Student Retention Services – College Success & Learning Strategies

Retention services helps students develop personal responsibility, self-motivation, persistence, and other skills which empower them to make wiser choices and, therefore, achieve greater academic success.  The following information is a synopsis of critical practices that can make a difference between academic success and failure.

Success Strategies:

• Tips for Success In the Classroom
• Tips for Success Outside the Classroom
• General Study Strategies
• Academic Survival Tips
• Tips for On-Line Courses
• Effectively Using Library Resources for Research Assignments
• Are you ready to take an Online-Course?
• Differences between High School and College

Tips for Success In the Classroom:

• Attend all classes in their entirety and arrive on-time. If you must miss class, contact your instructor as soon as possible to clarify any problems. Arrive on time, nothing frustrates and annoys a professor more than students walking in late and distracting both the professor and other students.
• Read the text material scheduled for lecture prior to attending class. While reading, write in your notebook any questions that arise. If your instructor doesn't address these questions during lecture, make sure you ask for help afterwards. Don't let problems accumulate until it becomes too late.
• Don't be afraid to explore new study techniques. As an example, "concept mapping" is a much better way to study concepts than "flash cards". If you are unfamiliar with the process of "concept mapping", please visit your campus Retention Services for instruction on this technique.
• Do not procrastinate studying or assignment preparation. Attempts to "cram" study for tests will likely not be successful. Remember, instructors recommend that you devote two hours of study each week for each hour spent in class during the week.
• Turn in papers and assignments by deadlines - students who turn in assignments on time will usually see higher grades than students who miss deadlines.  Being on time often provides you an opportunity to rewrite papers or correct assignments that late students miss.

Tips for Success Outside the Classroom:

• Attend Orientation.  College can be a maze of policies and people.  Attending orientation will give you a head start, and will help prepare you for the challenges ahead.
• Take a class for fun.  If you are taking a course you enjoy, it will re-fuel you for those that are a bit more difficult for you.
• Work on campus.  Studies show that students who work on campus succeed at a far higher rate than those who do not. This is because students who work on campus know many staff and faculty members they can turn to for help in achieving their educational goals.
• Get involved with student activities.  Join ASCSN Student Government.  The more active you are, the greater your exposure to college processes and personnel.
• Enroll in a college success course.  Courses such as ALS 101 (Academic and Life Skills) provide you with additional skills to succeed in the classroom and beyond. Return to Success Strategies

General Study Strategies:

• How to Read and Study the Sciences 
• How to Study Math
• Technique for Reading Textbooks
• Test Taking Techniques
• Writing a Research Paper 

Academic Survival Tips:

• Improving Memory Skills
• Improving Scholastic Motivation
• Speaking and Relating to Your Instructors  
• Effective Time Management 
• Personal Time Calculation Tool
• The Note-Taking Process
• Time Schedule Form
• Time Schedule Sample

Tips for On-Line Courses:

• Have direct access to a computer and Internet connection. The classroom is accessed through the Web. You must have access to a computer with an Internet connection to take part in the classroom.
• Must be comfortable expressing yourself in writing, since in the online classroom, nearly all communication is written.
• Must be self-motivated and self-disciplined. With the freedom and flexibility of the online environment comes responsibility. The online process takes a real commitment and discipline to keep up with the flow of the process.
• Must "speak up" if problems arise. Many of the non-verbal communication clues that instructors use in determining whether students are having problems (confusion, frustration, boredom, absence, etc.) are not possible in an online class. If you are experiencing difficulty on any level (either with the technology or with the course content), you must communicate this immediately. Otherwise the instructor will never know what is wrong.
• Must commit 5-10 hours per week per course. Online learning is not easier than the traditional educational process. In fact, many students say it requires more time and commitment.
• Must value high quality learning outside the traditional classroom. If you feel that a traditional classroom is a prerequisite to learning, you may be more comfortable in a traditional classroom setting. An online learner should expect to:
  • Participate in the virtual classroom 3-5 days a week
  • Respond to classmates' ideas and questions
  • Use technology properly
  • Complete assignments on time
  • Enjoy communicating in writing
• Follow these overall guidelines to achieve success (© Robert M. Sherfield, Ph.D. 2005):
  • Develop a schedule for completing each assignment and stick to it! This is the biggest problem with online classes.
  • Keep a copy of all work mailed, e-mailed, or delivered to the professor. 
  • Always mail, e-mail, or deliver your assignment on time – early if possible. 
  • Try to find someone who is registered for the same course so that you can work together or at least have a phone number to call if you run into a problem.
  • Take full advantage of any online orientation or training sessions.
  • Participate in class and in your groups (if you are assigned a group).
  • If you have computer failure, have a back-up plan. 
  • Log in EVERYDAY even if you do not have an assignment due.
  • Alert your professor immediately if you have family, computer, or personal problems that would prevent you from completing an assignment on time.
  • Work ahead if possible.

The online learning process is normally accelerated and requires commitment on the learner’s part. Staying up with the class and completing all work on time is vital. Once a learner gets behind, it is very difficult to catch up. Basically, you should want the experience of learning in an online environment!