Peer Advisors: Agents of Change for High-Risk Students

Abstract

The Clearinghouse on Higher Education is part of a nationwide, comprehensive system called ERIC (Educational Resources In formation Center). Funded by the National Institute of Educalion. ERIC consists of 16 clearinghouses designed to identify (and disseminate information in all areas of education. Through a slalt of scholars and resource specialists in the field of higher education, the Clearinghouse provides the following activities and services: a b s t r a c t s annually 1,200 HIGHER EDUCATION DOCUMENTS for the monthly journal Resources In Education (RIE). annotates annually 1,400 HIGHER EDUCATION JOURNAL ARTICLES for the monthly journal Current Index to Journals in Education (CIJE). offers a COMPUTER SEARCH SERVICE of documents cited in RIE and CIJE and provides abstracts and annotations of those documenfs. < I develops INTERPRETIVE SUMMARIES, literature reviews, and bibliographies on current higher education issues in series such as AAHE-ERICIHigher Education Research Reports, Research Currents, and AAUA-ERICIHigher Education Administra tor's Update. provides OPPORTUNITIES FOR INTERACTION among scholars. resource specialists and policy-and decision-makers in Ihe lield of higher education through publications, workshops, conferences, and individual confacts.

The Evolution of a Freshman Seminar

“…On the other hand, peer advisors tend to provide subjective and experiential advice; at worst, they may fall into a pattern of advising students away from difficult courses and instructors. In general, peer advisors need close supervision (Grites, 1979;Ender and Winston, 1984;Crockett and Levitz, 1984;Elliot, 1985;Davis and Ballard, 1985).…”