1. Academic Success Without the Stress
Xcaret Cruz, Toni Formato, Patricia Gilmer, Titus Greene, Alex Kirian, Alan LaMantia

2. Study Strategies Implement a calendar
In what ways would a calendar help?
Thoughts and work organized
Schedule and plan
Work as a checklist
Examples: mobile calendar reminders, planners
Take breaks in between studying
Benefits of breaks between studying
Relax and de-stress
Restore motivation
Examples: walk, snack, stretch or anything that helps avoid health risks.
Avoid procrastinating and the factors that triggers it for you
Procrastinate: to put off intentionally the doing of something that should be done
Examples of triggers: Laziness, TV, Internet, Social Media and any other distraction.
Implement a Calendar
Using a calendar can help you organize your thoughts, plans and ideas.
On a calendar you can plan your schedule. Your schedule can include school and outside of school activities.
Once your information is organized you could use that as a checklist so you know what's coming next and are not confused thinking if something you had to do was already done.
Examples: Mobile Calendar apps, planners
Take Breaks in between studying
Multiple studies have proven that pausing while studying have actually helped improve “productivity, success, and positive outlook on the future.”
Taking some time to move away from studying for a couple of minutes is crucial to your health. Taking some time could help restore your motivation as well as relax and relieve the stress and pressure of studying.
Examples: Stretch, walk around, snack, nap or anything that distracts you from the stress of studying and being in one place for a long time.
Avoid Procrastinating and the factors that triggers it for you
Procrastinating could lead to your fail. If you put away what should have been your priority then you will not succeed. Avoid things that can distract you from accomplishing your goal. Do not leave things you could do today for tomorrow, because tomorrow could be too late.
Examples: laziness, Tv, Social Media

3. Study Strategies Listen, Take, Highlight Listen to music
Thoroughly listen during lectures
Take notes
Highlight important information
Listen to music
The Washington Post editor Amy Spray stated that music and high IQ levels had some type of correlation according to scientific research.
Example: Classical Music to increase mood and productivity
Listen, Take, Highlight
This process is just to make sure you are paying attention and also finding out what you see as important or what you would need.
Listen to Music
Northcentral University in California stated how different types of music affected different moods and emotions. It also affects how you will act while studying. For example spa music helps you relax while classical boosts your mood and productivity.

4. Study Strategies Review notes and relevant material weekly
Memorization
Focused
Remember goal
Seek help from teachers
Better understanding
Main source
Review notes and relevant material weekly
Reviewing notes and material for a couple of minutes weekly will help with memorization so it sticks to your brain more.
Seek help from teachers
In order to get your work done and with a clear understanding is by asking help from the main source that asigned you that task. Your teacher. He or she will the ones to give you the most help.

5. Study Strategies Find a comfy and quiet place to study
Finding a quiet place to study can:
Help you to focus
Help you to get more work done in a shorter time period
Examples: Library, computer lab, your room.
Get enough sleep
Studies show that getting enough sleep (at least 8 hours) help students to perform more successful in school
Find a comfy and quiet place to study.
When studying, students want to be able to be in a comfortable and quiet environment in order to focus when studying so that they are able to process and retain all the information that they are reviewing.
A quiet place can:
Help students to focus
Help you to get more work done in a shorter time period
Some examples of these would be a library, computer labs, your room if it is quiet.
While studying in your room can be great, it is best to study at a desk in your room rather than on your bed; studying on your bed associates the mind with sleepings thus hindering a student’s focus.
Get enough sleep.
Getting enough sleep makes students feel more productive and overall more focused, It is recommended that students get at least 8 hours a sleep every night.

6. Study Strategies
According to Spelman College Wellness Center, 73 out of 102 students said that they felt they performed inadequately on an assignment or exam due to lack of sleep.
Students typically give up on sleep due to finishing up on homework late at night. Following that, is socializing, procrastination, and then studying for an exam.
If students were to get at least 8 hours of sleep per night, they will feel refreshed every morning and be able to clearly listen to lectures and retain information.

7. Study Strategies Reward yourself
This strategy helps students to become motivated to study and achieve smaller academic goals in order to receive a reward.
Examples: If you get an A on your test, treat yourself to a nice dinner. Do something you would enjoy doing that you would not typically indulge in.
Take advantage of practice tests
Studies by Jeffrey Karpicke and Janell Blunt from the The American Association for the Advancement of Science at taking the extra time to go through practice tests can successfully help students to become more prepare for material on quizzes or exams.
Reward yourself
This strategy is used so that students can become more motivated to study and achieve smaller academic goals in order to receive a reward.
For example, if you make a goal to make an A on a test and you end up reaching that goal, you can reward yourself with a nice dinner.
Rewards can be based on anything that YOU like. You can even make rewards out of assigned reading and other homework assignments.
Take advantage of practice tests.
Practice tests can be given out by professors or can be easily found online in order to prepare a student for a quiz or exam.
Studies by Jeffrey Karpicke and Janell Blunt from The American Association for the Advancement of Science show that taking the extra time to go through practice tests can successfully help students to become more prepared for material on quizzes or exams.

8. Study Strategies Become involved in study groups
Studying in groups or with a partner can:
Help students to become more motivated
Obtain more knowledge on a subject
Hear different perspectives about a class
Make connections
Make studying FUN!
According to Keith Sawyer, Ph.D., associate professor of Education in Arts & Sciences at Washington University, study groups are more effective because of interactions that help students to absorb lecture notes and make them of their own.
Become involved in study groups.
Studying in groups or even with a partner can:
Help students to become more motivated
Obtain more knowledge on a subject
Hear different perspectives about a class
Make connections
Make studying fun!
Being involved in study groups can be very beneficial to not only academic success but social success so that students are able to make connections with other classmates. These connections can be a support system to students making studying a more relaxed and fun environment.
According to Keith Sawyer, Ph.D., associate professor of education in Arts & Sciences at Washington University, Study groups are more effective because of interactions that help students to absorb lecture notes and make them of their own.
Sawyer also mentions that when students refer back to the individual patterns so that by the end of the study group meetings when each of the students look at their material individually, the conversation that they had earlier in the group will be triggered thus making them remember the remember information in a more free-flowing mindset.

9. Tutoring
New studies find that community college students often don’t take advantage of academic support that could help get them to graduation.
Do you think the solution may be to make those
offerings required?

10. Tutoring cont.
Community colleges have a growing arsenal of tools that research shows will help students earn credentials.
Academic goal setting, student success courses and tutoring are key.
Sign up for tutoring
Attend all tutoring sessions
Come prepared
Go to class
Communicate with your tutor
Communicate with the learning assistance
center staff.

11. Library Why Go to the College Library? Study alone
Use the online databases
Use references material
Meet their study group

12. Computer lab and other facilities
Labs are more than one branch of knowledge.
The TECH Center is open to all students, not just the engineering, science, and architecture students who typically used the lab in the past.
Labs offer space for collaboration that doesn’t compete with the college library.
Labs complement libraries by offering easy access to technology and multimedia applications, as well as computer expertise and advise.

13. Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
North Carolina Community Colleges are committed to serving students who may, due to documented physical, psychological, or learning disabilities, require accommodations for equal access to college facilities, academic programs, and other activities (defined by the American with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act). The Disability Services office at the member colleges ensure that the programs and facilities of the college are appropriately accessible to students.

14. Americans with Disabilities Act Cont.
The laws mandate an equal opportunity for students with disabilities they’re entitled to benefit from all the services of those institutions and to use campus facilities.
For students with learning disabilities of any kind, choosing the right college can make all the difference in their academic success. LD Online offers the following tips to help students make the right choice for their needs:
Find out what type of support is available to students with learning disabilities.
Ask if the college has a specific program available to help with disabilities and whether it is monitored by a full-time staff.
Inquire as to whether there are staff members available to council LD students through the registration, orientation, and course selection process.
Find out which specific courses offering tutoring services and whether the tutoring is automatic or requires a student's request for assistance.

15. Americans with Disabilities Act Cont.
Ask whether staff or students provide the tutoring services for students with learning disabilities and if the tutors receive special training in working with learning disabilities.
Research the type of attitude the college staff has towards students with learning disabilities.
Determine whether students with learning disabilities are allowed to take a lighter course load and more time to graduate than average students.
Get contact information so students and their parents have a specific person with whom to talk if they have concerns or questions throughout the year.

16. Advising Scheduling Unnecessary Courses Guidance Support & Direction
Academic advisors are valuable resources for community college students. They provide support and direction for students on an ongoing basis when properly utilized. Students who do not frequently go to advisors take classes that do not pertain to their degree.
According to Complete College America at a studied community college, one third of those students who finished their two-year programs within even three years took approximately 80 credit hours toward Associate degrees they could have gotten with just 60 credit hours. The Complete College America also reported that the current 2-year college on-time graduation rate is only 5%
When advisors are utilized, they lead students to completing their degree in a timely, affordable manner. They can also provide information on certain programs available at your specific institution.

17. Success Coaches Identify Specific Challenges Suggest Resources
Create Goals
Some community colleges have staff members known as success coaches. Success coaches meet with classes periodically throughout the semester to inform them on available resources to help them in their studies. They may even meet with some students individually who have a failing or lower grade in a subject. When they meet individually with students, they areas specific challenges the student may be facing with the course or things in their home lives that may be affecting their grades. Next, they would suggest available resources such as tutoring to assist the student. A success coach may also create short and long term goals for the student to strive for in order to improve their grades. This directly affects how students can achieve success since they are addressing it directly with the assistance of a college employee.
Success coaches notify about financial aid deadlines, talking about dropping the class 10%, 33%

18. Campus Life
I am now going to discuss how getting involved with campus life on your campus can help you obtain your college degree.

19. Campus Life What is it? Student experiences outside of class.
Examples:
Student Events
Clubs and Organizations
What is campus life?
It is collectively the students’ experiences outside of the classroom.
Campus life would include any students events on your community college campus such as resource fairs and workshops.
Some examples of common clubs and organizations would be a student government associations, community service clubs, studetn ambassadors, honor societies, and club sports.

20. Events Attending Workshops Class Preparation New Subjects Inspiration
Attending workshops will help you obtain your degree because of the valuable information presented at these events.
Depending on the event topic, it may teach you about study strategies which can be used to help you better prepare for tests and therefore lead to you passing your classes and graduating.
New Subjects: You will discover more about your passions and career goals.
Some events or workshops may discuss subjects that are not offered as classes on your campus.
Going to events on assorted topics is similar to attending lectures, but you won’t be paying for the courses nor delaying your graduation.
Or you may not be able to afford a class you find interesting but is not needed for you to complete your degree.
Being introduced to new subjects will lead you to completing your degree by bringing your awareness to a more specific degree or major if you are currently undecided.
Inspiration:
Certain events and/or workshops may have a speaker that will inspire you to persevere through tough times during your college journey. Potential advice or a personal story may motivate you as a student to continue pushing forward to get your degree.

21. Resume Soft skills Job opportunities Teamwork Time Management
Communication
Job opportunities
Getting involved with clubs or organizations on your college campus will improve your resume.
Employers seek out those who have more on their resume than simply just a 4.0 GPA.
Being involved in organizations on your campus will build soft skills since you are working in a team.
Soft skills are character traits that enable you to more easily interact with others.
To list a few examples, Teamwork is taught because of how you would work with others in a club or organization to plan events or volunteer in your community.
Time management is taught when students are involved in college clubs or organizations since they are balancing time between finishing classwork and time spent with an on campus organization.
Communication is built on since involved students must discuss any ideas or schedule conflicts with the respected club or organization.
These soft skills can be placed on a resume, which are what employers are seeking for when hiring employees.

22. Connections Support System Networking Faculty & Staff Event Attendees
Community Members
Having a support system while taking college classes is an excellent way to help you succeed in college.
This will help you reach the goal of getting your degree by assisting with any emotional pressures from course work.
Being involved in a club with other people who have similar interests will allow you to relate and confide in others.
These students can be a great resource for questions about the difficulty of a perspective class or their thoughts on a certain course.

23. Federal Work Study Programs (FWS)
Hello my name is ……. I am glad to be here today to speak with all of you as you journey through the community college system. Now we are going to discuss one financial assistance option, Federal Work Study Programs.
Raise your hand if you can tell me what a Federal Work Study Program is?

24. Federal work study is a program for students to gain valuable experience through on the job training while attending a post-secondary institution.
A federal work study program is a government sponsored program to assist students in paying for college. When you fill out your FAFSA application for financial aid, which will be covered later on. The option will appear for applying for a federal work study program. The purpose of a work study is to employ students in the field in which they are pursuing a degree.

25. Who’s Eligible? Full or part-time students.
Students who demonstrate financial need.
Be a legal citizen or permanent resident of the United States.
Attend an approved post-secondary institution.
To be able to apply for a federal work study program, there are a few requirements. First you must be a student and the institution you attend must have the program in place. This opportunity is available to US citizens and permanent US residents only and the applicant must demonstrate a financial need. Drug related offenses and a criminal record may impede the amount awarded or may make you ineligible. However this is on a per person basis depending upon the crime and its severity.

26. Federal Work Study
The Federal Work Study program places students in jobs related to the students program of study.
These jobs may be on or off campus.
Students will earn the federal minimum wage, unless specialized skills are needed.
The total amount awarded for work based learning is based off of three things.
Time of application completion.
Level of aid needed.
The school’s amount of funding.
The amount awarded is determined by how much of a need you can demonstrate, the amount of funding your institution receives as well as how early the application is received. Students are paid by the hour and will work on or off campus depending upon the program. The pay rate is set at the minimum federal wage; You may receive more depending on whether special skills on the job are required or the level at which the position is.

27. Academic Requirements & Awards for FWS
Students must uphold their student code of conduct.
Students must maintain satisfactory academic process to continue in the program.
Once the award amount has been met, the federal work study program is terminated for the year.
FWS awards are calculated, based on need, as follows: number of hours to be worked per week x hourly wage rate x number of weeks to work in the term. (For example, 20 hours per week x $8 per hour x 16 weeks in Fall Semester = $2,560 FWS award.)
Students can only work up until they meet the award amount specified when the federal work study program was approved. The student may not work any more than the predetermined amount of hours. Once the award amount has been met the program is terminated for the year and then you must reapply the next year. This is how the award amount is calculated, the hours per week to be worked multiplied by the wage rate then multiplied by the length of the term. Are there any questions?

28. Financial Assistance

29. The Pell Grant
Awarded to undergraduate students who have exceptional financial need and who have not earned a bachelor’s or graduate degree; in some cases, students enrolled in a post baccalaureate teacher certification program may receive a Federal Pell Grant
Federal Pell Grant lifetime eligibility is limited to 12 semesters or the equivalent
Up to $6,095 for the award year

30. Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
Awarded to undergraduate students who have exceptional financial need and who have not earned a bachelor’s or graduate degree
Federal Pell Grant recipients receive priority
Not all schools participate in the FSEOG program
Funds depend on availability at the school; applications must be received by the school’s deadline
Up to $4,000 a year

31. Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant
For undergraduate, post baccalaureate, or graduate students who are or will be taking coursework necessary to become elementary or secondary school teachers
Must agree to serve, for a minimum of four years (within eight years of completing one’s academic program), as a full-time teacher in a high need field in a school or educational service agency that serves low income students
Must attend a participating school and meet certain academic achievement requirements
Failure to complete the teaching service commitment will result in the grant being converted to a Direct Unsubsidized Loan that must be repaid
2017–18 grants: Up to $3,736 for grants first disbursed on or after Oct. 1, 2017, and before Oct. 1, 2018

32. Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant
For students whose parent or guardian was a member of the U.S. armed forces and died as a result of performing military service in Iraq or Afghanistan after the events of 9/11
Must be ineligible for a Federal Pell Grant due to having less financial need than is required to receive Federal Pell Grant funds
Must have been younger than 24 years old or enrolled at least part-time at a college or career school at the time of the parent’s or guardian’s death
2017–18 grants: Up to $5, for grants first disbursed on or after Oct. 1, 2017, and before Oct. 1, 2018

33. Scholarships Academic Scholarships (Employer Assistance)
Athletic Scholarships
Minority Scholarships
Women Scholarships
Creative Scholarships
Community Service Scholarships
NC Education Lottery Scholarships

34. Other Options of Financial Assistance
Tuition Payment Plans
Loans
Employment

35. References
Studies of Student Statistics -
Practice Tests Statistics by Jeffrey D. Karpicke and Janell R. Blunt -
Effectiveness of Study Groups by Keith Sawyer -
Benefits of using a Calendar-
Importance of breaks-
Supportservicesgtcc.com
Edtechmagazine.com
Ada-one.com