Syllabus 1

Syllabus H Ed 197 A SUCCESS EXPRESS Fall 2008 The First-Year Experience in Higher Education: Transition to a Community of Learners and Encouraging Academic Success. Instructor Tiffany Peck ENGR 200 [email protected] I work M-F 8-5, so feel free to stop by. However, to ensure that I will be at my desk, email me to set up an appt. Because this class is being held in a residence hall, you will need to call the Desk Asst. to be let in. You may not wander unescorted in the building, only go directly to the classroom and then depart directly out of the building. The only exception is to use a restroom. If there is a violation of this policy, the consequence is removal from the class.

Purpose This course is designed to enhance your overall success as a student. Students will explore, write about, and discuss their expectations and perceptions about college. You will gain insight into what it takes to make a successful transition into your freshman year of college. In addition, you will investigate possible connections with the University and how they can influence your college experience.

Objectives The course will focus activities and lessons around: 1. Making the transition to college. 2. Understanding and adjusting to the campus culture. 3. Becoming an active participant your community. 4. Developing connections with students, faculty, staff and the university. 5. Maturing and developing as a young adult. 6. Gaining a new perspective on self and community. 7. Increasing awareness and appreciation of diversity

Content 1. 2. 3. 4.

In-class activities and discussions (see course schedule). Self-Assessments to be done prior to class (see course schedule). Journal assignments—5 due dates (reflection questions provided). 7 out-of-class learning experiences (as approved by instructor) including: • Meetings with Professors (to be completed by the end of October) • Meetings with Advisor (to be completed by the end of November) • A diversity/social justice experience

• •

Write questions and interview an Upper-class Student Leader. 3 Student’s choice experiences o For your student’s choice experiences, you may choose to attend events with other members of the class, but each person must write about their own experience.

Grading 310 Points possible Participation

5 points/class

70 points possible

Reflection Journals (5)

20 points each

100 points possible

Out-of-Class Learning

20 points per activity

140 points possible

279 248 217 186 000

– – – – –

310: A 278: B 247: C 216: D 185:

E

Attendance

80% of success is showing up. -Woody Allen

An important part of this class is participating in discussions and in-class activities. Students are expected to be present at each class session and involved in class discussions, activities and experiences. Because of the importance attached to regular attendance: 1. Each absence that is not the result of a medical emergency or that is not approved in advance by your instructor, results in the loss of the 5 participation points for that day. 2. An excused absence is one that the instructor has approved in advance. 3. Students with excused absences are still required to complete and submit course content. 4. Students that are late after 10 minutes will be marked down as absent. If you are late to a class, please remain after the class has ended to speak to the instructor.

Class Behavior

The following behaviors will not be tolerated in class: • All cell phones & pagers must be shut off while in class; that does not mean putting your phone on vibrate. • Plagiarism is not acceptable & is in violation of the Student Code of Academic Integrity (http://studpubs.web.arizona.edu/policies/cacaint.htm).Since the class assignments focus on your thoughts & beliefs, plagiarism hinders the instructor’s ability to assess your progress at this institution. • Physical or verbal threats to the instructor or students in the class are unacceptable. It is also a violation of the Student Code of Conduct (http://policy.web.arizona.edu/~policy/threaten.shtml).

Students with Disabilities

If you anticipate issues related to the format or requirements of this course, please meet with me. I would like us to discuss ways to ensure your full participation in the course. If you determine that formal, disability-related accommodations are necessary, it is very important that you be registered with Disability Resources (621-

3268; drc.arizona.edu) and notify me of your eligibility for reasonable accommodations. We can then plan how best to coordinate your accommodations.

Course Schedule Aug. 26 Experiences

Ice Breaker; Course Introduction- Syllabus, Schedule, & Out of Class

Sept. 2 Discussion: Expectations & perceptions of college and first Impressions. Journal #1 written in class Sept. 9

Library Tour. This class meets in the Main Library. We will be meeting at the front doors to begin our tour. Out of Class Experience Due

Sept. 16 Campus Resources Quest handout; Discussion: Preparing to meet with your professors. Enter in all your semester due dates from each course syllabus on a “Semester on a Page” sheet. http://www.ulc.arizona.edu/semesteronapage.php * Out of Class Experience Due Sept. 23

Sept. 30

Present: Campus Resources Quest findings Discussion: Connecting to the campus community Out of Class Experience Due Discussion: Goal Setting. Journal #2 due in class

Oct. 7 Discussion: Study Skills. Try out different methods of reading and annotating before class. Which one(s) work best for you – Cornell Method, Mind Mapping, Annotating http://www.ulc.arizona.edu/online_materials/Notetakingonline_files/frame.htm * Out of Class Experience Due Oct. 14 before class.

Discussion: Learning Styles. Complete the Learning Styles assessment http://www.ulc.arizona.edu/learning_style.php * Out of Class Experience Due

Oct. 21 Discussion: Time Management Strategies. Complete Time Management quiz before class; available at: http://www.ulc.arizona.edu/online_materials/TimeManagementonline_files/Self_Assessment.htm *

Journal #3 due in class Oct. 28

Discussion: Conflict Management Out of Class Experience Due

Nov. 4

Credit-Wise Cats Presentation. Journal #4 due in class

Nov. 11

No Class – Veterans Day

Nov. 18 available at:

Discussion: Stress Relief. Complete a “Stress Assessment” before class;

http://www.ulc.arizona.edu/online_materials/StressManagementonline_files/stres s_assessment.html * Out of Class Experience Due

Nov. 25

No Class—Thanksgiving Holiday

Dec. 2 Discussion: Looking back and looking ahead. (Course evaluations and wrap up) Journal #5 due in class * The starred items are self-assessment tools that need to be completed before class in order to facilitate your full participation in the class. None of them will take more than a few minutes of your time. You will be docked participation points if you do not complete these assignments.

Required Journals All journals should be: • Typed and 2-4 pages in length; double spaced; 12 pt. font (Times New Roman); 1 inch margins. o You may print on both sides of the paper. • Make sure you staple if more than one page, and include your name, date, journal number, and title. • You may turn the assignments in via email BEFORE class starts. • Points will be deducted for not following the correct format. EXPECTATIONS 1. What expectations do you have about attending college? (what did you think things would be like here at the UA? For example, classes, social life, dorm living, studying, free time, living away from home, having a roommate, etc.) What influenced these expectations? (i.e. from where did they come? Parents? Siblings? Friends? The media? Etc.) Have you spent any time thinking about making a successful transition from high school and home to college and dorm? What will you need to do to make a successful transition? Tuesday, September 2, written in class. PURPOSE 2. Write about your reasons for attending college. Who and what influenced your decision to attend college? What do you want to gain from your college experience? What personal and academic goals do you have for this year? How do your academic goals affect the way you study? What do you have that is unique and valuable to contribute to the many conversations on campus? What will you need to do to be successful academically this year? Are you aware of anything you are doing that could prevent you from achieving these goals? What new experiences are you hoping to have? What would you like to explore? What future classes might you take that reflect a personal interest or passion? Due Tuesday September 30, at the start of class. BALANCE 3.

What is your reaction to the pace and quantity of course materials and assignments? How much thought have you given to how you will spend your time? How are you organizing and making use of your time? One challenge faced by many freshmen is finding a way to allocate time so that they are both happy personally and effective in their academic work. How would you evaluate yourself in balancing happiness and academics? What has been difficult? What has been easy? Describe your experience here about your new freedom and independence. How are you handling the responsibility of your new freedom and independence? How well prepared were you for this responsibility? Due Tuesday, October 21, at the start of class.

CONNECTIONS 4. What has been your experience so far with feeling a connection to the University? Write about whether or not you feel you belong and fit in here. If you live on campus, what has been your experience in your residence hall? Are you experiencing a sense of community on your wing? In what ways do you participate in and contribute to your wing community? What kinds of social connections have you made? How satisfying are these connections? In what ways are you connecting to the UA? Describe how you are connecting in-class experiences with things you do outside of class. Have you thought about taking a class, just for fun, about something that is of interest to you? What class could you take? Due Tuesday, Nov 4, at the start of class. LEARNING 5. How accurate were your expectations about college? What expectations turned out to be true? Not true? What important things have you learned since coming to the University of Arizona? How are you different? If you could start the school year over, what would you do differently? If you were to return to your high school and talk with Seniors there, what words of wisdom and advice would you give to them? Due Tuesday, December 2, at the start of class.