Abstract

PADILLA GONZALEZ, Laura Elena; FIGUEROA RUVALCABA, Alma Elena  and  RODRIGUEZ-FIGUEROA, Héctor Manuel. Incorporation into the university of students in Aguascalientes. The orientation advisor’s perspective. Sinéctica [online]. 2017, n.48. ISSN 2007-7033.

The first-year college experience is essential for student persistence. This study explored the challenges incoming students face once they enroll in college, as well as the institutional strategies implemented to prevent student drop out, from a central actor’s perspective, the orientation advisor. A focus group was conducted, in which seven orientation advisers from public and private institutions participated. In addition, two academic advisers from a large public university were interviewed. Findings highlight the importance of implementing induction and orientation strategies based on student needs that actively involve them in their education, avoiding information overload. These strategies are associated with institutional type and selectivity and mostly focus on fostering the student’s institutional sense of belonging, rather than on student socio-emotional integration to classmates and major, so that students may be able to face the academic challenge developing their responsible and autonomous learning ability. The orientation adviser is able to provide curricular design feedback in order to obtain a greater content adaptation to the education expectations of first-year college students.

Keywords : first-year college student; higher education; orientation student programs.

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