Lorraine GoldbergNorthern Virginia Community College6/30/2015

Faculty Expectations and Tips for Students’ Academic Success

• Your support matters

• Goals for today:– To explain faculty expectations of students

– To provide best (and worst) practices

– To share information about how parents can support their child’s learning

Welcome Parents!

• Be familiar with academic calendar

• Know locations of library, bookstore, writing center, testing center, cafeteria, coffee shop, student ID/tuition/parking, and adviser(s)

• Walk class schedule & classrooms BEFORE start of classes

• Study course content summary

• Study course syllabus (paper/online)

• Come to class alert, prepared, and ready to engage (note 1st assignment due 1st day of class)

Faculty Expectations: Ownership of Learning Process

• ADAPTABILITY TO PROFESSORS & COURSEWORK!– Full time and adjunct professors (approach to/availability for student support)

– Interpretation of course content summary

– Amount & type of assignments

– Revisions/grading (A in high school = C in college); quality over quantity

• 3 hours of homework for every credit hour in class

• Analyze and follow directions

• COMMUNICATE with professors = ask questions, share thoughts– Office hours!

• Take advantage of extracurricular support

• Campus engagement opportunities: academic & social

Faculty Expectations: Time Management

• Behavior: be punctual, organized, responsive, and respectful– Be 10 minutes early to each class

– Turn off the phone

– Bring the course texts & assignments

– Be respectful in writing (professional emails, typed assignments)

– Be aware of course objectives and semester progress

• Engage in class discussion– Academic debate vs. argument

– Ask for assistance if shy/nervous

Faculty Expectations: Professionalism

• In general– Set a goal (graduation, transfer, career exploration, life skills)

– OOH

– Connect coursework to goals

– Seek balance

– Register for campus alerts

– Find a brain trust

• In class– Don’t make assumptions about faculty expectations, ASK!

– Make recurring appointments for office hours

– Annotate! Annotate! Annotate!

– Front row seats = front row grades

Faculty Expectations: Best Practices

• In general– Treat NVCC as a commuter campus experience

– Assume that gen eds don’t connect to upper level coursework

– Lose track of the academic calendar

• In class– Miss classes or be late consistently

– Don’t ask questions (e.g. no book = no first reading)

– Sit in the back row and remain silent all semester

– Send informal emails to professors

– Use cell phone during class time

– Last minute requests for more work/revision/extra credit

Worst Practices

• Success at CC more challenging than at 4-year institution– Competing responsibilities (work, family, bills, military service, etc.)

– Off campus life (housing, meals, transportation, social pressures)

– Onus is on students to ensure personal academic success

• Prioritize the learning experience– Minimize/simplify other responsibilities/pressures

– Set concrete rewards for academic success

• Encourage ownership of the learning experience– Ask short answer questions

– Be a sounding board, not a tutor/personal editor/back-up plan

– Encourage critical thinking (cause/effect)

Your Support Matters

Presentation available at http://blogs.nvcc.edu/lgoldberg/links/

Questions?