College Student Success Based on advice of 35 Orientation Leaders 2008

Respectful Classroom Behavior Be on time No cell phones. For any reason. Participate in class – answer questions and ask questions Ask RELEVANT questions Don’t be the student who asks a question every minute – let other people talk No rude, disrespectful behavior Bring books, notebooks, pen, and pencil to class Read and prepare for class

Disrespectful Behaviors Texting Talking (side-bar conversations) Clicking the pen Falling asleep in general (specifically in the first row!) Arriving when there’s 15 minutes left Arriving late and then asking questions that were already covered when you weren’t there Talking over the teacher – RAISE YOUR HAND! Answering your phone when in class Frequent trips to the bathroom and/or out of the room Eating in class, especially loud foods Opening snacks during class

Being Successful Keep your syllabus the ENTIRE semester Make a friend in class Sit in the “T” zone (first two rows, desks in center of room) Get to know your professors Go to professors’ office hours Bring your planner and manage your time (write key dates in your calendar) Dress up the first day (no pajamas, no hats, take off your sunglasses) Be cautious about what you say (you don’t know others’ experiences) Be open-minded Arrive early for a test

Talk to the Professor Take notes or print out the notes ahead of time (if you’re using your laptop to take notes, ask the professor ahead of time) If you’re using a recording device, ask the professor first Tell professors about your disabilities AHEAD OF TIME If you must leave early, tell professor before class

What I Wish I Had Known You may be in a lecture hall – expect many students Get familiar with the syllabus Know where you are going ahead of time (find the actual classrooms) Different professors have different teaching styles Know your own academic strengths and weaknesses Read the books! If you’re not a morning person, avoid morning classes Use the add/drop week if necessary Know where your advisor is Know where the Library / Information Commons is Diversify your class load You can take a class pass/fail starting in the second semester

HOMEWORK Take the ANGEL demo course: On the left side of the page, under Public Information, click Student Demo Course Click the Lessons tab to begin – Note: Regular ANGEL access to a class requires your username and password, but the demo course does not

Some Truths About College Unlike high school, nobody will be monitoring your studying and preparation Teachers and parents won’t be looking over your shoulder and reminding you about your homework There is much less structure There is much more freedom, but also more temptation You must be self-disciplined Different professors are VERY different and have different expectations. An important skill of the college student is to figure out what your professor is expecting from you.