Tidewater Community College First Year Student Experience: A Library Perspective

Overview Initiatives are a part of Tidewater Community College’s Quality Enhancement Plan “Improving First- Year Student Success through Enhanced Orientation Systems”.

Overview Three main initiatives are FOCUS Student Success Skill Course (SDV) Knowledge is Power

FOCUS Freshman Orientation Centered Upon Success Collaborate with Student Services. 4 hour orientation for all first time students. Offer tour of campus, meet with counselors and get help registering for classes.

FOCUS As part of FOCUS they receive a library tour. Takes about 15 minutes. Acquaint them with facilities and basic policies. For the year we reached 1852 students.

Student Success Skills Course (SDV) 1 credit class that teaches student success skills. Can be taken online or traditionally. Strongly encouraged that students take the class in their first 15 credits. Must take the class to graduate.

Student Success Skills Course (SDV) One class session of SDV is devoted to the library. Students are brought in for a 50 minute one-shot session. Cover basic library competencies. Have developed a Blackboard module for online SDV so all students are reached. In taught 74 classes reaching 1858 students.

Knowledge is Power Series of free seminars for first-year students. Cover a range of topics Time management Study Skills Stress Management

Knowledge is Power Teach session on library competencies. 40 students attended session in Fall of 08. Working on offering more sessions.

Conclusion Critical to collaborate with other departments and be proactive in building relationships.

Contact Sarah Greene Tidewater Community College