Visible Solutions for Invisible Students

Book excerpt: This monograph addresses issues and programs to meet the specific needs of college sophomores. The first chapter, authored by the volume's editors, introduces the following papers and is titled, "What Is the Sophomore Slump and Why Should We Care?" The next eight chapters are: (1) "Meeting the Challenges of the Sophomore Year" (Michael Boivin, Gwen A. Fountain, and Bayard Baylis; (2) "Assessing the Expectations and Satisfaction of Sophomores" (Stephanie Juillerat); (3) "Policies and Practices to Enhance Sophomore Success" (Jerry Pattengale); (4) "Curricular Issues for Sophomores" (Jerry G. Gaff); (5) "Advising for Sophomore Success" (Edward "Chip" Anderson and Laura A. Schreiner); (6) "From Drift to Engagement: Finding Purpose and Making Career Connections in the Sophomore Year" (Philip D. Gardner); (7) "Institutional Approaches to Helping Sophomores" (Scott E. Evenbeck, Michael Boston, Roxane S. DuVivier, and Kaylene Hallberg); and (8) "The Sophomore Year: Summary and Recommendations" (John N. Gardner, Jerry Pattengale and Laurie A. Schreiner). An appendix, "Assessing the Expectations and Satisfactions of Sophomores: The Data" (Stephanie Juillerat) details findings of a survey of 118,706 undergraduates to identify characteristic attitudes of sophomores. A second appendix provides an annotated bibliography. (Contains 20 references.) (DB)