The study is being conducted by the Policy Center on the First Year of College, whose mission is to improve a student's freshman year and to help build a body of knowledge on best practices in first-year programs. The center is based at Brevard College in North Carolina.

The center received 130 nominations and has narrowed that list to 54 semi-finalists.

Thomas Lowe, assistant provost and dean of University College, said Ball State is among the semi-finalists because of its strengths in five areas:

• University Core Curriculum - a program that requires students to take standard courses in English, mathematics, science, social science, fine arts and global studies.
• Freshman Connections Program - places students in linked courses that are part of the university's core curriculum. Students enrolled in these classes reside in the same residence hall to help foster a sense of community.
• University College - an academic support college within Ball State. Its services include the Freshman Advising Center, free peer tutoring and an intervention program for freshmen.
• Freshman seminar courses - this program helps freshmen who are undecided about their majors to explore career options with a goal of deciding on a major by the end of the first semester.
• Faculty development - the university's support for teaching, curriculum development, travel and funding for research and scholarly activity has an impact on retaining students, Lowe said.

"The heart of Ball State's commitment to personal learning and excellence rests in the freshman year," Lowe said. "From the moment freshmen complete a required two-day orientation program, they understand the university's commitment to first-year students."

Ball State retains about 77 percent of its freshmen.

"This is due in large part to our freshman programs and Ball State's efforts to attract better students," Lowe said.

The Policy Center will select 12 finalists in the fall. Case studies from these schools will be featured in a book to be published by the center.

Other Indiana schools named as semi-finalists are Purdue University and Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI).

(NOTE TO EDITORS: For more information, contact Thomas Lowe at tlowe@bsu.edu or (765) 285-1511.)