1. Academic Survival Employing Interdependence Presentation based on:
Downing, Skip. On Course: Strategies for Creating Success in College and Life, 3rd Ed.

2. Interdependence Successful Students Struggling Students
Develop mutually supportive relationships, recognizing that life is richer when giving to and receiving from others.
Struggling Students
Remain dependent, co-dependent, or independent in relation to others.

3. Interdependence Successful Students
Create a support network, using an interactive team approach to success.
Struggling Students
Work alone, seldom cooperating with others for the common good of all.

4. Interdependence Successful Students Struggling Students
Strengthen relationships with active listening, showing their concern for the other person’s thoughts and feelings.
Struggling Students
Listen poorly,
demonstrating little desire
to understand another
person’s perspective.

5. Interdependence
In our relationships with other people, there are four common types of people:
Dependent people believe that most of the work in accomplishing their goals will have to be done by others. A dependent person takes too much from others.
Co-dependent people believe that they can pursue their goals as soon as they have helped others achieve their goals. A co-dependent person gives too much.

6. Interdependence Independent people – believe that they can get what
they want all by themselves without the help of anyone. An
independent person seldom gives or receives.
Interdependent people – believe that they can accomplish
what they want mostly by themselves, but will be able to
accomplish MORE and have more fun if they give and
receive help. The interdependent person finds a balance
between giving and receiving.

7. Interdependence
Successful students create a supportive team and maximize
college success by:
Seeking assistance from instructors
Creating study partnerships, project teams
Seeking assistance from librarian and other academic
assistance personnel
Seeking assistance from advisors, counselors
Using the assistance of community resources
Engaging the help of family members

8. Interdependence
The most important characteristic in a healthy mutually
supportive relationship is the ability to be an active listener.
How to listen actively:
Listen to understand. (empathy)
Clear your mind and remain silent. (silence)
Ask the person to expand or clarify. (expansion / clarification)
Reflect the other person’s thoughts and feelings. (reflection)

9. Believing in Yourself: Be Assertive
Two obstacles to building effective relationships are placating
and blaming.
Placating – when an individual acts as a victim by placing
themselves below others so as to avoid the criticism or judgment of others.
Blaming – when an individual acts as a victim by blaming all
failures, trials, or problems on others.

10. Creator Communication
Effective communication occurs through leveling – the ability to
act as a creator by using simple, yet profound communication
that asserts the truth as you see it.
Communicate purposefully – express a clear purpose for your communication even in times of upset.
Communicate honestly – express unpopular thoughts and
upset feelings in the service of building healthy relationships.

11. Creator Communication
Communicate responsibly – express thoughts using
an I-message. These message contain four elements:
A statement of the situation (When you…)
A statement of your reaction (I felt / thought / decided…)
A request (I’d like to ask that you…)
An invitation to respond (Will you agree to that?)

12. Making Requests
Making effective requests is a vital skill for successful students to develop. Always approach requests from a creator’s voice rather than a victim’s voice.
Requests are most effective when the DAPPS principle is applied: dated, achievable, personal, positive, and specific.
Victim Creator
I’m going to be absent next John, I’m going to be
Friday. It sure would be nice absent next Friday.
if someone would let me Would you be willing to
know if I miss anything call me Friday night
and tell me what I missed.

13. Saying NO! NO is not a rude word. Use it when you simply cannot commit
to the request of others. NO requires no further explanation, it
is a complete sentence all by itself.