Transcript College Student Success - Buffalo State Orientation

College Student Success
Based on the advice of
Buffalo State’s Orientation
Leaders
Respectful Classroom Behavior
• Be on time
• Cell phones SILENT. Vibrate is still irritating.
• Participate in class – answer questions and ask
questions
• Ask RELEVANT questions
• Be an active participant/student in class, but not
too active.
• Bring books, notebooks, pen, and pencil to class
• Read and prepare for class
Disrespectful Behaviors
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Texting
Talking (side conversations & whispering)
Clicking or tapping a pen
Falling asleep in general (specifically in the first row)
Asking questions that were just asked (and answered)
Extraneous noise (squeaks, crinkles, iPod, coughs, etc.)
Talking over the teacher – please raise your hand
Answering your cell phone when in class
Frequent trips to the bathroom and/or out of the room
Eating food LOUDLY (crunchy foods, crinkly packaging)
Correcting faculty member and being arrogant
Being Successful
• Bring your planner and manage your time
– Write key dates and assignments in your calendar
• Keep your syllabus the ENTIRE semester
• Make friends in class
• Sit in the “T” zone
– First two rows, in center of room
• Dress up the first day
– No pajamas, no hats, take off your sunglasses
• Be cautious about what you say
– You don’t know others’ experiences
• Be open-minded
• Arrive early for a test
Get to Know the Professor
• Know prof’s name, use correct title (Dr. vs not), and learn what each
prof prefers to be called (Dr. Julia vs Dr. Smith)
• Communicate professionally—no slang please
– Introduce yourself
– Use good manners. Say please and thank you.
– Communicate via e-mail
• If you’re using your laptop (or a recording device) to take notes, ask
the professor ahead of time
• Seek out your professors. Don’t wait for them to seek you out. Find
a faculty mentor. Research with them.
• Have Disability Services tell your professor about accommodations
AHEAD OF TIME
• Use office hours. Ask for help.
• See instructor as more than just a professor
Tips for Surviving a Lecture Hall
• Go to class regularly. It’s easy to skip in a class of
200—go anyway!
• Know where you are going ahead of time. Find the
actual classrooms. Get there early.
• Know your own strengths and weaknesses
– If you’re not a morning person, avoid morning classes
• Buy and read the books! Prepare for class
• Take notes
• Speak up. Participate.
– Don’t assume you’re just a number
Other OL Comments
• Know the Library / Information Commons
– Check out books in library if you can’t buy them
• Diversify your class load
• See your adviser
• Pick a professor based on your learning style
– Use Drop-Add week if necessary
• Don’t procrastinate—turn things in on time
• If you’re SUPER sick, don’t go to class
The College Writing Program (CWP)
• All students must satisfy the SUNY Basic Written and
Oral Communication requirement.
• At Buffalo State this requirement is satisfied through
successful completion of CWP 101 and CWP 102 or
their equivalents.
• If you have any questions about CWP courses,
placement, tutoring services, etc:
 Check the CWP website at:
http://writing.buffalostate.edu.
 Call the CWP office at: 716-878-5451
 Email Dr. Michele Ninacs, Director of the College Writing
Program at: [email protected]
The College Writing Program (CWP)
• The Buffalo State common writing handbook is A
Writer’s Reference by Diana Hacker and Nancy
Sommers. The handbook is customized for Buffalo
State and is available only through the campus
bookstore.
• This is a required text for all CWP courses!
The Buffalo State Common Reading
• This year’s common reading is “I Stand Here
Writing” by Nancy Sommers.
• The essay is in the common handbook, A Writer’s
Reference.
• All students in CWP 099, 101, and 102 courses
will read, discuss, and write about this essay.
The Writing Help Center
What: The Writing Help Center in Butler Library
offers a free mentoring service to assist students
throughout all stages of the writing process,
including brainstorming, drafting, revising,
editing, and other writing needs or questions.
Where: Butler Library room 157B, just before
the main atrium area.
When: Monday-Thursday 12-5 and 6-9 and
Sunday 2-5. No appointment needed!
Some Truths About College
• You get the opportunity to monitor your studying and
preparation independently
• Take responsibility for your own learning
• Teachers and parents won’t be looking over your shoulder
and reminding you about your homework
• There is much less structure
• There is much more freedom, but also more temptation
• You must be self-disciplined
• Different professors are VERY different and have different
expectations.
– An important skill of the college student is to figure out what
your professor is expecting from you.