You will hear again and again that college is not like high school. Students have much more responsibility in college for their time management, academic planning, and personal care than they have ever had before. One of the most significant challenges is learning new study skills. College-level study skills are more time-intensive than most students experienced in high school. Students will be doing significant amounts of reading and writing, and they will find that more of their learning takes place outside the classroom—both academically and personally.
Although students may face more independence and self-determination during their college years, schools provide the support services students need to thrive and succeed. Learning Commons or tutors may be located in the library, the student union, or an academic support center to provide assistance for courses ranging from accounting to writing and zoology, including tutoring for math, chemistry, physics, and foreign languages. Assistance with student skills may be offered through individual appointments–either in person or online–or as an online or in person classroom setting, and students will find additional assistance through counseling and advising services. The tools for student success are all available, but students need to take initiative in asking for assistance.
The tools for student success are all available on campus, but students will need to take initiative in asking for assistance. Some of the messages students will be hearing during New Student Orientation and as they begin college are:
- Talk to faculty and instructors outside of class hours. Whether students are struggling or doing well in the classroom, instructors provide valuable insights and support for student success.
- Work with other students in study groups. Talking about assignments and going over concepts helps reinforce learning.
- Use tutoring and other academic support services. Students all learn differently, and by working with a tutor, the student may be able to grasp the information more successfully.
- Attend classes. In some cases, faculty will not take attendance and students are tempted to skip class. Students are responsible for knowing what was covered in class, however, and lecture material can help clarify readings.
- Take study skills courses, even if you are a successful student. Tips on test-taking, note-taking, and reading for comprehension benefit all students.
For a list of resources that offer student support, do a search on the college website for “learning commons,” “tutoring,” or “academic assistance.”
Rights and Responsibilities
Colleges and universities regard students as adults and expect their students to represent themselves and the institution with maturity and respect. Many schools have adopted an Honor Code or Pledge that outlines their values related to student conduct. All schools have formal disciplinary processes to ensure protection for all students, identify behavioral expectations, maintain educational standards, and promote academic integrity.
Among the issues that student conduct covers are all types of academic misconduct (copying from another student; giving exam answers to another student; using unauthorized resources during an exam; plagiarism or copying material for a paper or report without giving proper credit to the original author; and disrupting classes). Student conduct also addresses issues related to acceptable online behaviors, alcohol and drug use, harassment or hazing, property damage or theft, and violating the law or violating university policies.