Like many large research universities, Illinois has
struggled with the high attrition rate of first-year
students in computing disciplines. Scavenger Hunt, which has
been held each of the past three years, is intended to
foster a sense of community within the department and
acclimate new students to undergraduate life as computer
science majors. A unique aspect of the activity is the use
of handheld computers to manage most aspects of the
competition, which enables physically handicapped students
to participate on an equal footing with their able-bodied
peers. Thus far, we have observed a significant correlation
between student participation in Scavenger Hunt and
retention rates in the department.
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