Preface.

Acknowledgments.

About the Authors.

1. On Being Named an Institution of Excellence in the First College Year: The Process and the Places.

2. Research Methods.

Part One: Case Studies of Two-Year Institutions.

3. The Community College of Denver: A Second Family for the First-Year Student (Marc Cutright, Randy L. Swing).

4. LaGuardia Community College: A Window on the World (Betsy O. Barefoot, Michael J. Siegel).

Part Two: Case Studies of Four-Year Institutions with Fewer Than 2,000 Students.

5. The First Year at Eckerd College: Responsible Innovation (Stephen W. Schwartz, Michael J. Siegel).

6. Kalamazoo College: No Stone Left Unturned (Stephen W. Schwartz, Randy L. Swing).

Part Three: Case Studies of Four-Year Institutions with 2,000 to 5,000 Students.

7. Drury University: Balancing Intellectual Rigor with Intrusive Personal Support in the First Year (Charles C. Schroeder, Randy L. Swing).

8. Elon University: Transforming Education Through a Community of Inquiry and Engagement (Libby V. Morris, Randy L. Swing).

9. West Point and the Plebe-Year Experience: The Long Gray Line (Michael J. Siegel, John N. Gardner).

Part Four: Case Studies of Four-Year Institutions with 5,000 to 10,000 Students.

10. Lehman College of the City University of New York: Excellence in the Bronx (John N. Gardner, Betsy O. Barefoot).

11. The First Year at Texas A&M University– Corpus Christi: Starting with a Clean Slate (Michael J. Siegel, Marc Cutright).

Part Five: Case Studies of Four-Year Institutions with 10,000 to 20,000 Students.

12. Appalachian State University: High Standards for the First Year in North Carolina’s High Country (John N. Gardner, Betsy O. Barefoot).

13. The Story of Ball State University: “Everything Students Need” (Randy L. Swing, Marc Cutright).

Part Six: Case Studies of Four-Year Institutions with More Than 20,000 Students.

14. Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis: Success and the City (Marc Cutright, Michael J. Siegel).

15. University of South Carolina: Creator and Standard-Bearer for the First-Year Experience (Libby V. Morris, Marc Cutright).

Part Seven: Conclusion.

16. Findings and Recommendations.

Epilogue: Foundations of Excellence in the First College Year.

Appendix A: All Participants in the Institutions of Excellence Study (N = 130).

Appendix B: Initial Letter of Invitation to Participate in the Institutions of Excellence Project.

Appendix C: Semifinalists.

Appendix D: Letter to Semifinalists.

Appendix E: Announcement Letter to Thirteen Institutions of Excellence.

Appendix F: Research Subject Information and Consent Form.

References.

Index.