Clarion Transitions comprises Orientation (one-day pre-college orientation sessions for freshman and transfer students), Discovery (three days of programming for new students the weekend prior to their first semester), Exploration (credit-bearing co-curricular programming during the freshman year), Sophomore Focus (career experiences during the sophomore year), and Academic Mentoring (career preparation during the junior and senior years).

Clarion Transitions website for students and families

Clarion Transitions Fact Sheet
Major Retention Organizations
University President's Definition of Retention at Clarion University
Clarion Transitions Five-Year Program Review 2007

The Goals of Clarion Transitions

The goal of Clarion Transitions is to help students stay in college and develop permanent ties with Clarion University through co-curricular programming and activities that:

1. Cement students’ and families’ commitment to Clarion University.

2. Forge positive and active relationships among students, and among students, faculty and staff.

3. Guide family members as they support their students during the transition from home to college and from college to work.

4. Ensure that students are informed self advocates who accept personal responsibility for their education.

5. Engage students in productive co-curricular and extra-curricular activities.

Training for facilitators and all of the Clarion Transitions programs will focus on three common themes: 1) students must accept responsibility for their education, 2) students must develop relationships with each other, faculty, and staff, and 3) students must be engaged in Clarion University.

Each component of Clarion Transitions will have multiple outcomes cross-referenced to the goals. Assessments for each component will focus on the outcomes. The sequencing of activities will be timed so that each activity occurs when it is most needed by the student, rather than in a “front-loaded” fashion.

Clarion University of Pennsylvania, Clarion, PA 16214
800-672-7171 or 814-393-2000

© 2006 Clarion University of Pennsylvania