STUDENT PARTICIPATION IN A COLLEGE ORIENTATION COURSE, RETENTION, AND GRADE POINT AVERAGE

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between completion of an orientation by new community students, higher retention, and grade point average (GPA). Retention was measured in terms of total credit hours the student completed, and GPA was the cumulative GPA after 1 year of continuous enrollment or at the time the student withdrew. Subjects consisted of 86 matched pairs from four community colleges. One of the pair was in an orientation course and the other was in the control group. Data indicate that completing an orientation course during the first term of enrollment promotes retention and improves GPA.