Apply for our $10,000 Paul P. Fidler Research Grant
(*Application launches May 1) The Paul P. Fidler Research Grant is open to those planning to conduct research on college student transitions.
Our Commitment to Research
We are committed to crafting and conducting high-quality research that expands our understanding of transitions. We achieve this by engaging in inquiry on a wide range of student success supports including, but intentionally beyond, the First-Year Experience; contributing and pushing conversation on creating equitable higher education environments supporting student transitions; and disseminating information gathered through research to create spaces for conversation that will intentionally connect research to practice.
Defining 'First-Year Experience': "The first-year experience is not a single program or initiative, but rather an intentional combination of academic and co-curricular efforts within and across postsecondary institutions." (Koch & Gardner, 2006)
Defining 'Students in Transition': Transitions are understood as key inflection points in students' educational journeys, including academic, social, and personal adjustments such as:
- Entry into higher education (e.g., first-year experience)
- Shifts in academic direction (e.g., major changes)
- Institutional movement (e.g., transfer pathways)
- Advancement to graduate or professional education
- Preparation for and transition into the workforce
- Re-entry or re-engagement with higher education
