Theme: Academic Success

Suggested Discussion Topics and Activities:

1. Help students understand academic planning (PDF) and decision making (PDF), including academic requirements, processes, and deadlines.
   • Students should understand their degree requirements, including classes in their major, minor, concentration, and electives
   • Go over the Academic Skills Sheet (PDF)
   • Read the catalog
   • Encourage students to keep track of their progress
   • Advisement and Registration Guidelines (PDF)
   • Course Planning Worksheet (PDF)
   • Make sure your students review the information in the Student Success Planner on Banner Web and how to read a CAPP report
   • Have students run a CAPP Report or if they are interested in changing their major, encourage the students to run a "What If " CAPP report
     
     
2. Encourage students to utilize campus academic resources since students should feel comfortable using resources that assist them with their academic career.
   • Have students look up their Academic Advisor's contact information on BannerWeb. Have students email their advisor or drop in to his/her office hours to introduce themselves.
   • Encourage students to visit their professors (Communicating with your professor) (PDF)
   • Introduce students to the library through the Library Web Scavenger Hunt Activity (PDF) (Directions and Answer Key) (PDF) or the Library Scavenger Hunt Activity (PDF)and (Directions) (PDF). This activity guides students through the library while collecting clues that lead to a final assignment. These assignment can either in or out of class activities. (You might want the Library Scavenger Hunt Unscrambled Clues (PDF)available to you as your students work through the hunt)
   • Invite a representative from ASAP to class to discuss their services, including peer tutors.
   • Visit the Health Services website
   • Have students identify and introduce themselves to their Academic Peer Mentor (APM) in their residence hall.
     
     
3. Assist students in maximizing their learning by helping them to understand their learning style, realizing what their academic strengths and weaknesses are, and helping with academic skills such as time management, study skills, test and note taking strategies.
   • Have students discover their preferred learning style. Have students complete the VARK in the Purpose and Practice reader; visit http://www.vark-learn.com for more information.
   • Time Management Tips (PDF)
   • Study Skills - Study Distractions (PDF)
   • Test (PDF)and Note Taking (PDF)skills
   • Helping COR 101 students improve note-taking skills (PDF): additional resource for students who need extra help with their note taking skills
   • Have students complete these critical thinking and listening activities: All Tied Up, Art Critique - Rules of Engagement, Critical Thinking - Listening Activity,
   • Door to Door - It's Not the Avon Lady Calling - Rules of Engagement, Everyday Life (asks students to answer questions about things they see everyday), Lincoln Electronics - Rules of Engagement,
   • Springfield Middle School - No Try Outs - Rules of Engagement, The Riddle, Transportation Activity, and What Is It?.
   • Overcoming Procrastination (PDF)
     
     
4. Help students begin to understand how their career paths relate to academics and encourage them to see the connections between college and their career choices.
   • Visit Career Services or have the students take the many assessment tools available through Career Services.
   • Discuss transferrable skills and the importance of extra-curricular involvement
   • Career Development Resource (PDF)