1. Your First Day of Class…
You may be surprised to learn…
…that over 25% of all undergraduate students do not utilize their required course material. That rate is far higher in FYE courses.
“Student retention is dropping nationwide and while the higher education community has done a remarkable job of opening the doors of college to more and more students, we have not seen equal strides in the number of students who actually complete their degrees.” –Education Trust, 2004
What you can do…
The top factors motivating a student to use their adopted books all involve whether the material is immediately used, referred to, or assessed from in the classroom.
Your students take their cues from you and many wait until the third week of class to see how the book is used before deciding whether or not they need it.. Please take a few minutes the first day of class to explain and demonstrate why you adopted your book and accompanying technology.
The next few slides show the book, technology products, and messaging that indicates that they will be responsible for the content. Feel free to customize the information or delete from your slide set.

2. Gardner/Jewler/Barefoot: Your College Experience 8e
Your Required Materials
Gardner/Jewler/Barefoot: Your College Experience 8e
You will need this material for…
tests and quizzes
homework and reading assignments
Professor:
Course/Section:
Professor:
Course/Section:

3. Constance Staley: FOCUS on College Success
Your Required Materials
Constance Staley: FOCUS on College Success
You will need this material for…
tests and quizzes
homework and reading assignments
Professor:
Course/Section:
Professor:
Course/Section:

4. John Santrock and Jane Halonen: Your Guide to College Success
Your Required Materials
John Santrock and Jane Halonen: Your Guide to College Success
You will need this material for…
tests and quizzes
homework and reading assignments
Professor:
Course/Section:
Professor:
Course/Section:

5. CengageNow College Success
Technology Resources to help you succeed in this course
CengageNow College Success
CengageNow™ College Success contains resources to reinforce the lessons learned in each chapter, including:
Assess! – Check your skills with these self-assessments
Write! - Reflect on your progress with these electronic journals
Consider! – Consider the concepts in the chapter with these essay questions and exercises
Practice! - Test your knowledge with these interactive quizzes
Test Yourself! – Practice for tests with these sample test questions

6. Technology Resources to help you succeed in this course
Student Companion Web Sites
These free resources feature chapter-by-chapter Internet exercises, learning objectives, links to useful online resources, and more!
Professor:
Course/Section:

7. What is College Success?
Going to school because you want to.
Setting your own course in life.
Staying in school and taking pride in your education.
Graduating and getting the “right” job!
Yes!

8. High School vs. College: What’s the difference?
Classes are small with a lot of interaction between teachers and students.
Classes are larger, more complex, and more impersonal.
Parents and teachers monitor your attendance.
Attendance is your responsibility.
Tests and quizzes are given regularly to check your understanding of the material.
Tests are given less often and account for a larger percentage of your grade.
Parents and teachers give a lot of guidance.
You are expected to take charge of your academics.
Reading assignments are generally short and come from a textbook or handout.
Weekly reading assignments can include multiple chapters and even whole books, as well as extra unassigned reading.
Good grades are easy to get by paying attention in class and studying a little bit.
Good grades are competitive to get and can require good note-taking, discussion, research, writing, and test-taking skills.
You have known many of your classmates for years, and you share many things in common.
Your new college classmates are diverse in their origin, age, goals, and values.

9. So what does it take to succeed?
Identify people you consider successful.
What successes have they achieved?
What are the qualities that contribute to their success?
What lessons can we distill for achieving college success…?
The answer could be easier than you think...

10. 7 Ingredients for Success
#1 A good attitude is the best start
Start by believing that you can succeed!
The Three Keys
Self-esteem:
I am somebody who counts!
Self-confidence:
I have what it takes!
Positive Outlook:
I will do it!
Regardless of past performance, students should be aware that college is a new start and that their work can have a direct impact on their career outlook.

11. You know that life is not a game.
#2 Know Your Strengths
Everyone brings different skills to the table. Know where you excel.
Choose a major that fits in with your interests. For required classes, choose sections with a topic that interests you.
How have you been successful in the past? Adapt old strategies to new situations.
Make use of your hidden talents.
Hidden Strengths of Nontraditional Students
You’ve been out in the “real world” and you know how it works.
You’ve held a steady job & raised a family.
You’re older and wiser.
You know how to get along with people.
You know how to keep going when things get tough.
You know that life is not a game.

12. A goal is a dream with a deadline. --Napoleon Hill
#3 Set Goals
Knowing what you want is half the battle.
Set goals that are challenging, reasonable, and specific.
Challenging: Reach beyond what you are!
Reasonable: But don’t bite off more than you can chew!
Specific: Be precise about what you want!
A goal is a dream with a deadline. --Napoleon Hill

13. #3 Set Goals Short-term and Long-term ^ Short- term Long- term
Meeting with a study group this weekend.
Completing a research paper next week.
Long- term
Graduating with a degree in Computer Science.
Entering medical school.
Teaching college.
Remember!
Short-term goals add up to long-term goals!!
You have to plan with the big picture in mind.

14. #4 Develop Positive Character Traits Good habits are keys to success.
Academic Integrity
Earn your degree with your own honest efforts.
Abide by your school’s honor code.
Know Yourself
Realize that you’re the only one who can make yourself get an education.
Take your health and wellness seriously.
Honor the values you were raised with.
Be proud of who you are and what you can do.
Take Responsibility
Reward your successes and learn from your failures.
Be Self-Motivated
If you don’t do it, who will?
Be Persistent
When things get tough, “hang in there!”
Rome was not built in a day. Education takes time.

15. #4 Develop MORE Positive Character Traits
Self Monitoring
Keep an eye on yourself.
Are you keeping an effective schedule?
Do you plan ahead or “go with the flow?”
Self Control
Know your limits and stay within them.
Research shows that students who can delay gratification in pursuit of a long-term goal do better academically.
Be Courteous
Respect others’ roles in the campus community. Everyone plays a role in your success.
Be Honest with Yourself
Recognize when you could have done better and feel good that you are striving for excellence.

16. #5 Master Effective Work Skills Know your resources. Use them well.
Time is your most valuable asset!
Make a list of everything you need to do each day and organize your activities around it. Focus on upcoming deadlines, and concentrate on one task at a time.
Use class time to take good notes. Use time spent waiting to review them.
Be honest about how you use your time. Allow a realistic amount of time to socialize and to get enough rest.
Develop good reading, writing, and speaking skills.
Visit your school’s academic resource or writing center to sharpen your writing skills. This will save you time later and help you get better grades on papers and tests.
Use class time and office hours to practice discussion and understand your course reading.

17. Your First Year Seminar is a great place to learn how to work smarter!
#5 Master MORE Effective Work Skills Get the job done right, effectively and efficiently.
Get Connected!
Study with a group, or ask your instructor for help starting one.
Get to know people on campus who care about you.
Get involved in campus activities. They offer ways to connect your learning with your interests and career plans.
Learn about campus resources such as library and health services.
Meet with your instructors, advisors, and counselors. Be open with them about your goals and concerns. Identify which ones would serve as good mentors.
What are other campus resources that students should know about?
Your First Year Seminar is a great place to learn how to work smarter!

18. #6 Be Engaged! Stop boredom at the source! Take charge of your learning.
Find a way to get interested in that “boring” lecture. It’s there if you look for it.
Make your mind up to explore new paths.
Explore interesting topics beyond the classroom
Try talking about your course material with a friend or mentor. Is it really as boring as you thought?
Boredom is a major drag! Why make yourself negative and unhappy?

19. #7 Keep Your Eyes on the Prize Remind yourself why you are in college.
A college education has correlated with
Higher income over time
Higher levels of savings
Greater happiness in life and work
Better health
Longer life
Greater career mobility
Greater perspective on one’s past and future
More influence in the world around you
We always need to
be realistic!
REFERENCES
Boesel, D., & Fredland, E. (1999). College for all? Is there too much emphasis on getting a 4-year college degree? Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Education, Office of Educational Research and Improvement, National Library of Education.Cohn, E., & Geske, T.G. (1992). Private Nonmonetary Returns to Investment in Higher Education. In Becker, W. & Lewis, D. The Economics of American Higher Education. Boston, MA: Kluwer Academic Publishers.Day, J.C., & Newburger, E.C. (2002). The Big Payoff: Educational Attainment and Synthetic Estimates of Work-Life Earnings. (Current Population Reports, Special Studies, P23-210). Washington, DC: Commerce Dept., Economics and Statistics Administration, Census Bureau. [On-Line]. Available: College Board. (2001). Trends in Student Aid New York: The College Board.Institute for Higher Education Policy (1998). Reaping the Benefits: Defining the Public and Private Value of Going to College. The New Millennium Project on Higher Education Costs, Pricing, and Productivity. Washington, DC: Author.Rowley, L.L., & Hurtado, S. (2002). The Non-Monetary Benefits of an Undergraduate Education. University of Michigan: Center for the Study of Higher and Postsecondary Education.Schultz, T.W. (1961). Investment in Human Capital. American Economic Review, 51: 1-17.U.S. Department of Education (2001). Digest of Education Statistics [On-Line]. Available: Department of Education (2000). Think College Early: Average College Costs. [On-Line]. Available: ts.htmWolfe, B.L. (1994). External Benefits of Education. International Encyclopedia of Education. Oxford; New York: Pergamon Press.
The best motivation to be in college
is to realize your own goals and ambitions!

20. Review College Success means taking charge of your learning.
7 Ingredients for Success
A good attitude is the best start.
Know your strengths.
Set goals.
Develop positive character traits.
Master effective work skills.
Be engaged!
Keep your eyes on the prize.
What are your own personal ingredients for success?
How do ingredients for success in college different from ingredients for success in life?
Which ingredient is the hardest to master?

22. Academic Autobiography Activity 1.1
At some point in your schooling, you’ve probably written an autobiography about your life. In this assignment, you’ll be writing about your academic life.
Consider the following questions and compose your answers:
How well have you been prepared through grade school, middle school, and high school for the scholarly requirements of college?
What are your strong points as a student?
What do you predict will be your biggest academic challenge in college?
This assignment asks you to focus on yourself as a student, both by looking back and looking ahead.

Goal: To get your first-year students to think about how prepared they are for college.
Time Required: Completed by students outside of class as a paper or journal assignment.
Variation: Allow students to read each other’s academic autobiographies by posting them on the class website or bring them to class to compare their experiences.
Activity taken from Staley, Constance. 50 Ways to Leave Your Lectern. Belmont: Wadsworth/Thomson Learning, 2003.

23. The Ideal Student Activity 1.2
Think about the characteristics of an ideal student and create a “Top Ten List” of the attributes that an ideal student would display.
As a group, we will create a master list of our agreed upon most important attributes.
When we have our class “Top Ten List,” write the items down on your paper and identify the ones you can promise to do throughout the course with a Y for “yes.”
Consider your “yeses” carefully, as these papers will be collected and reviewed throughout the term.
Goal: To identify behavioral standards and to help students accept responsibility for their own performance in a course.
Time Required: generally 45 minutes to 1 hour
Materials: newsprint and easel stand, black/white board, or blank transparency and marker
Variation: At midterm, redistribute the lists so students are reminded of the “contracts” to which they agreed and rediscuss the class list.
Activity taken from Staley, Constance. 50 Ways to Leave Your Lectern. Belmont: Wadsworth/Thomson Learning, 2003.