The YMCA and the Origins of American Freshman Orientation Programs

Scholarship on the history of student services and in particular freshman orientation programs typically begins with the administrative interventions of the mid-1920s. However, freshman orientation services and activities did not arise from administrative or faculty initiatives. As early as the late 1870s and motivated to ensure the welfare of their own student organization, members of campus-based Young Men's Christian Associations recognized needs of incoming students and gradually developed college entry programs, resources, and strategies in response. These interventions were designed to ameliorate and influence the otherwise difficult transition process into collegiate life. This research illustrates the lineage of freshman socialization efforts, which were initiated by the Student Associations found on most campuses across the United States.