Faculty Expectations and Tips for Students’ Academic Success Lorraine Goldberg Northern Virginia Community College 6/30/2015

Welcome Parents! Your support matters Goals for today: To explain faculty expectations of students To provide best (and worst) practices To share information about how parents can support their child’s learning

Faculty Expectations: Ownership of Learning Process Be familiar with academic calendar Know locations of library, bookstore, writing center, testing center, cafeteria, coffee shop, student ID/tuition/parking, and adviser(s) Walk class schedule & classrooms BEFORE start of classes Study course content summary Study course syllabus (paper/online) Come to class alert, prepared, and ready to engage (note 1st assignment due 1st day of class)

Faculty Expectations: Time Management ADAPTABILITY TO PROFESSORS & COURSEWORK! Full time and adjunct professors (approach to/availability for student support) Interpretation of course content summary Amount & type of assignments Revisions/grading (A in high school = C in college); quality over quantity 3 hours of homework for every credit hour in class Analyze and follow directions COMMUNICATE with professors = ask questions, share thoughts Office hours! Take advantage of extracurricular support Campus engagement opportunities: academic & social

Faculty Expectations: Professionalism Behavior: be punctual, organized, responsive, and respectful Be 10 minutes early to each class Turn off the phone Bring the course texts & assignments Be respectful in writing (professional emails, typed assignments) Be aware of course objectives and semester progress Engage in class discussion Academic debate vs. argument Ask for assistance if shy/nervous

Faculty Expectations: Best Practices In general Set a goal (graduation, transfer, career exploration, life skills) OOH Connect coursework to goals Seek balance Register for campus alerts Find a brain trust In class Don’t make assumptions about faculty expectations, ASK! Make recurring appointments for office hours Annotate! Annotate! Annotate! Front row seats = front row grades

Worst Practices In general In class Treat NVCC as a commuter campus experience Assume that gen eds don’t connect to upper level coursework Lose track of the academic calendar In class Miss classes or be late consistently Don’t ask questions (e.g. no book = no first reading) Sit in the back row and remain silent all semester Send informal emails to professors Use cell phone during class time Last minute requests for more work/revision/extra credit

Your Support Matters Success at CC more challenging than at 4-year institution Competing responsibilities (work, family, bills, military service, etc.) Off campus life (housing, meals, transportation, social pressures) Onus is on students to ensure personal academic success Prioritize the learning experience Minimize/simplify other responsibilities/pressures Set concrete rewards for academic success Encourage ownership of the learning experience Ask short answer questions Be a sounding board, not a tutor/personal editor/back-up plan Encourage critical thinking (cause/effect)

Presentation available at http://blogs.nvcc.edu/lgoldberg/links/ Questions? Presentation available at http://blogs.nvcc.edu/lgoldberg/links/