and analyzed from the annual freshmen surveys were sex, age, high-school rank, concern about finances, enrollment status, need for academic help, probable major field of study, probable careers, highest degree planned, type of institutions attended, control of institutions attended, regions of institutions attended, and reasons for selecting a particular institution. NLS variables used were community orientation, family orientation, work orientation, self-concept, locus of control, socioeconomic status, sources of planned and used financial aid, and information on continuing college students. The statistical procedures used to analyze the data were frequency counts, percentages, and the t-test of significance. The data indicated that changes had occurred between 1966 and 1978 on selected characteristics of American Indian entering freshman students. The comparisons of American Indian with Mexican American/Chicano and/or white/Caucasian entering freshman students showed more similarities than differences on selected characteristics, particularly in 1978. The findings showed community orientation, family orientation, and work orientation were not associated with entrance into college for the three groups studied. Whereas, self-concept, locus of control, and socioeconomic status were associated with entrance into college for the three groups. Sources of financial aid varied for each group, and at least 70 percent of all students from each group continued in college. Further study is recommended on American Indians at all levels of higher education because data is not plentiful.

The purpose of this study is to make a survey of freshman classes in four Texas colleges to determine, in the opinion of first-year college students, the weaknesses in their high-school training that have operated to make their college work more difficult. Three major fields of difficulties -- subject matter of the high schools, the high-school teacher, and the high-school's part in developing habits and influencing students -- were used as a basis for the survey.

The purpose of this investigation is to determine the factors that are associated with freshman students who make superior marks in freshman college English and with students who make failing marks in freshman college English.

The purpose of this study was to develop an instrument to determine the study skills of college freshmen.

The purpose of this study was to ascertain the value, as determined by student achievement, of using a discovery method of teaching mathematics in a college freshman mathematics course for non-mathematics and non-science majors.

The problem of this study was the relationship of health knowledges to health practices of college freshmen at North Texas State University.