Student success seminars: A school level freshman intervention program

Student retention has been an ongoing problem over the past decade especially in science and engineering programs. Intervention techniques vary from tutoring to mentoring led by either peers or faculty. When students start college, it is often assumed that they have all the necessary skills in order to succeed and cope with university life. In reality, students are hardly ever taught the basic survival skills needed to be successful in college. These include topics like how to study, how to take notes, and how to manage time between school obligations and social ones. This paper discusses the results of a three semester long experience of conducting student success seminars for incoming freshmen at the school level in the authors´ school of science and technology. This program is a required portion of the university orientation course that every student is obligated to attend university wide. The uniqueness of this program is that it is conducted at the school level to ensure unity and uniformity throughout the school. The paper will present results of program impact for current and past seminar attendees through surveys and review and analysis of enrolled students´ learning styles that relates to their success in science and technology.