New-Student Orientations: Supporting Success and Socialization in Graduate Programs

Abstract

While the literature demonstrates the importance of certain core elements of orientation programs in helping students achieve academic and social integration, it lacks application to the specialization level of the Master of Public Administration (MPA), the Master of Public Policy (MPP), and similar degree programs. Employing data from a survey of 296 graduate programs accredited through the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA), this research uses an orientation logic model to examine whether certain orientation program characteristics, such as resources and tenets, are associated with student retention, grade achievement, and socialization. We find that certain core elements of orientation programs are related with outputs of student retention and student learning and outcomes of student socialization. We suggest that certain core elements that support socialization and mentoring between faculty and students provide important opportunities to socialize students overall into the profession of public service.

Demographics Matter: Non-white and White Life Science Graduate Students Perceive and Use Resources Differently

“…Our work suggests that documenting resource use of graduate students over time may be one way to track the progress of socialization or even help to identify students who are having difficulties in their programs. Previous work has found that graduate students undergo a unique socialization process and that interrupting this process can cause student outcomes to suffer (e.g., attrition from program: Golde 1998 ; decreased academic achievement: Benavides and Keyes, 2016 ; decreased sense of belonging: Strayhorn, 2018 ). Thus, the study of expected resource use over time may help to intervene and redirect students toward a more successful path.…”

Effects of a collaborative STEM-based orientation approach on senior high-school students' creativity and operacy

“…The significance of school orientation according to Margaret (2017), helps students feel emotionally secure and better suited to adapt to new environment. Benavides found that the orientation is useful for integrating students into new environment whilst easing stress associated with the transition (Benavides and Keyes, 2004). From this illustrated significance, there are various strategies for school orientation as follows: Highway used the museum excursion as the venue for learning (Highway, 1997).…”

Orientación a estudiantes en los títulos universitarios públicos españoles

“…En primer lugar, la dimensión académica hace referencia al asesoramiento que reciben los estudiantes para desarrollar aspectos relacionados con el logro académico, como las destrezas cognitivas (Sutan et al, 2018). En segundo lugar, la dimensión profesional hace referencia al asesoramiento laboral y el desarrollo de habilidades para la empleabilidad (Benavides & Keyes, 2016;Panferova et al, 2018). Y, en tercer lugar, la dimensión personal está destinada al autoconocimiento para lograr beneficios a nivel afectivo, académico y profesional (Everitt et al, 2018).…”