465 respondents (62.1%) indicated that their campus offers an extended orientation or college survival seminar. These courses offer a blend of topics essential for student success.

125 respondents (16.7%) indicated that their campus offers an academic seminar for which content is fairly uniform across sections. These courses may focus on a single topic such as "The Purpose of Higher Education" or they may be interdisciplinary courses that address a single theme from a variety of disciplinary perspectives.

96 respondents (12.8%) indicated that their campus offers academic seminars for which the content is determined by the instructor and is different for each section.

The remaining 63 seminars (8.4%) were categorized as either basic study skills courses, professional seminars (taught within undergraduate professional schools) or "other."

1. Develop essential academic skills
2. Ease the transition and adjustment of students to the college environment
3. Provide an orientation to campus resources and facilities

When reporting first-year seminars with common content across sections, survey respondents were asked to identify up to five of the most important course topics. The five most frequently mentioned topics were:

1. Academic skills
2. Time management
3. Personal development/self-awareness
4. Transition to college
5. Career exploration

Grading
80.0% of reported seminar programs are graded by a letter grade.
19.9% of seminar programs are graded pass/fail, satisfactory/unsatisfactory, or are ungraded.

Required/Elective
49.5% of institutions with a seminar program require the seminar for all first-year students.
30.2% require the seminar for some students (generally high-risk students).
19.6% offer the seminar as an elective.

Academic Credit; Credit Hours
88.7% of seminar programs carry academic credit toward graduation.
47.3% carry 1 semester or equivalent quarter hour(s) of credit.
16.3% carry 2 semester or equivalent quarter hours of credit.
29.1% carry 3 semester or equivalent quarter hours of credit.
11.6% carry more than 3 semester or equivalent quarter hours.

Application of Credit
43.2% of first-year seminar programs carry elective credit.
34.8% carry general education credit.
22.1% carry credit toward core requirements.
4.8% carry credit toward major requirements.
6.0% other (i.e. graduation requirement, college requirement, non-degree credit)

Transfer Student Sections
10.7% of responding institutions provide a special section of the seminar for transfer students new to their campus.

Team Teaching
32.7% of seminar programs are taught by teaching teams.

Training
76.2% of institutions with first-year seminars offer instructor training for seminar instructors.
47.7% of institutions consider training a prerequisite for teaching.

Academic Advising
In 19.9% of institutions, the first-year seminar instructor is the academic advisor for all seminar students.

57.1% of institutions report student satisfaction with the course and instructor
33.0% report increased persistence to sophomore year
32.3% report student satisfaction with the institution
29.8% report increased content knowledge/improved academic abilities
25.2% report increased use of campus services
21.8% report increased number of friendships among first-year seminar classmates
19.1% report improved grade point average
19.0% report increased level of student participation in campus activities
16.2% report increased out-of-class interaction with faculty
15.4% report increased level of campus involvement
15.4% report increased persistence to graduation

Linkage with Learning Community
24.8% of responding institutions link the first-year seminar with another course/other courses to create a "learning community."

Course Administration
In 23.6% of institutions with first-year seminars, the seminar is administered by an academic college or division.
In 18.3%, by Academic Affairs
In 12.0%, by Student Affairs

Campus Support
6.3% of institutions report that campus support is "low"
53.0% - "medium"
39.4% - "high"

Age of Seminar
The average age of the first-year seminar at responding institutions is 8.9 years. The oldest seminar reported is 72 years old.

Copyright, 2000, National Resource Center for The First-Year Experience & Students in Transition.