Student Success Course
In fall 2008, LSC-Kingwood will implement a pilot Student Success Course. Working from the efforts and definitions from Taskforce 3, the team at LSC-Kingwood is developing the curriculum and parameters for the course.
Many students come to community colleges with very limited understanding of the opportunities and demands of college life. The most recent research shows that student success courses help students early in their college experience develop clear educational goals and career goals. The research also demonstrates that student success courses help students have a better idea of what it takes to be successful in college, and offer practical skills to persist.1/
Underprepared students are usually described as those who require remediation in reading, writing, and/or math. Talk to any community college instructor and you will find that many define underprepared as those students who have poor study habits or lack clear career and educational goals.There is a large field of higher ed research that submits that addressing these deficiencies is just as important as helping students acquire basic academic skills through remedial classes–usually those classes do not address issues such as study skills, goal setting, etc.2/ In developing a curriculum from the researc h, specific topics will be addressed that center around success in not only college, but future careers and as lifelong learners. College success will focus not only on test taking and improving skills, but also on managing time and money. Career success will explore personalities and majors, and also open doors to expose students to different learning styles and modes of intelligence. Students will plan their education and career paths. Intrinsic to both of these topics is the skill building of the lifelong learner. Students will engage in tasks that involve critical thinking and creativity–skills that will support them in whatever direction they head. Students will work on communication and relationships; focus on the value of health and diversity. The goal is to give students the tools to adapt to new situations and learn how to learn as they look toward the future.
In responding to this burgeoning need, LSC-Kingwood will offer student success courses that will be designed to help students form goals for college and careers, develop good study habits, and learn about campus resources.3/
These classes will be taught by instructors or counselors who have the experience to facilitate student learning. The implementation team will work with instructors to develop a curriculum that will emphasize strategies and techniques to maximize academic performance. Students will participate in functions that develop their skills in analytical and critical thinking, research, memory enhancement and observing, recording and reviewing academic information. All selected instructors will go through training in summer 2008.