The Digital Divide and First-Year Students

Current cross-campus computing initiatives demand both access and skill in employing technology as a tool for academic success. Consequently, lack of computer skills can affect first-year students' potential for success because many courses assume students are computer literate. In this study, 888 first-year students completed a survey--administered for three years--that examined technology variables. A chi-square statistic and associated p-value indicated that students' access to computers increased over a three-year period, albeit it was income-related. Results showed an improvement in word processing, Internet and library-searching skills, and developing computer-enhanced presentations. However, results from the last year of the study showed that more than 50% of students rated themselves unskilled at library-searching and developing computer-enhanced presentations, with approximately one-third of students rating themselves unskilled at e-mail. Implications for first-year student computer-training support are discussed. (Contains 3 tables and 1 footnote.)