Date of Award
Spring 2009
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Public Administration (MPA)
Department
Political Science
Abstract
First-year programs play a key role for first-year students’ successful transition to higher learning at Kennesaw State University. The Department of First-Year Programs runs these programs very well and has a strong national reputation. The Department was built in 2007 but the relevant first-year programs have been performed close to 20-year.
Lushan College of Guangxi University of Technology, which is a new local college formed under the Chinese higher education reform in 2005, also runs first-year programs for first-year students.
This paper combines the writer’s internship experience in the Department of First-Year Programs at Kennesaw State Department and work experience at Lushan College of Guangxi University of Technology, applying Public Administration’s theories, comparing the following aspects from structure of department, faculty and staff, programs, curriculum requirement, teaching skills, vision, mission and core values, to SWOT analysis between the first-year program of KSU and LSC. This paper adequately recognizes and objectively analyzes the strengths and the weaknesses of two schools, and proposes some suggestions that will improve Lushan College’s first-year programs.