- Attend all classes and take it seriously.
When you miss class, you miss notes, handouts, and announcements about
important dates. Attending class helps build a relationship with the
instructor and other class members. Not knowing where your class meets
isn't an excuse for missing class. Find out where the class is meeting by
checking on myMU, looking in Schedule
of Courses, or looking on your
schedule you received when you registered for classes.
- Read the material before class.
Class lectures are meant to explain and clarify the reading material
not to replace the reading material. Also, being
prepared builds confidence that ultimately
shows in your performance.
- Participate in class discussions and take notes.
Ask and answer questions.
Participating in class discussions shows the instructor your interest and
effort in understanding the material being covered. Write down information such as the instructor’s name,
important dates, assignments, and example, the instructor uses.
- Always take a notebook and pen to class.
Don't expect the instructor or classmates
to bring these items for you. Asking someone else to take class notes or have others inform you of
what is going on in a class so that you can "goof off" is a
neglect of your responsibilities. If there is a true
emergency wherein you must miss classes, try to notify your instructors who
might help later you get back on track.
- Do your homework and hand your assignments in on time.
Most instructors penalize students for
not meeting deadlines. No one can afford to lose points or a
letter grade. If you have a writing assignment, write several drafts and have
someone else read over it before you turn it in. Remember help is available at
the
Writing Center. Also, a computer is a tool or aid, not a substitution for knowledge.
- Sit near the front.
Sitting closer to the instructor will enable you to
pay better attention to the important information conveyed in
the class.
- If you don't understand something, get help immediately.
Meet with your instructor to clear up any misunderstandings.
There is no shame in
getting help, and very few get through college without some form of assistance. So what if
it takes a little longer to learn the material? If you are having academic problems and can only offer a myriad of
excuses or blame others for your failure to perform, you are simply "copping
out."
Ask your instructor for help. This lets him/her know you are trying and in return your instructor
may be more understanding. You can also get help from
Tutoring
Services.
- Stop procrastinating.
It's easy to fall behind on reading and assignments. Get an early start
on studying. You cannot work hard one day a week and hope your grades
will be above average. If you spend just an hour a day reviewing class materials,
your study time for exams will be less. Also, keep
in mind that you will be evaluated on your actual performance, not your
promises of performance.
- Quiz yourself for exams.
Or have someone else quiz you. This helps builds confidence that you know
and understand the material and better prepares you for the exams. (Tips for
Taking Exams)
- Use a planner, calendar or schedule.
These will help you keep up with assignment deadlines, exam dates, and
other important deadlines. Time management and prioritization of
activities are skills that help you manage studies and other obligations.
- Keep all syllabi.
In every class, you are given a syllabus, which contains important information. Keep all syllabi in a safe
place until your grade is final.
- Set up your myMU account and check it
regularly.
This
way you have access to emails, your grades, the web, important dates,
course schedules, etc. Some instructors send assignments to you using myMU
and the Marshall Community and Technical College Advising Center will send
important messages to your myMU
account. Stay up-to-date by reading your mail.
- Accept constructive criticism.
Constructive criticism is not meant to be personal nor should you take it that way.
Instructors will critique your work and be doing you a favor. No matter how competent you may be, all work can be improved.
Indeed,
if your work is heavily "red lined," it means that your professor took a lot
of time to show you the need to improve and how to do it. If you feel free to criticize your
instructors (and you will), be prepared to understand and accept academic
criticism.
- Keep all important paper or anything that looks important.
If you are unsure if a paper is important, keep it. You may need it
later in the semester/term. It's always good practice to save copies of
- program sheets or the Marshall Community and
Technical College Catalog you entered under because program
requirements can change before you graduate;
- official drop/add slips;
- class schedules;
- intercollege transfer requests;
- developmental course contract agreements;
- grade changes; and/or
- receipts for books in case you need to return one;
If there are no
copies because you transacted such business on the web, check, recheck and
then check again your procedures and, if possible, make a print copy of
the transaction. While university offices can make mistakes, they are more than helpful if you can offer evidence that
you really did follow the correct
procedures.
- You will be confused at
times.
This is normal, upsetting, potentially embarrassing,
and usually happens to new students. Remember that college is a way of life
with its own rules and deadlines. Take time to learn the location of
buildings and offices on campus. New Student Orientation campus tour seldom
provides you with the knowledge of every office location. Become an explorer and spend some time learning where
all student services are located. The Marshall Community and Technical College does want you to succeed and will help
avail you of Marshall's services. These range from writing and math tutoring to personal counseling.
- Be aware of your physical and mental well-being.
When exhausted, rest. When hungry, eat proper food(s) and know when to
relax without "goofing-off." Getting sick by ignoring your body or
mind's basic needs isn't good.
- Write, email, or call home.
It may sound
silly but your parent(s) can prove to be your strongest support service.
They want to know honestly and truthfully just how you are doing.
They may not know how to help other than by listening, but that act alone
is essential to your well-being. If you live at home, set a
"date" with your parent(s) and get caught up on each other's
lives.
- You're an adult.
College is a learning experience and part of the experience is becoming an
adult and taking responsibility for yourself, your behavior and your
decisions. Relying on others (i.e., mommy and daddy, your friends, or spouse) for what you should be doing,
how you should act, or blaming others isn't being
an adult.
- Yes, there are rules and deadlines.
There are more than can be memorized but rules are in
your Marshall Community and Technical College Catalog or available on
the web. Deadlines are posted on bulletin boards or in the Marshall Community and Technical College Advising Center
or listed on your class syllabus,
the Schedule of Courses, or the web. Remember, ignorance of what is required is no excuse for failing
to perform. Do not become one who frequently states, "But no one
told me . . . "
- Accept responsibility for yourself, your
behavior, and YOUR education.
If others prompt what you say or do, if how
you act isn't your fault but others, if failing to turn in assignments on
time or miss application deadlines isn't your fault,
you really cannot claim to be acting like an adult. Yes, we all forget and
get angry at times but being in a constant state of forgetfulness and anger
isn't being an adult. If you are not doing well academically, get help. Seeking
advice is always wise. Trying to play it safe and avoiding making choices
can lean to serious personal dissatisfaction and likely failure.
If you entered college just to please someone else, or anyone else, you will
end up pleasing no one, least of all yourself. While parents,
guardians and friends should be concerned about your academic welfare, it is
your education, your degree and your life. Take pride in thinking for yourself and, at the same time, educate
others as to your competence. If you let others decide just what
you are going to study and just what you are going to be, you have neglected
all adult responsibility. Yes, making decisions and worrying
about the possible consequences is hard but you can do it.
- Ask questions!
If you don't find out for yourself, no one will for you.
There are no dumb questions concerning classroom content. If you don't know or
don't understand something about what is going on in the classroom, you can be
sure that many of your peers don't either. Learning to ask
questions is a real skill and you must develop it.
- Spare others from uttering lame excuses.
Many students use excuses for their lack of commitment to college or becoming
an adult. "I
don't test well," "I can't understand the material," "That class
isn't relevant," "I don't like my instructor," or the famous
"No one told me," are often
heard. Accept the fact that you will have to take classes that don't seem
relevant to your major, you will have to study for tests and work on
assignments which are
designed to show if you have mastered subject content, you won't always
like your instructor, and you are responsible for keeping up with
deadlines.
- Meet with your advisor.
Meet with your advisor BEFORE registration week to discuss your schedule.
Ask about the advantages and disadvantages of taking online courses or
taking classes off campus. Marshall Community and Technical College
Advising Center is typically open from 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Monday, Thursday,
and Friday and 8:00 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday. You don't
necessarily need an appointment unless it's during the weeks of
registration.
- Pre-register for your classes.
You are more than likely to get the classes you need and at the time that
best fits your schedule. You are strongly advised to pre-register and
see your advisor during this time.
- Advisors aren't miracle workers.
Failing to pre-register for classes, trying to
schedule classes after they have started, trying to get schedules
adjustments after the deadline, demanding a certain schedule with no
flexibility, or seeking exceptions to the rules, you don't want an advisor
you want a miracle worker. Trying to get a full schedule around a full
time job and family obligations or just because you don't want to get up
early is difficult if not impossible especially if you register late. Although the Advising Staff makes every effort
to help students, they too have deadlines to meet and rules to follow.
Remember,
| Prior |
| Planning |
| Prevents |
| Poor |
| Performance |
- Be patient with yourself.
You will make errors or seeming mistakes during your collegiate career. Please
be assured you are not doomed. When you realize or even think you have made
a mistake, a contact advisor and set out to correct the
situation. If you don't, try to correct the mistake immediately,
other problems can be created.
- Know your academic and financial aid situation
before you request to drop/add or withdraw from class especially after the
schedule adjustment deadline.
Usually the schedule adjustment deadline is at the end
of the first week of the semester. After that if you drop a class, you will
receive a grade of "W." This "W" does go on your
transcript and cannot be removed. Taking developmental courses often requires the student to finish
these courses within three (3) semesters. This won't be possible if you drop the
course(s). These and other situations need to be considered
before you request to drop/add or withdrawal from class especially after the
schedule adjustment deadline. See your copy of the Marshall Community and
Technical College Catalog for more information.
- You must EARN your
degree; it's not given to you.
If you accept and understand
this,
you will likely be successful in getting your degree. Advisors often
receive requests for exceptions to the Marshall Community and Technical
College or Marshall University rules. Advisors hear complaints
about how unfair class instructors are or that a poor grade given by an
instructor isn't right. You or any student must EARN your degree. Please
don't expect it to be given to you.
- Not everyone graduates in one or two years.
While it is possible to get your certificate in
one year or graduate with a degree in two years, many students don't. While the idea of a
one-year certificate or two year associate degree is thought of as the norm, in
reality there can be many circumstances that could prevent it. If you switch
majors, have to take developmental courses, hit academic snags, skip a
semester, or don't go full time, you won't finish in one or two
years.
- Don't plan your future and ignore the present.
Many students enter college without
a focus while others know what they want their future to be from the date of entry.
Planning ahead is great and recommended, but don't forget to focus on the
present. When confronted with an academic glitch,
not achieving a desired grade needed, or missing your graduation application
deadline, you may find the most optimistic and well-laid plan needs to be re-focused. By focusing on your academic requirements, you can make your goals
possible.
- A degree doesn't guarantee you a great career,
success, or a big salary.
A degree is supposed to be indicative of some sort of
intellectual and academic achievement. Employers will hire you
assuming that you can demonstrate superior intellectual skills such as
writing, speaking, research, observation and the like. Success, a great
career, and a big salary are never
guaranteed.
- You will be different.
The
collegiate experience, if enthusiastically engaged in, will transform you. You will become a different person. Not
that you will be any better or worse, but others will view you a bit differently and you will return the
favor. The
changes are often nothing more than a felt attitude, awareness that you've
redeveloped insights/opinions, or raised new questions. College can enhance your
individuality. It should make you a more
interesting as will as a more productive person.
Associates
