New Report on the First-Year Experience: Insights and Tools for Student Success

Transitioning to college is more than just a week of freshman orientation—it’s an ongoing process that requires sustained support. Recognizing this need, The Chronicle of Higher Education has released a new report, The First-Year Experience, offering strategies to help institutions support first-year students, including first-generation, adult, commuter, and online learners.

This 76-page report provides expert insights from two- and four-year institutions, exploring essential elements of first-year seminars, learning communities, and academic support. It also covers:
✅ Ways to foster peer interactions among students from diverse backgrounds
✅ How to incorporate health and wellness programming to boost participation
✅ How to secure institutional support for first-year success initiatives

Complementary CAS Resources for First-Year Experience ProgramsFor institutions looking to enhance their first-year student support efforts, CAS offers valuable frameworks and assessment tools:
📘 Cross-Functional Framework for First-Year Experiences – A structured approach to integrating academic, social, and wellness support. Explore the framework here.
📊 Self-Assessment Guide (SAG) – A tool to evaluate and enhance your institution’s first-year experience initiatives. Learn more here.
🔄 CAS Annual Subscription – Access to CAS’s full suite of standards, including those supporting first-year success. Subscribe here.

As institutions continue to refine their first-year experience programs, The First-Year Experience report from The Chronicle—paired with CAS’s frameworks and assessment tools—offers a comprehensive roadmap for creating a supportive and successful transition to college.
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📖 Order The First-Year Experience report for additional insights and implementation ideas.