FYE Student Handbook

Tri-CŽ Challenger’s Guide: Practical advice for college success and personal growth

Version 1.0 August 2016

Thank you to all the Tri-C faculty, administration, staff and students for contributions to this manuscript.

This collaborative effort would not have come about without the many great ideas that have come from our own College community.

COMPILED BY: Ryan Rodriguez (English) Toni Pickens (Counseling) Lisa Belcher-Nelson (Counseling) Diane Gaston (Philosophy) Cindy Holland (Psychology)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER 1: College 101: The Welcome Mat .............................................. 4

This chapter serves as an introduction to the academic world, outlining how Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®) fits into the world of higher education and how having the right disposition and attitude will help you succeed. Tri-C’s Student Handbook is discussed, along with student rights and responsibilities.

CHAPTER 2: Connections........................................................................... 9

Stressing the importance of engagement and how to engage effectively, this chapter includes information on various resources available at Tri-C and the opportunities they present to help students succeed.

CHAPTER 3: Tech Support and Library Resources ..................................... 16

Addressing the importance of technology in the modern world, this chapter highlights the key elements of understanding and using computers and technology.

CHAPTER 4: Time is on Your Side ............................................................. 21

Highlighting goal setting, this chapter introduces concepts important to time management and setting clear, reachable goals.

CHAPTER 5: Making the Grade ................................................................ 26

Covering best practices in the academic world, this chapter underscores the value of critical thinking and good study and test-taking practices by introducing students to the basic elements of writing essays and exams, improving test-taking skills and completing projects.

CHAPTER 6: Planning Your Career Path .................................................... 32

Addressing the importance of having a clear path toward a fulfilling career, this chapter provides a self‑evaluation of personality, values, skills and interests.

Information on career services and academic counseling is also provided.

CHAPTER 7: The Whole Self ..................................................................... 36

Physical, social and emotional components are reviewed to stress the importance of finding a good working balance in our personal and professional lives.

CHAPTER 8: Money Matters .................................................................... 43

Basic concepts in personal and academic finances are reviewed to improve financial literacy and better understand how to properly plan and budget for school and life.

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TRI-C CHALLENGER’S GUIDE: PRACTICAL ADVICE FOR COLLEGE SUCCESS AND PERSONAL GROWTH

CAMPUS and CENTER LOCATIONS

l Advanced Technology Training Center

3409 Woodland Ave. Cleveland, Ohio 44115

l Metropolitan Campus

2900 Community College Ave. Cleveland, Ohio 44115

l Brunswick University Center

l T ommy LiPuma Center for Creative Arts

3605 Center Road Brunswick, Ohio 44212

2809 Woodland Ave. Cleveland, Ohio 44115

l Corporate College® East

l Truck Driving Academy

4400 Richmond Road Warrensville Heights, Ohio 44128

l Corporate College® West

25425 Center Ridge Road Westlake, Ohio 44145

l Eastern Campus

4250 Richmond Road Highland Hills, Ohio 44122

l Hospitality Management Center at Public Square

180 Euclid Ave. Cleveland, Ohio 44114

Heritage Business Park 23555 Euclid Ave., Suite 105 Euclid, Ohio 44117

l Unified Technologies Center

2415 Woodland Ave. Cleveland, Ohio 44115

l Western Campus

11000 Pleasant Valley Road Parma, Ohio 44130

l Westshore Campus

31001 Clemens Road Westlake, Ohio 44145

* Multiple teal dots denote locations in close proximity in Downtown Cleveland

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CHAPTER TEMPLATE

CHAPTER TEMPLATE: Introduction An overview of each chapter, its importance and content

Subtopics Addresses the relevant core concepts in each chapter

Activities/Exercises ✓ Activities designed to explore core concepts including at least one “walkabout” exercise, which is physical in nature ✓ References to relevant websites, applications and campus places are included

Additional Resources:

Handbook Student

Student Handbook An important resource to help in your transition to college is the Tri-C Student Handbook. The handbook is an informative document that highlights our mission, vision and values. Review the Student Handbook carefully and use it to your advantage. It contains important phone numbers, an academic calendar, College policies and procedures (including student rights!), links to academic support systems, grading criteria, graduation, enrollment information, financial aid information, online services, and student services and special programs. In addition, this resource provides you with a hands-on resource for information about essential life skills, time management, goal setting and creating an academic plan.

2016 – 2017

connect plan connect plan engage

engage engage CONNECT

Supplemental Blackboard Site

ENGAGE

PLAN

SUCCEED

succeed connect

engage plan succeed plan connect plan engage connect plan succeed plan connect

succeed

FYE Blackboard Site The supplemental Blackboard site (which contains this manual) provides additional resources including hyperlinks to articles and videos.

In addition, it is possible to . . .

• Integrate calendar options to organize all your classes and your schedule overall • Access publisher supported materials, including Power Point presentations and open source formats • Peruse numerous social media outlets and email portals for easy access to all platforms

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TRI-C CHALLENGER’S GUIDE: PRACTICAL ADVICE FOR COLLEGE SUCCESS AND PERSONAL GROWTH

CHAPTER 1: College 101: The Welcome Mat You’ve made a big decision. Becoming a college student is a large investment of your time and money. But most importantly, it is an investment in your greatest resource…YOU! It is our goal as a college community to help you succeed in making this investment pay off.

According to Dr. Patricia Windham and the graph below (Florida Department of Education, 2006), students are more likely to stay enrolled, be academically successful, transfer and graduate if they have taken a First Year Experience (FYE) course. In Florida, these courses are called Student Life Skills (SLS) courses.

Figure 1. Outcomes of SLS Students and NonSLS Students, 1999-2000 through 2003-2004 (Windham Study) 70% n No FYE (SLS) n FYE (SLS)

60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% Academic Success

Still Enrolled

Transfer to the SUS

Awards Earned

The moral of the story is that instead of seeing this course as an impediment, or as something you “have to” do, consider it an opportunity to increase your chances of success. Our goal, and the goal of this course, is to aid you in getting the most out of your college experience, and, of course, to earn that all-important (and helpful) degree.

Be sure to check out this article from the US News, which addresses frequently asked questions about community colleges, including: • How is community college different from a four-year college?

• What is an associate degree? What is a certificate program?

• What is developmental (remedial) education and course work?

• Is it easy to transfer to a four-year college or university from a community college? (Hint: Transfer scholarships are often available!) www.usnews.com/education/community-colleges/articles/2015/02/06/frequently-asked-questionscommunity-college Your time at Tri-C is important. Earning your degree is important. Engaging with Tri-C faculty and staff, your FYE instructor, the FYE resource manual and the supplemental Blackboard site will increase your chances of success.

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CHAPTER 1: COLLEGE 101: THE WELCOME MAT

How do you increase your odds of succeeding in college?

We all have challenges. Each faculty member you meet has encountered many of the same challenges you now face. They are experienced. Remember, they were college students too. Rely on faculty to increase your chances for success! They learned years ago how to navigate the sometimes treacherous waters of college (and they are still learning!). Use the expertise of the person in front of your classroom – talk with them before or after class, or meet with them during their office hours.

“It is a very important class to take. It may be for a short time, but what you learn and do in every class can help you through the rest of your college career.”

ZACH RAY Mechanical Engineering, North Olmstead

One of the biggest mistakes students make is to stop communicating, especially when “life happens.” Every person at the College knows life is often very challenging and in these cases you may need extra help. Faculty and staff are here to help you conquer your roadblocks. Many Tri-C programs designed to assist you in these areas are presented in the next chapter.

In fact, our success as a college is based on your achievement. We know that, working together, you will become the high-level scholars, health care workers, athletes, entertainers, film editors, police officers, chefs, etc. of the future.

We encourage you to set goals, reach them, and add your future victories to our collection of success stories. Our institution was designed to make this happen. If you choose to engage with a committed and open mind--not giving up quietly when things get rough, but facing your challenges head-on with our College family squarely in your corner-you will find success.

Part of making this happen includes reflecting on your own skills and attitude as you undergo the challenge of earning a college degree. We will work to find ways to help you succeed in academics and excel in workforce training. The goal is to help you succeed in life. The academic success process includes cultivating the skills you already possess and discovering new tools for the future.

Even the most prepared students have questions about college. Would you like to be more confident in writing or math? Want to know how to better engage in our community? Need to find a clear path to a good career? Want the best odds for a return on your college investment? No matter where you fit in, this class is for you. If you are already confident in your chances for success in college, get to know our college! Use our many resources and flourish in our programs. Excel and make connections in this course as you learn about the Tri-C community and grow from engaging and sharing with your peers.

Our community is here to support you. With that in mind, the First Year Experience course is designed to help you succeed through information sharing, best practices, peer and community interaction and self-introspection. Let’s get going and have some fun along the way!

“Coming together is a beginning ... working together is a success.”

– HENRY FORD, (1863-1947)

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TRI-C CHALLENGER’S GUIDE: PRACTICAL ADVICE FOR COLLEGE SUCCESS AND PERSONAL GROWTH

Disposition and Attitude It can be argued (quite convincingly) that a good attitude is the most important condition for success. Shawn Achor is a former scholar and researcher at Harvard University. His research suggests that success in the classroom has less to do with intelligence and more to do with disposition, or attitude. Click on this link to see how Eric Barker reported on Achor’s work: http://observer.com/2015/04/harvard-research-reveals-a-fun-way-to-bemore-successful/.

The good news is that we can change our attitudes at any point! In reality, your positive attitude really does affect your chances for success. You can control the way you think and feel about your college experinece.

So what makes for a good attitude?

A good attitude is primarily a positive attitude, but it is also realistic. Positivity is not the absence of life challenges – it’s the realization that it is better to find a solution than to dwell on the problem. Ask for help! Ask for clarification!

Seek solutions!

Faculty are often concerned with “self-defeating behavior” and try to promote proactive student engagement. The following statements are taken from the manual for the City University of New York’s ASAP College Success Seminar (www.cuny.edu/asap). How would you positively rephrase the following statements? How would the people you know and respect change these phrases?

• I’m too shy to ask questions in class, even when I’m confused.

• He’s a lousy instructor. That’s why I failed the test.

• I hate group projects because people are lazy and I end up doing most of the work.

• I wish I could write better, but I just can’t.

• My friend got me so angry that I can’t even study for the exam.

• The financial aid form is too complicated to fill out.

• I work nights so I didn’t have time to do the assignment.

• I wouldn’t be late so often if I had more time.

How do you create a positive attitude?

• Accept personal responsibility and develop internal motivation.

• Ask for help when needed.

• Consider and change the language you use to think or talk about problems.

• Focus on positive aspects of the situation and seek solutions within your control.

• Know your limitations and challenge them, striving to be the person you want to be.

• Model the positive traits you see in others.

• Prioritize and manage your own time and energy.

• Become a lifelong learner and be curious about the world around you.

• Understand your emotional triggers and responses.

• Your positive attitude gives you an advantage in life – believe in yourself!

“Success is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice.”

– ANONYMOUS

6

Eliminate

CAN’T

CHAPTER 1: COLLEGE 101: THE WELCOME MAT

A college degree pays off!

Your college degree or certificate program is worth the money and time invested.

Earnings & Tax Payments by Educational Attainment $120,000 n Taxes Paid n After Tax Earnings

$100,000

$100,000

$91,900

$80,000 $67,300

$60,000

$55,700

$40,000

$33,800 $24,300

$20,000

$7,100

$39,700

$42,000

$8,700

$9,300

$25,600 $23,100

$16,200

$13,000

$4,700 $19,600

$26,700

$31,000

$32,700

$42,700

$51,000

$68,800

$74,400

No High School

High School

Some College

Associate’s Degree

Bachelor’s Degree

Master’s Degree

Doctoral Degree

Professional Degree

$0

Source: United States Department of Education, “Adult College Completion Toolkit,” 201

DIFFERENCES AMONG HIGH SCHOOL, FULL-TIME WORK AND COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL

FULL-TIME WORK

COLLEGE

Attendance is mandatory in order to meet requirements; at least six continuous hours spent in class each day

Attendance is mandatory in order to stay employed; at least 8 continuous hours spent at work each day

Attendance may not be mandatory; different amounts of time spent in class and between classes each day

Very little choice in what classes you take and when you take them

May have little choice in work assignments and when the work is to be completed

More flexibility in when you work on assignments and how soon you complete them before the due date

Moderate to no outside work necessary to be successful

Moderate to no outside work necessary to complete job duties

Substantial amount of outside work to complete assignments and to be successful

Teachers check homework and keep you up to date on progress; will inform you if you are not completing assignments and/or not progressing well

Supervisors check completion and quality of work at regular intervals; will inform you if you are not meeting the standards for the position

Professors choose whether to check all homework or provide feedback on progress at regular intervals; may not inform you if you are not meeting the standards of the course

Teachers review material and expect that you remember facts and information

Employers provide basic information and expect that you use it to complete the job effectively

Professors present concepts and theories and expect you to evaluate the ideas, synthesize the ideas with other concepts you have learned and develop new theories

Frequent tests on small amounts of material with opportunities for grades to be raised if needed

Employee improvement plans allow you to improve your ratings if needed

Professors have standards and grading criteria that often allow only a few chances (through infrequent testing/ assignments) to meet them

What are your expectations of college? It isn’t the 13th grade of high school--it is challenging! Adjustments will need to be made to fit into your new environment. It is important to consider the differences in the chart above.

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TRI-C CHALLENGER’S GUIDE: PRACTICAL ADVICE FOR COLLEGE SUCCESS AND PERSONAL GROWTH

ACTIVITIES Activity 1: Qualities of Successful People A. List the qualities of a successful student. List the qualities of an unsuccessful student.

B. List the qualities of a person you know and respect. Compare the qualities of a successful student and those people you know and respect. Which qualities are learnable skills and which are learned behaviors? How can you develop and cultivate these qualities that successful people share? Discuss as a class.

Activity 2: Understanding the Student Handbook Become familiar with the Student Handbook. If you are familiar with the rules and regulations posted there, you will probably avoid surprises and crises, ar at least keep them to a minimum. Access the activity on the Blackboard site.

Read about some everyday scenarios and then look in the handbook to find answers. Talk over your answers with your instructor.

Activity 3: Play the Role Working in a group, write a short scene that demonstrates disrespect in the classroom (keep it clean!). Act this scene out. As a class, decide which qualities aren’t acceptable in a college atmosphere and why.

Activity 4: “Selfie” In a small group, take a “selfie” with a College employee on campus. Write a caption that gives their name, title and a description of their role within the College. Options include, but aren’t limited to, the president’s office, dean’s office, counseling center, financial aid, the enrollment center, career center, academic affairs, the tutoring center, bookstore, etc.

Activity 5: Educational Autobiography Describe your relationship with formal education throughout your life. Start from your childhood and work your way to the present day. Discuss the peaks and valleys. Express your opinion about your education and how your attitude toward it has changed or remained stable.

Activity 6: Entrance Interview Answer your instructor’s questions about your place in life, which may include your educational background, employment/volunteer history, predictions and concerns about your college education, and worries you may have for the future.

“Education is the most powerful weapon with which you can change the world.”

– NELSON MANDELA, (1918-2013)

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CHAPTER 2: CONNECTIONS

CHAPTER 2: Connections The first decision you make upon entering a college classroom is where to sit. Sitting near the front won’t guarantee your success or failure at college. However, just going from the parking lot to an isolated seat, not joining class discussion, not talking with many of your peers and immediately returning home does not bode well for your success.

Make connections. Communicate with people. Join a club.

Engage! Your engagement with the college community is one of the most important elements of a positive college experience.

“Frequent interaction with faculty is more strongly related to satisfaction with college than any other type of involvement.”

-- ALEXANDER ASTIN from “What Matters in College?” (1993)

What is quality engagement and involvement?

Besides creating the right disposition for success (Chapter 1), honing your classroom skills (Chapter 5), attending class regularly and understanding instructor and classroom expectations, you should consider the following steps to create productive engagement with faculty: • Request the syllabus and meet your instructor before the start of class.

• Utilize instructor office hours to discuss any concerns you may have with the course.

• Come to class prepared, having completed all reading assignments and homework. Being prepared helps to overcome self-doubt.

• Utilize class time to clarify concepts you might not understand. Listen and engage in classroom activities.

• Treat your instructors with respect; utilize good manners and exhibit professional behaviors.

• Remember – your instructors are people too!

The connections you make with faculty and peers don’t just help you succeed in the classroom – after you graduate, the connections you make in college often benefit you in the professional world. For example, almost every job requires references (often written letters of reference and evaluation). Continuing on to other academic pursuits certainly requires additional recommendations regarding the quality of your work and your character. Faculty members and staff are great resources in this regard. If you don’t create these relationships, you may miss out on important resources.

When you have a particularly good class, send a thank you email or stop by and tell the instructor what you liked most about the course. Ask questions. Be curious. Most instructors like to talk!

You should also look to create productive relationships with your peers. Not only can they provide support, direction, information and advice, but you are sharing the same experiences. You are all going to college – the same college – and facing many of the same hurdles. Learn from one another. Share with one another. There is room for all of us to succeed. In fact, everyone meeting their goals is exactly what we want!

Other than fully engaging in your classes, the most important way to connect with the College is through the many programs and opportunities it offers.

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TRI-C CHALLENGER’S GUIDE: PRACTICAL ADVICE FOR COLLEGE SUCCESS AND PERSONAL GROWTH

The Importance of Diversity One of the exciting aspects of going to college is meeting new people. At Tri-C, we are fortunate to have a true mosaic of people that contribute daily to create a magnificent learning environment.

Diversity enriches not only the institution, but society as a whole. We are committed to appreciating diverse perspectives and valuing the collective differences and similarities that make us who we are.

“Good Manners are just a way of showing other people we have respect for them.”

– BILL KELLY, (“Blast from the Past” 1999)

How do you understand our diverse community in better ways?

• Become aware of perceived differences and stereotypes, as well as our similarities and what we share. The differences in our backgrounds provide a unique mix of experiences and perceptions that we can learn from.

• Recognize our commonalties and differences because we often share many of the same challenges, goals, values and priorities.

• Investigate your own prejudices! Explore ways to confront your own worldview and how it can be more fair and inclusive.

• Develop positive relationships with people of different cultures. This often involves stepping out of your comfort zone, but the rewards of understanding differences are many!

• Gain skills to resolve cultural conflicts. These high-level skills are highly sought after by employers and just generally make the world a better place.

• Share the vision of a better world that is inclusive and grounded in respect.

Connect Directly to Tri-C! Some of the best ways to connect exist outside of the classroom. The College offers an abundance of ways to connect academically, socially and through volunteer activities. We also have opportunities for employment!

Each Tri-C campus has an Office of Student Life, Athletics and Recreation that oversees various programs and activities including: • Drama Club • Breakwall Literary Magazine • History Club • International Club • Phi Theta Kappa (honor society) • The Voice (student newspaper) • Xtreme Fitness and Wellness Club • Disney Fanime Club • … and many more!

Explore the following link to find more club opportunities: http://www.tri-c.edu/student-life/

Honors Program Tri-C’s Honors Program provides an academically enriching experience for highly motivated, intellectually talented students in order to develop their potential as learners, leaders and citizens in a complex and culturally diverse world.

The Honors Program encourages students to be actively involved in their own learning, emphasizing scholarship, leadership, research, creativity and critical thinking. The Honors Program Handbook provides a detailed explanation of the mission and goals of the program; qualifications for membership; requirements for active participation; and the benefits that engaged members can realize.

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CHAPTER 2: CONNECTIONS

Benefits of the Honors Program include: • Enriched curriculum with classes geared toward academically talented students

• Honors designation on diploma and transcripts

• Low student-to-faculty ratios

• Access to Honors Activity Centers on each campus

• Scholarships

• Direct connections to four-year institutions for transfer

• Honors colloquia and seminars

• Attendance at cultural and community events

Check out the Honors Program site at http://www.tri-c.edu/programs/honors/.

Campus-specific Connections Because Tri-C has four main campuses, many clubs and programs are available only at one specific location.

Make sure to check online for information about clubs and programs available at your campus.

The College is an active place. Check the Tri-C calendar for events on each campus to keep current with what is going on each day! http://events.tri-c.edu/

Student Governance In addition to clubs, you might think about joining student government. Check out the following website to learn how to participate: http://www.tri-c.edu/student-life/student-government.html

Student Support Programs Tri-C programs that directly support students in different ways include: • Access - The Access program supports students with disabilities at any Tri-C campus. Common disability types include learning disabilities, sensory limitations, psychiatric conditions, physical mobility conditions and chronic health issues. All matters related to a person’s disability status remain confidential. http://www.tri-c.edu/access%20office • TRiO Student Support Services - Student Support Services (SSS) helps students graduate with an associate degree or transfer to a four-year school for a bachelor’s degree. The program is open to students who are either low-income or whose parents did not graduate with a bachelor’s degree. http://www.tri-c.edu/trio-programs/index.html • Tech Prep - The Tri-C Tech Prep program enables high school students in grades 11 and 12 to participate in state-approved career and technical programs to earn articulated college credit upon high school graduation. http://www.tri-c.edu/get-started/early-college/tech-prep.html • Career Services - The Career Center provides free services to support and prepare students, alumni and community members for a successful job search through workshops and individual career coaching. Assistance is provided with identifying co-op/internship or full-time employment opportunities through job fairs and on‑campus recruiting days. http://www.tri-c.edu/career-services/ • Mentoring - The Mentoring program matches students with faculty and staff members to provide personalized support and connection to campus resources. http://www.tri-c.edu/student-success/documents/mentoring-program.pdf • Financial Aid - This office is dedicated to helping students navigate financial aid options for paying their college expenses. Students can meet with a Student Financial Aid advisor to obtain information about various financial aid options, including grants, scholarships, student loans and public benefits. http://www.tri-c.edu/paying-for-college/financial-aid-and-scholarships/

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TRI-C CHALLENGER’S GUIDE: PRACTICAL ADVICE FOR COLLEGE SUCCESS AND PERSONAL GROWTH

• Project GO! - This grant-funded program provides support and assistance to students facing financial challenges while working toward their educational goals. Tri-C staff and interns act as benefits coaches for students.

Participants can determine their eligibility and apply for public benefits from the four main campus locations. http://www.tri-c.edu/paying-for-college/financial-aid-and-scholarships/documents/project-go-faq.pdf • Black American Council - This organization provides comprehensive programs for students through community outreach and involvement, career development opportunities, workshops and forums, and cultural awareness through activities and field trips. The group’s Protégé Mentoring Program links students, faculty and staff in relationships that encourage student excellence and provide continuous support.

Scholarships are awarded each year based on student achievement. http://www.tri-c.edu/student-life/black-american-council.html • Hispanic Council - This organization facilitates the implementation of Hispanic initiatives to benefit Tri-C and the Hispanic community. The Council offers student support for admissions and registration, help with the financial aid process, advocacy and connection to Tri-C programs, services, and faculty and staff, including members who are bilingual. http://www.tri-c.edu/hispanic-council/ • Women in Transition - This non-credit, eight-week session is designed to positively transform participants and empower them to move forward in their lives through education and training. Curriculum is focused on personal development, career exploration, computer skills and workshops on various topics. http://www.tri-c.edu/women-in-transition/ • Tutoring - All tutoring services are free of charge to Tri-C students for the courses in which they are currently enrolled and are available by appointment or walk-in! Please bring your Student ID to your campus Learning Center to receive tutoring services. http://www.tri-c.edu/tutoring/ • Writing Center - The consultants in the Writing Center can help students during any phase of the writing process, on any subject, from brainstorming to a final copy and anywhere in between. They assist in document preparation, citation style, research and other technical aspects of the writing process. They also help with creative writing, personal writing, technical communication and college entrance essays. http://www.tri-c.edu/community/community-services/writing-center.html • Veterans Services - Veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces are provided with access to affordable education and workforce training programs that allow them to transition successfully from the military to civilian life. Veteran Campus Support Teams are comprised of specialists from key departments throughout the College for areas of support in which veterans require services. http://www.tri-c.edu/veterans/ • Counseling - The Counseling Centers provide academic, career and personal counseling to students. Success workshops are also available to help students excel both in and out of the classroom. http://www.tri-c.edu/counseling-center/academic-counseling.html You can find more information about any of the services above by visiting the links provided.

Sports at Tri-C Athletic teams provide opportunities for students to enhance their overall experience at the College by encouraging lifelong wellness, sportsmanship and academics. Students attending any campus can become student-athletes.

Western Campus Men’s Soccer Baseball Softball

Metropolitan Campus Women’s Cross Country Women’s Track Men’s Basketball

Eastern Campus Women’s Basketball Open Gym and Recreation

You don’t have to be an athlete to stay fit and participate in sports! Each campus fitness center offers open recreation hours with weight rooms, swimming pool, cardio and hydraulic machines, resistance training and more. http://www.tri-c.edu/community/community-recreation/

12

CHAPTER 2: CONNECTIONS

Community Connections Community is not just the immediate area in which you live. It has multiple layers – from your family to your neighborhood, from your college to the world. Tri-C views community engagement as the process of learning about these layers and how to achieve common good.

The College seeks to produce informed graduates who are active local and global citizens. As such, it supports opportunities and programs that deepen students’ awareness and understanding of social and political issues and challenges them to develop a framework for responsible citizenship. For example, Tri-C directly connects to the community through its High School Rock Off, Earth Day celebrations, corporate sponsorships and partnerships with other local colleges and universities. The College also partners with and supports many non-profit organizations that offer volunteer opportunities.

What are ways you contribute to the local community? The global community?

Consider some of these opportunities to help you engage and enhance your own community! Connect to the following web link for a full list of volunteer opportunities: http://www.tri-c.edu/student-life/documents/volunteer-opportunities.pdf Some of the organizations include: • Domestic Violence and Child Advocacy Center

• Wounded Warrior Project

• Cleveland Animal Protective League

• Business Volunteers Unlimited

• The Cleveland Orchestra

• Cleveland Food Bank

• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Cleveland

• Elementary school reading programs

• Cleveland Metroparks

• Goodwill

• Ronald McDonald House

• Salvation Army

• The Free Medical Clinic of Greater Cleveland

• Bike Safety Program

• Habitat for Humanity

Community Connections and Sustainability Sustainability at Tri-C means achieving the College’s educational and community missions with a sense of responsibility for preserving the environment, promoting the economy and improving society as a whole.

Sustainability efforts at Tri-C address environmental, social, and economic issues within the Tri-C community and beyond in Cleveland and Cuyahoga County.

An important community sustainability connection for Tri-C is with Sustainable Cleveland, the City of Cleveland’s effort to engage people from all walks of life to work together to design and develop a thriving and resilient Cleveland region that leverages its wealth of assets to build economic, social and environmental well-being for all. Please see the links below to learn more about sustainability programs and how to get involved both at Tri-C and with Sustainable Cleveland: http://www.tri-c.edu/sustainability http://www.sustainablecleveland.org

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TRI-C CHALLENGER’S GUIDE: PRACTICAL ADVICE FOR COLLEGE SUCCESS AND PERSONAL GROWTH

Peruse some of the following social media sites to see how Tri-C connects to the online community: www.tri-c.edu/about/follow-us.html

Tri-C Mobile ®

Check out the Tri-C Mobile App for your smartphone!

Tri-C Mobile lets you access a wide range of essential information and services like interactive campus maps, Blackboard courses, financial aid information, campus news and the campus directory – all on the go, directly from your smartphone. Best of all, it’s free!

Get the Download. . . Stay Connected Lost?

Find out where you are and where you need to go with maps

Out of the loop?

Get the latest Tri-C headlines with news

Bored?

Check out events

Need Course Info?

Check the course schedule with courses

Looking for Someone?

Search for faculty and staff with directory

College Closed?

Call Tri-C Alert with emergency

Missed the Game?

Check the scores with athletics

Have a Question?

Get answers with ask Tri-C

Doing some research?

Find materials you need with the library

Download Now!

Developed for you by Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C ) ®

Download Tri-C® Mobile FREE on the App Store , Blackberry App World®, and Android Market™ SM

Use your QR reader to download Tri-C Mobile FREE!

(QR code reader apps are available free at all smartphone app stores)

www.tri-c.edu/mobile

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CHAPTER 2: CONNECTIONS

ACTIVITIES: Activity 1: Activity Search Research a Tri-C program or volunteer activity and write a paragraph about it describing the program/activity and your interest in it. *Homework option: Bring a non-perishable food item to class. Find out where the Student Food Bank drop box is located and help someone out!

Activity 2: Share an Interest Research a club or student organization either online or in person. http://www.tri-c.edu/student-life/student-clubs/index.html Give a 1-2 minute presentation on the club or organization you are interested in to your peers.

Activity 3: Social Media Review Tri-C’s online social media presence. Choose one of the social media outlets listed above and send a message to us, post a comment and/or explore and engage! Write a paragraph describing the online experience.

Activity 4: Unique to Campus In small groups, go to one of the following campus places and find out what events and activities are unique to your specific campus.

• Student Life, Athletics and Recreation • Counseling Center • Academic Affairs • Welcome/Information desk • President’s office • Career Center Present the information about your campus to the class.

“You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.”

– DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.

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TRI-C CHALLENGER’S GUIDE: PRACTICAL ADVICE FOR COLLEGE SUCCESS AND PERSONAL GROWTH

CHAPTER 3: Tech Support and Library Resources We live in a digital world. Our jobs, entertainment, social networks, education and communication – all happen digitally and within the framework of a rapidly shrinking globe. Almost every aspect of our lives is affected by technology, and it’s here to stay. In fact, you will need to be technologically aware, and skilled, in order to reach your goals.

If you feel overwhelmed when you think about technology, know that you can get help with the basics. This chapter includes information on Tri-C’s technology resources: computer classes, free workshops, online tutorials, tutoring services in the Technology Learning Center (TLC) and much more.

The internet has created the largest collection of information the world has ever known. From the famous library of Alexandria to the Library of Congress, nothing compares to the World Wide Web. Having this tremendous source of information, however, does not equal total knowledge and wisdom. How we find and interpret this information is crucial to our success in academics and in the marketplace and can help us live our lives more productively and fully.

The devices we use to communicate change rapidly. Fortunately or unfortunately, how we interface with these devices, has a significant impact on our successes in life, academics and the working world. The next section covers three critical topics: choosing the right class format, accessing learning resources, and utilizing the library and learning commons.

Tech at Tri-C As soon as you apply to Tri-C, the College will generate your my Tri-C space account. Through this system, you are able to do the following: • Select and register for courses

• Change your address and phone number

• Add and drop courses

• Change your major

• View your class schedule

• Keep up with deadlines and important dates

• Check financial aid status

• View the academic calendar

• Access BlackbBoard system

• Get course help

• Order transcripts

• Connect to the library

• Check your grades Within my Tri-C space, you will also have an email account. All Tri-C communication is done through your Tri-C email, so it is important to check your email regularly for important updates. You can make it easy on yourself by just linking your Tri-C email account to your personal email account (you can get help with this at your campus information desk).

That way you don’t miss a thing!

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CHAPTER 3: TECH SUPPORT AND LIBRARY RESOURCES

Class Formats There are three ways to take classes at Tri-C: brick and mortar (face-to-face), online and blended/hybrid. It is important to understand the differences in these formats and perhaps more important to understand which is the best fit for you.

Face-to-face courses are the most common. These traditional courses may or may not include an online component.

Students who succeed in face-to-face courses: • Like the energy and community created in a classroom • Are comfortable taking notes, speaking in front of people and interacting with peers and faculty • Have a manageable schedule Online courses allow students to complete all course requirements without coming to a Tri-C campus. Students engage with faculty and other students, complete assignments and participate in instruction all via the Blackboard Learning Management System. Tests may be given online or in a suitable proctored environment.

Students who succeed in online courses: • Have basic computer skills and can easily navigate the Internet • Are self-motivated, self-disciplined, manage time well and are independent learners • Know how to stay in communication with the class and instructor Blended learning or hybrid courses combine online and face-to-face classroom instruction. Students participate in classroom instruction with a faculty member and complete other course activities in the virtual environment. Watch this video to find out more about blended learning at Tri-C: http://youtu.be/nmJkGA0YOdc Students who succeed in blended/hybrid courses: • Have basic computer skills • Want some face-to-face contact with instructor • Know how to stay on task • Are self-motivated Ultimately, each course is different. Although there are standard definitions for each specific class format, instructors sometimes like to change things up to keep them fresh. The best suggestion for you as a student is to email the instructor before you register and ask for a copy of the syllabus so you know exactly how the class will run.

Before you sign up for courses, it is strongly suggested that you see an academic counselor to help select the appropriate classes. Once course selections are made, you can sign up in person at the enrollment center or register online. If you have questions about this important process, call your campus enrollment center or visit the student ambassadors at the information desk at each campus. Note that spring classes are open for enrollment in October of each year; fall semester courses are open for registration in April. You will be notified of this date through your Tri-C email.

Below is a shot of the screen that appears when you are identifying courses to take. At the top of the course search page is an explanation that identifies what each column represents. Note the five-digit CRN number which identifies the specific course section. Note the days, times and location of the course. The students enrolled and seats available, term and the learning format follow. Make sure that you select the right term (16-week, 14-week or, 8-week for fall and spring terms), location, and course format (located at the far right). See the screenshot below for an example: 80974 ENG 1010 West 3.000 College M 11:30 am- 20 4 16 12 0 12 Instructor

Composition 1:20 pm Name

I Day

09/08- -West Liberal Blended 12/13 Arts B 212 Learning 14-Week Session

82068 ENG 1010 West 3.000 College Composition I 26 0 26 12 0 12 Instructor Name

08/24- 12/13 Full Term

Online

To find out more about these various learning formats, online programs, e-learning, electronic student services and more, visit http://www.tri-c.edu/online-learning/index.html.

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TRI-C CHALLENGER’S GUIDE: PRACTICAL ADVICE FOR COLLEGE SUCCESS AND PERSONAL GROWTH

Class Withdrawal Information It is your responsibility to withdraw from a course if you stop attending or a course no longer fits your schedule. In addition to signing up for classes without checking basic details carefully, many students make mistakes when they need to withdraw from a course. You can drop a course online or in person. It is very important that you withdraw by specific dates to avoid failing and/or having to pay for the course. It is also strongly recommended that you re-check your student schedule to ensure that your official course schedule reflects any changes made. Go to the following site to find the dates that will affect your course changes each semester. This information should also be on each course syllabus. http://www.tri-c.edu/paying-for-college/withdraw-refund.html

Library and Information Literacy The Learning Commons is where you will find the most important Tri-C resources including the Library, Technology Learning Center (TLC) and Media Services. Here is a link to their website: http://www.tri-c.edu/learning-commons/index.html We cannot overstate the importance of these resources. A successful college experience requires reading, researching and communicating on a daily basis. Become familiar with the Learning Commons right now!

The Tri-C library provides students, faculty, staff and community patrons with access to a wealth of informational resources including books, journals (both print and electronic), media and more.

The TLC provides students, faculty, staff and community users with access to computers featuring high speed internet and various software applications. The TLCs are equipped with Windows and some sites offer Mac workstations. There are over 2000 workstations installed College-wide. Each campus TLC has an open lab with network laser printers and support staff to assist users with technology.

Need help with technology? Here’s a “where-to-go” guide: Basic computer skills: Visit the Learning Commons – staff is available to help in person.

Blackboard support: Please call 216-987-4257 • Know your S number and CRN (course number) for the course in question when calling. Support staff are available 24 hours a day.

• Students may also access various resources via the Blackboard home page.

For additional resources visit: http://www.tri-c.edu/online-learning/elearning-technologies/elearning-technologies-students/index.html 18

CHAPTER 3: TECH SUPPORT AND LIBRARY RESOURCES

For basic Blackboard help, you can also visit the Learning Commons in person. Depending upon the program or class, it may be most appropriate for you to contact your instructor. The Learning Commons staff will do their best to assist you with the applications on the computer. Please keep in mind that outside of Microsoft Office, knowledge of the many applications available may be limited.

Learning Commons contact and location information: CAMPUS

LOCATION/ROOM NUMBER

PHONE NUMBER

Eastern

ESS 3100 and ESS 3200

216-987-0595

Metropolitan

MTLC 256

216-987-3679

Western

WTLC GT111

216-987-5656

Brunswick University Center

BUC 214

216-987-3877

Westshore

SHCS 130

216-987-3888

CCW

CCW 221

216-987-5888

“The first activity really made us communicate, laugh, and not be so serious. [We learned] information about the library and how to search for books and research.”

THALIA GONZALEZ Mechanical Engineering, Cleveland

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TRI-C CHALLENGER’S GUIDE: PRACTICAL ADVICE FOR COLLEGE SUCCESS AND PERSONAL GROWTH

ACTIVITIES: Activity 1: Blackboard Introduction Log in to the course site on Blackboard. Answer the question(s) that your instructor poses.

Activity 2 (walkabout): The Amazing Library Race The Amazing Library Race is an assignment taught by library faculty. This one-hour activity will lead you through the process of finding an appropriate and quality topic, finding books and articles, utilizing web searches and finding other online resources to support your research.

Activity 3: On Being Well-Read Identify and list what you read on a regular basis. Then list the other media you engage with on a regular basis (online, television, radio, gaming, etc.). Next, read the article on being “well-read” in the 21st century and write a reflective one page essay on how you can productively engage in the world of knowledge and information.

Identify how this will be important to your personal and intellectual growth as you become a lifelong learner. http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2011/04/21/135508305/ the-sad-beautiful-fact-that-were-all-going-to-miss-almosteverything After you complete the assignment, consider the following sources to add to your regular reading and engagement:

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CHAPTER 4: TIME IS ON YOUR SIDE

CHAPTER 4: Time is on Your Side Life will get busier in college, as it certainly should. Considering how “college time” works improving your time management skills will go a long way toward helping you succeed in academics, in the workforce and in life.

Productive people know how to manage their time to achieve clear goals. Using your time wisely is essential to success. Managing your time actually saves you time! You can cut out stress and worry less when you “plan your work and work your plan.”

“The way to get started is to quit talking and start doing!”

Keeping track of your own time

We all get 167 hours per week. Are you aware of how you use your hours?

If you don’t have a calendar of some sort that helps you keep track of your – WALT DISNEY commitments, you will probably begin to miss important items as your college schedule gets busier. If you use your cell phone or some other electronic device, it makes sense to investigate time management tools in other formats. However, you can just as easily keep track of your time on a free monthly calendar printed off the internet or a store-bought calendar with pictures of smiling cats. Indeed, for our purposes you can use the calendar provided in the student handbook.

The reality is that if you write important items down, you will remember them better. On those days when you are sick or distracted, having a calendar can help you stabilize your life. A wisely maintained calendar serves as your anchor when life begins to feel overwhelming.

Additionally, to-do lists work better when items are assigned a corresponding time. This will help you get things done.

Time Stealers Before we look at how to set good time management habits, let’s take a look at our “time stealers.” Take a hard look at how you actually spend your time. Consider your cell phone, your friends and family, your shopping habits—the things that often take up much of your time. Which of these are your biggest time stealers? Can you point a finger at any of these usual suspects?

• Social Media – Spending countless time texting? Captivated by FaceTime? Hooked on Instagram or Snapchat? Overwhelming interest in Pinterest?

• Television – You promised yourself you would only watch one episode of your favorite show…but before you know it, you managed to binge watch the entire season!

• “I can’t say no!”– Every time you say yes to an additional commitment, you must be able to balance it with something else already on your plate. When you say yes, you must either drop or complete an equivalent project, or be prepared to allocate more time for the new one.

• Procrastination – The biggest time stealer is the avoidance of making a decision. By reducing the amount of procrastinating you do, you can increase the amount of time you have to complete all that you need to do.

Remember, we all get the same 24 hours in a day. How will you use yours?

• Lack of priorities/objectives – This is another one of the biggest time stealers. It can affect all that we do academically, professionally and personally. People who accomplish the most in a day know exactly what they want to accomplish. Unfortunately, too many of us think that goals and objectives are yearly things (big picture ideas) and not things we need to consider daily. This results in too much time spent on minor things and not on the things that are most important to our lives.

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TRI-C CHALLENGER’S GUIDE: PRACTICAL ADVICE FOR COLLEGE SUCCESS AND PERSONAL GROWTH

Here are some strategies for defending your time against the time stealers: • Set Expectations – If you set expectations and make it clear that your time is valuable, other people will begin to value it also. Your behavior will set an example that can actually teach those around you what is acceptable. It is your time – guard it carefully!

• Avoid those who waste your time – You may find that a specific subset of people are responsible for the majority of time wasting.

Avoid associating yourself with them too much, or you will find yourself hanging out for hours to discuss last night’s TV shows or the careless behaviors of others.

• Block your time – This is a very powerful strategy for reclaiming your school, work and personal time. Try blocking your time by scheduling time periods that you need to keep for yourself, your projects, or whatever. It is not kind to say to a classmate, “I can’t talk with you because I have something more important to do,” but it is OK to say, “I have another commitment at his time.” You don’t need to reveal that the commitment is with yourself.

• You don’t have to answer the phone – Do not jump every time someone decides they want to buzz you and talk about things that do not benefit your success! Remember that your phone is for your convenience – don’t let others steal your time when it is most inconvenient.

“Tri-C gave me the push I needed to succeed. It also gave me confidence in being myself. While working as a student ambassador I gained better communication skills and won the Campus Ambassador of Excellence Award, all while helping others, which is what I love to do.”

“Don’t overwhelm yourself. Make a plan and schedule your time.

Don’t be afraid to try your best.

If you happen to be a single parent, do not be afraid to push yourself.

Remember that you can be good at more than one thing and do not have to limit yourself. Explore your options.”

TAYLA MAKUPSON Class of 2014, Associate of Arts

Procrastination Procrastination is a formidable foe. We often put off the most important things because they are difficult to deal with.

We may sit down to do an important task and immediately get up to make a snack or do something that doesn’t cause us stress – something that distracts us. Another common practice is to wait for the “right time.” There is no right time – there is only now. However, these are all natural tendencies that affect everyone (you can’t be perfect!). The most successful people learn to acknowledge their time-wasting tendencies and work to overcome them.

The first key to overcoming procrastination is recognizing it: • Know that the most unpleasant tasks often take a back seat. Recognize the difficult tasks you might face, but also consider their importance so you can make a smart plan for dealing with them.

• If you have perfectionist tendencies, know that you may often put things off because you aren’t in the right frame of mind to do it perfectly.

• When faced with the most difficult tasks, we often just don’t know what to do or how to do it. This can overwhelm us and cause us to procrastinate.

Procrastination is habitual, a part of our everyday behavior in many cases. Once you recognize the degree (and reality) of your own procrastination, you are ready to start making yourself more productive. Some tips: • Reward yourself based on your difficult tasks. Recognize how good it feels to get a difficult task completed. The rewards for hard, smart work aren’t always tangible, so it is important for us to appreciate our own work and relish the positive feeling hard work provides.

• Ask people to check up on you. Research shows us that peer pressure helps us accomplish things!

• Recognize the unpleasant realities of not completing your task.

• Focus on one task at a time. This is more efficient and can cut down on that overwhelmed feeling we get when our lives get busy.

• Plan, schedule and set goals (we will get to this shortly!)

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CHAPTER 4: TIME IS ON YOUR SIDE

Goal Setting and Planning Goal setting is something all successful people do. Professional athletes, business owners, musicians . . . even good parents create goals. Some practical advice for creating smart, realistic goals:

Step 1: THINK • Before you start setting goals it is useful to consider your recent past. Consider what you’ve accomplished, what disappointed you, what you learned and the limits you put on yourself. Refer to the assignment at the end of this chapter for help in goal setting.

• Consider what you want to achieve, why you want to achieve it and when you hope to get it done.

• Consider the steps needed to achieve the goal. Who/what can help with these steps? What obstacles will you face (internally and externally)? Finally, what are the solutions to these obstacles?

“One thing that helped me was the time management and planning class. I got a lot of helpful tips on how to manage my days, whether busy or not.”

HALLE MARSHALL Criminal Justice, Brook Park

Step 2: WRITE How do you want to look back on your life? It is important to make sure you are honest with yourself, not relying only on what society or family members tell you are good goals to have. With this in mind, know that your goals will (and should) change over your lifetime.

Start big! List your lifetime goals in increments of time throughout your life (two years, five years, etc.). Consider your education, career, finances, attitude, family life, values, artistic achievements, public service, entertainment and personal health.

Step 3: ACT List short-term goals on a calendar. These smaller steps are extremely useful on a day-to-day basis because they help us accomplish tasks that lead to both shorter-term goals and life-term goals. Refer to the assignments at the end of this chapter to get started.

A common element in goal setting is to consider the SMART** goal anagram:

Specific and/or Significant: Who? What? Where? When? Why? Measurable and/or Meaningful: If you can’t measure it you can’t manage it.

Attainable: These are Action steps!

Relevant and/or Rewarding: Be realistic – is it doable?

Time Bound and Trackable: Is it traceable and able to be tracked? **Adapted from ASAP College Success Seminar 2012 (Accelerated Study in Associate Programs)

Consider your own energy and when you are best prepared to handle different types of tasks. For example, if you are not a morning person, don’t sign up for a math class at 8 a.m. or try to figure out your financial aid before breakfast!

Schedule easier work at times when you aren’t at your peak energy level and your most difficult tasks for when you know you’ll be at your best.

Planning your weekend and leisure time is important as well. It may seem strange (or even wrong) to plan your leisure time, but research shows that it may make you happier! If you plan your leisure time to some degree, it will be more memorable and generally more enjoyable. In fact, studies show anticipation actually leads to happiness. Obviously, if you don’t plan, you can’t anticipate and you lose out on the fun of looking forward to something you really want to do.

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TRI-C CHALLENGER’S GUIDE: PRACTICAL ADVICE FOR COLLEGE SUCCESS AND PERSONAL GROWTH

Creating Good Habits Many years of research show that two of the most important qualities one must possess in order to achieve their goals are perseverance and the ability to delay gratification. In plain English, perseverance means the ability to stick to it, to not give up, to keep working hard. Delayed gratification means that you are able to hold off on the pleasurable feeling you might love to have right now because you know you have important work to do first. Follow this link to see an example of the classic “Marshmallow Experiment” that was initially done 40 years ago: www.youtube.com/watch?v=0mWc1Y2dpmY Deciding not to go to a party tonight so you can study for a math test tomorrow, resulting in a higher grade at the end of the semester, is just as tough for us as delaying eating the marshmallow was for the preschoolers.

Just as delaying gratification paid off for the preschoolers in the experiment, it also pays off for us. A very short American Psychologist article describes these facts, at the following link: https://www.apa.org/helpcenter/willpower-gratification.pdf If you would like to work on improving or “harnessing” your willpower, follow this link for concrete suggestions: http://apa.org/helpcenter/willpower-harnessing.aspx If you have trouble with perseverance or willpower, know that you are in good company. Some suggestions for stopping bad habits and creating good habits can be found here: http://www.lifehack.org/articles/featured/18-tricks-to-make-new-habits-stick.html With a small amount of initial discipline, you can create a new habit that requires little effort to maintain. Here are some tips for creating new habits and making them stick: 1. Make it Daily – If you want to start exercising, go to the gym every day for the first thirty days. Only going a couple times a week will make it harder to form the habit. Activities you do once every few days are trickier to lock in as habits.

2. Start Simple – Don’t try to change your life completely in one day. It is easy to get over-motivated and take on too much. If you want to study for two hours a day, start with thirty minutes and build up from there.

3. Stay Consistent – Consistency is critical if you want to make a habit stick. If your goal is to start exercising, try going to the same place at the same time for thirty days. It is easier to form good habits when cues like time of day and place and/or circumstances are the same.

4. Get a Buddy – Find someone who will go along with you and keep you motivated if you feel like quitting.

5. Replace Lost Needs – If you are giving something up as part of your new habit, make sure you are adequately replacing any needs you’ve lost. If watching television gave you a way to relax, you could take up meditation or reading as a way to replace that same need.

6. Be Imperfect – Don’t expect all your attempts to be successful immediately. Try your best, but expect a few bumps along the way.

7. Remove Temptation – Restructure your environment so it won’t tempt you in the first thirty days. Remove junk food from your house, cancel your cable subscription, or throw the cigarettes out so you won’t struggle with willpower later.

8. Associate With Role Models – Spend more time with people who model the habits you want to mirror. You become what you surround yourself with.

9. Write it Down – A piece of paper with a resolution on it isn’t that important – writing that resolution is. Writing makes your ideas more clear and puts the focus on the end result.

16. Know the Benefits – Familiarize yourself with the benefits of making a change. Read books that outline the benefits of regular exercise. Notice any changes in energy levels after you take on a new diet. Imagine getting better grades after improving your study habits.

(Adapted from http://www.lifehack.org/articles/featured/18-tricks-to-make-new-habits-stick.html)

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CHAPTER 4: TIME IS ON YOUR SIDE

ACTIVITIES

Handbook Student

Activity 1: Academic/Personal Calendar Creation Go to the calendar in the student handbook, on your phone or a digital device, or some other calendar that you will see every day. Utilizing the syllabi from all your courses, mark in test dates and project/paper due dates. Mark in your final exam times and other College activities you are interested in. Then write in your work schedule, family activities, social activities and any other relevant plans.

2016 – 2017

Activity 2: Goal Setting Go to the Blackboard website for this activity about overcoming the “big rocks” in connect connect CONNECT ENGAGE SUCCEED planPLAN engage your life. engage engage

plan

Dr. Steven R. Covey article and YouTube video: FYE\Big Rocks of Life.htm Big Rocks YouTube Video

succeed connect

engage plan succeed plan connect plan engage connect plan succeed plan connect

succeed

Activity 3 (walkabout): What Time Is It? Students will seek out faculty/staff and ask them questions about how they manage time.

Activity 4: What’s My Motivation?

Having desired goals to reach is a commonality that we all share. The important piece is taking our goals from a notion to a reality. General goals may be stated as “I want to be financially secure,” or “I want to be happy.” But just as one would need a GPS to find specific places on a journey, goals should be specific to guarantee a timely arrival. For example, you might say “I want to earn my Associate of Science degree within two years and transfer to a four-year college to major in pre-physical therapy,” rather than “I want to get a good education.” A powerful process in achieving desired goals is to plainly write them down.

1. Make a “to-do” list for the rest of the day. You may include tasks like “Return a friend or family member’s phone call.” Keep it simple and realistically prioritize items you’d like to accomplish.

2. Set one or two short-term goals to be completed within a week. Most productive people keep some type of written record of what they would like to accomplish. An example may include “I will clean out my car.”

3. Contemplate and write down up to three mid-term goals that can be fulfilled within the next one to three years. The objective can be educational, financial or personal.

4. Envision and list your top three to five long-term goals that can be achieved within the next five to ten years.

How you see your life in the larger scheme of things will guide what you list here. Remember to make it meaningful as you consider your internal values.

Activity 5: Disruption Log Make a list of the interruptions that occurred within the past week that derailed your school or work time. Record the date and time of the interruption, who interrupted, a description of the interruption and whether or not the interruption was necessary.

How many times during the day/week were you interrupted? Did the disruptions derail you from accomplishing your goals that day/week? If so, consider learning to say “No.” Silence your cell phone when you’re working on a project.

Make agreements with family and friends so that they respect your work time.

Now make a list of your own creative ways to deal with interruptions and share your ideas with the class.

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TRI-C CHALLENGER’S GUIDE: PRACTICAL ADVICE FOR COLLEGE SUCCESS AND PERSONAL GROWTH

CHAPTER 5: Making the Grade While your primary goal in education is to learn, grades are the most obvious measure of your success. This chapter will provide you with practical advice on improving and/or maintaining good grades.

You’ve got to show up and engage with the right disposition in order to succeed.

Mentioned previously in this text, it bears repeating: creating a pathway for success involves quality engagement with your instructor and the right attitude. However, your sustained academic success involves earning high marks in the classroom.

This chapter provides a basic introduction to the importance of syllabi, some fundamentals of critical thinking, practical tips on the most common class assignments including writing essays and taking tests, and a list of the most essential programs at Tri-C that can directly help you in your studies.

How do I calculate my grade?

Your GPA is an important gauge of your academic success. It is utilized when applying for scholarships and is a minimum requirement for some programs (e.g. nursing and sonography). Tri-C requires a 2.0 GPA to graduate! You can check your grades for the classes you’ve taken on my Tri-C space. If you want to calculate your GPA or know what grades you need to In case you need to brush up on how to calculate a GPA, or if you want to practice calculating what it takes to increase your GPA, follow this link: http://gpacalculator.net/college-gpa-calculator/

Importance of a Syllabus Imagine a classified document that contains all of the secrets to being successful in your course. Envision it as an exclusive file, distributed only to a select group of students – those who have expressed a sincere desire to pass the class. Would you want to join this group? We have good news for you. You are part of this group! The selected students are the individuals registered for this class, and the top secret document is your syllabus. The syllabus is a road map designed by your instructor that contains the components necessary to excel in a given course. Your desire for success should lead you to stay well-connected with this roadmap.

A syllabus is an excellent tool that communicates course content, course methods and goals, student expectations and how you will be graded. Earning a satisfactory grade is among the most important objectives to any student, and your syllabus will outline the criteria to do just that. Although you will generally see the same types of information on each individual class syllabus, there are as many different approaches to creating syllabi as there are instructors. Items such as instructor contact information, learning objectives, homework assignments and test dates are all basic items that you will find in most syllabi. Important projects, due dates and attendance policies are other helpful pieces of information that you will need to know. Think of your syllabi as valuable guidelines distributed to you for your success – because that’s precisely what they are!

Introduction to Critical Thinking Critical thinking is a vital skill in a variety of ways. It helps us determine right from wrong.

It helps us make good decisions about our lives and families. It helps us determine whether or not the information we are presented with is true. Critical thinking is also crucial to academic success.

Modern research tells us that employers value critical thinking just as much as any other skill.

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Reasoning Analyzing

Evaluating

Critical thinking skills Decision Making

Problem Solving

CHAPTER 5: MAKING THE GRADE

We are all interested in what is true. Modern society bombards us with many competing viewpoints and arguments on how to live, think and act. To be a functioning member of society, one must have the ability to discern and judge these viewpoints. Your parents and past teachers have undoubtedly worked to teach you good critical thinking skills.

Your college instructors will help you develop those skills even further. Be sure to apply your critical thinking skills to everything you see, hear and read. You will then be better able to judge the value of the input you are presented with daily.

Critical thinking is a process of open-ended inquiry in which viewpoints are judged based on their logic and how they relate to the outside world rather than on popular opinion or the viewpoint of an authority figure. Everyone has an opinion on a topic, but some opinions are based more on the quality of the evidence than others.

The Critical Thinking Process The following graph shows the basic steps to engaging in the critical thinking process. These can be used to analyze nearly anything! You are already a critical thinker; following these steps can make you better at it – in the classroom and in life.

Begin to make judgements and inferences based on facts and premises.

Look at your topic closely. Describe its pieces and components in detail. Relate this information to important outside factors.

Judge or determine somethings worth or value based on analysis of the topic.

Reasoning

Analyzing

Evaluating

Critical thinking skills

Consider different perspectives. Determine significance and value to seek alternatives or solutions.

Decision Making

Weigh the evidence, test different ideas and alternatives.

Problem Solving

What is a research topic?

In many college courses you will be asked to prepare a research paper or speech on a complex issue or topic. Finding a focused topic that fits the required assignment length is important. A topic such as the death penalty might be too broad to cover in just a few pages, whereas an investigation into whether or not minors should be subjected to the death penalty may be more realistic.

Common research topics may include health and medicine, society and culture, energy and environmentalism, and many more. Research topics may be explored though essays, tests, or presentations.

English and Writing: From Short Answers to Essays Most academic majors and programs require satisfactory completion of ENG 1010 and ENG 1020. These are fundamental courses in the academic world and transfer broadly to other institutions of higher learning. While you work toward passing these gateway courses, whether you need some developmental coursework or not, some practical guidance on writing may serve you well.

The reality is that high-quality writing and reading skills are fundamental in the academic world and transfer broadly to the working world and real life. In your classes, you will be asked to read and write in abundance.

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TRI-C CHALLENGER’S GUIDE: PRACTICAL ADVICE FOR COLLEGE SUCCESS AND PERSONAL GROWTH

In fact, you know how to write already. All you are doing in college is working to become a better writer and learning the type of writing used at a collegiate level. This takes time.

Becoming a good writer also means reading as a writer. When you read, try to figure out how and why the author organizes their work in a certain way. Learn from how they use punctuation, quotes or other devices. For example, if you don’t know how to write dialogue, pick up a novel or two and see how they handle the back and forth of conversations.

Writing is a skill, but it is also a craft. As such, you must work at the craft of writing to become a better writer. Many people have strong blocks to becoming a better writer. For example, they may discourage themselves by thinking “I’m not a good writer.” Other people experience writer’s block and use this as an excuse to procrastinate.

Try the following tips to beat writer’s block: • Write/type whatever is in your brain. Let your fingers move and create words. Know that you will erase most of these words, but that you are working to get at your good ideas – to clear your mind, reduce clutter and get more focused.

• Change your environment. Many people find that they work best in quiet areas or while listening to music.

• Type instead of using a pen/pencil or write longhand instead of typing. This simple switch can help get you over the hump and get started.

• Make a list of ideas in bullet form rather than using full sentences. This can remove the pressure you might feel to make each sentence perfect when you first sit down to write.

Common Collegiate Writing Assignments Short Answers and Essay Exams • Read the question carefully. Consider the key words and specific point(s) to be addressed. Directly address the question in your response – don’t get caught up in writing down everything you know about the topic. Note how the question is framed and whether the question is asking for your opinion, for a definition, or asking you to synthesize several ideas.

• Be mindful of test time limits. Whenever possible, gather your thoughts on a separate page before writing on the exam itself (online or on paper) until you have framed your answer.

• Craft a topic sentence that directly answers the main question and includes the appropriate key words.

Make sure your support sentences are relevant and specific. It is normal to use language from the question in your response.

Essay Writing Engage, engage, engage! Many people think writing a paper and learning to write are isolated activities. This doesn’t have to be the case. In fact, being more open with your writing process will help you learn faster and create better papers. Below are some practical ways to make writing essays more engaging and manageable.

• Read the assignment carefully. Ask your instructor for clarification and further guidance if an assignment isn’t clear.

• Each campus has a writing center - you can go there for assistance at any point in the writing process.

• Discuss the essay with your peers.

• Start early. Make a plan to complete a full draft of the paper well before the due date. The best case scenario for important papers includes spending as much time revising and editing as you spend on creating the first full draft.

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• Pay careful attention to any remarks you might get from your instructor about your writing.

• Pay attention to the repetitive errors you make. Fixing and understanding these mistakes will improve your writing drastically within a short period of time.

• Guide your writing with an introduction that directly addresses the purpose of your paper and outlines how it will proceed. Allow the following paragraphs to support your purpose (often called a thesis). This is a basic formula for essay writing – pay attention to when and how an assignment deviates from this basic formula.

• Let someone else read your paper and suggest changes. A second pair of eyes is essential. You may choose whether or not to adopt their changes, but a fresh pair of eyes may at least catch some typos you missed.

• Revise writings, especially the papers that most profoundly impact your grade. Revising doesn’t just mean rereading the paper for small errors. Consider each element of your assignment carefully. Try different methods of careful reading and editing including reading out loud, which slows you down and allows you to catch more mistakes.

• Procrastination is not your friend. This is a terrible habit for your growth as a writer and for your grades. The reality is that even if you work best under pressure, waiting until the last possible second won’t help you produce the best quality writing and you won’t learn as quickly.

Test Taking Test anxiety is real for many people. You probably know if you are a good test taker or not. If you are, keep doing what you are doing! If not, consider the following to help alleviate the stress of exams and allow you to focus and test at a higher level: • Develop good study habits.

• Take and review class notes.

• Eliminate/control lifestyle distractions.

• Organize your class materials (find a good strategy and stick with it!)

• Study with a group or partner and utilize the College’s writing center, math lab and tutoring center.

• Don’t be afraid to ask for help!

• Add study time in your personal calendar.

• Organize the material you need to cover. Create a step-by-step guide to be studied and learned.

• Avoid dwelling on outside pressures: grades, graduation, peer pressure, family pressure, etc.

• Review your past test performances and learn from them.

• If you know what type of exam you will be taking, try a practice test so you are comfortable with the procedure.

• Approach the exam with confidence and in a positive frame of mind (which is much easier to do when you have prepared well!)

• Choose a comfortable test-taking spot.

• Allow yourself the full time allotted.

• Avoid the “cram” session -- this heightens anxiety.

• Exercise can help with your concentration and sharpen your mind.

• Don’t go to an exam on an empty stomach, and take a snack – stable sugar levels have proven to vastly effect mental performance.

• Read the test directions carefully.

• If you draw a blank, skip the question and go back to it.

• Change body position to help yourself relax.

• If you get really anxious and overwhelmed, choose one question and start writing what you know. This can help trigger better answers.

• Don’t panic when other students start handing in their papers. There is rarely a reward for finishing first!

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TRI-C CHALLENGER’S GUIDE: PRACTICAL ADVICE FOR COLLEGE SUCCESS AND PERSONAL GROWTH

PUBLIC SPEAKING, PERFORMANCE, AND SPECIAL PROJECTS Practicing and Delivering a Speech There are two points of interest to focus on when preparing a speech: your audience and YOU. Let’s begin with the audience. Imagine you are the observer. Would you want to sit through your speech? Design it so that your answer is an emphatic “YES!” You want to let your audience know how and why this information is useful to them. You can do that by relating the topic to something your listeners already know and care about. Your audience may not particularly agree with your topic, so when you acknowledge differences of opinion, do it tactfully. For the listeners who do not have any interest in your topic, be sure to highlight how your speech can help them gain new insight. Now let’s get specific on the three most important phases of speech presentation.

1. Organizing your presentation • Write the introduction • Develop the main body • Construct the conclusion • Create speaking notes and supporting visuals 2. Practicing your presentation • Use your speaker’s voice before the big day • Listen for repeated phrases (e.g. um, kind of, ya know?)

• Practice in the room where you will deliver the speech 3. Delivering your presentation • Dress for the occasion • Make eye contact • Acknowledge nonverbal communication (nail picking, posture, etc.)

• Project your voice • Have fun!

Performances and Special Projects The key to tackling a large project is to utilize many of the same skills used in preparing for a test or completing a long paper: organize your work, stick to your deadlines, and read and understand the assignment carefully.

“Something that has helped me in this class was the homework where we had to do something around campus. Also, the MyPlan test [because] it helped me to know what career paths may be good for me.”

AMANDA VENNETTI Undecided, Berea

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CHAPTER 5: MAKING THE GRADE

ACTIVITIES Activity 1: Good Behavior?

Make a list of the types of behaviors you have observed in successful students. Next, make a list of the types of behaviors that are disruptive in the classroom atmosphere. As a class, make a collective list of these opposing behaviors. Which of these behaviors give you the best chance for success?

Activity 2: Syllabus Quiz (requires preparation) Bring in syllabi from all classes. Note the differences and similarities in the following important class components for each syllabus: How do you make the grade for each course? What is the policy for granting Incompletes? How do the instructors describe their preferred mode of communication? What are the policies for make-up tests?

Activity 3: Sudden Speech You have five minutes to prepare a 30-second response “for” and “against” a topic provided by your instructor. Choose a representative to speak for each side. Review the tips for writing a good speech in this chapter. Note how good preparation leads to higher quality.

Activity 4: Develop Critical Thinking Skills Using Real- life Challenges For one week, take 10-15 minutes at the beginning of your day to consider a problem from a critical thinking perspective. Thinking critically is a skill, and practice makes perfect!

• Each morning, think about one challenge that you face and write it down. Answer the following questions: • What exactly is the problem?

• How can I put the problem into the form of a question?

• How does the problem relate to my goals, purposes and needs?

• How much control do I have over this problem?

Then: • Figure out what information you need to solve the problem.

• List potential actions.

• Decide on an action.

• Evaluate your action.

At the end of the week, write a short paragraph answering the following three questions: Did I work on problems I had some control over? Did I achieve any positive outcomes? Did I think about the problem from multiple perspectives or consider different ways to solve the problem? Did I notice a change in my thinking over the course of the week?

Activity 5: Sands of the Hourglass Based on your instructor’s prompt, write a timed essay using the skills presented in this chapter.

“Choose a job you love and you will never have to work a day in your life.”

– attributed to CONFUCIUS (559-471 BC)

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TRI-C CHALLENGER’S GUIDE: PRACTICAL ADVICE FOR COLLEGE SUCCESS AND PERSONAL GROWTH

CHAPTER 6: Planning Your Career Path The desire for a career is probably an important part of your reason for being in college. Landing the right job can often feel like a job itself – as it should! It takes hard work, self-understanding, diligence and preparation to find the career that fits you best.

This chapter will outline a strategy for success in formulating a smart plan to get that job and start your career. It will also provide a plan for those who don’t yet know what career would work best for them.

Being undecided in college is normal, but it also means you have some extra work on your plate.

As a Tri-C student, you have access to the following resources that guide you through designated action steps toward your career path.

3 2 1

The Career Center is here to connect you with employers and career-related resources during your education and after degree completion.

An academic plan provides an outline of recommended courses for each semester to help you be more successful and reach your goal of graduation.

MyPlan is a self-assessment that helps students and professionals plan more fulfilling lives by making wellinformed decisions about their education and careers.

Step One: MyPlan Self-Assessment MyPlan is a computerized self-assessment that helps students and professionals plan more fulfilling lives by making well-informed decisions about their education and careers. The assessment gives an objective take on aspects of yourself that are most important to making major academic decisions and finding your place in the workforce.

Whether you’re deciding which college to go to, choosing a major, planning ahead for your first career or thinking about making a career change, MyPlan evaluates the following four areas: • Values – helps identify your morals, motivations and woldview to show how it matches career choices • Interests – identifies your interests and how they relate to the world of work • Personality – provides insight into your personality to help you understand what careers are right for you • Current Skills – identifies your current skill set as it relates to your prospective career Whether you complete MyPlan in class or on your own at the Career Center website, be sure to meet with a counselor for interpretation of the results in order to make the most of the information you receive.

The MyPlan website is located below: http://tri-c.myplan.com/ You may also find this video* by Tri-C faculty member Dr. Michelle Nicopolis helpful in that it takes you through the process of completing MyPlan and helps you understand how to interpret the results. *Refer to Blackboard site for video.

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CHAPTER 6: PLANNING YOUR CAREER PATH

Step Two: Counseling/Academic Plan Creating an academic plan is one of the most important tasks for college students. A good plan will provide an outline of courses for each semester to help you to be more successful in reaching your goal of graduation. Here at Tri-C, My Academic Plan (MAP) is a tool we use that equips you with specific, long-range and accurate plans for the completion of your academic goals. Academic plans should be reviewed and revised with the assistance of a Tri-C counselor. In the event you decide to change your major or transfer to a different college, MAP should always reflect any changes. You should meet with an academic counselor regularly to discuss changes to you academic plan.

Step Three: Career Center/Job Search The Career Center provides a variety of free services to support and prepare students, alumni and community members for a successful job search, such as workshops and individual career coaching. They can assist you with identifying co-op/internship or full-time employment through job fairs and on-campus recruiting activities. They are here to connect you with employers and career-related resources during your education and after degree completion.

Knowledge is power. Knowing what your skills and interests are will help you find a good career match.

A Career Center is located on each campus. The Career Center can also be found online at: http://www.tri-c.edu/career-services/ While self-assessment and understanding your academic path is a crucial first step in your college journey, the Career Center can help you apply what you have learned. You can easily peruse their website to get information on employers, job search engines and job fairs, interview tips and workshops. It is also recommended that you stop in and engage with Career Center staff at your campus so they can provide individualized assistance based on your needs.

Even if you already know your career path, you should meet regularly with a counselor for course selection and review of your career path. The Career Center can also help you find internships and co-ops, help you with with your resume and develop your interviewing skills. Their focus is to help connect you to the world of work and a career that fits!

Utilizing Degree Works The tool to help you monitor your progress toward degree or program completion.

DegreeWorks* is Tri-C’s new comprehensive degree audit system that will help you and your counselor monitor your progress towards graduation.

With DegreeWorks you can:

• Establish an academic plan • Check your completed and in-progress coursework against program requirements • Run “what-if” audits to explore how your credits may apply to other Tri-C programs of study • Calculate your projected GPA • Work with a counselor to prepare for graduation

To access DegreeWorks: Login to my Tri-C space > click on Student > click on DegreeWorks under Degree and Career Planning Also, we’d like to add the following small section (we don’t care what the following list looks like…we just want the info. in the document because so many students don’t take this into consideration):

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TRI-C CHALLENGER’S GUIDE: PRACTICAL ADVICE FOR COLLEGE SUCCESS AND PERSONAL GROWTH

Health Career Note!

The following is a list of popular health care programs and their campus locations:

Cuyahoga Community College HealthCare Programs www.tri-c.edu/healthcareers 216-987-4247

Eastern Campus Health Careers Programs Environmental Health and Safety Massage Therapy Ophthalmic Medical Assisting Medical Assisting Nursing EMT /Paramedic Health Information Management Tech Pharmacy Tech Sport and ExerciseStudies

www.tri-c.edu/EHST www.tri-c.edu/massage www.tri-c.edu/opasst www.tri-c.edu/medicalasst www.tri-c.edu/nursing www.tri-c.edu/emt www.tri-c.edu/him www.tri-c.edu/pharmtech www.tri-c.edu/sport

Metropolitan Campus Health Careers Programs Dental Hygiene Dietetic Technology EMT /Paramedic Health Information Management Technology Human Services Medical Laboratory Technology Medical Assisting Occupational Therapy Assistant Optical Technology Nursing Physical Therapist Assistant Sports Exercise Studies Surgical Technology

www.tri-c.edu/dentalhygiene www.tri-c.edu/dietetic www.tri-c.edu/emt www.tri-c.edu/him www.tri-c.edu/humanservices www.tri-c.edu/medlab www.tri-c.edu/medicalasst www.tri-c.edu/ota www.tri-c.edu/opticaltech www.tri-c.edu/nursing www.tri-c.edu/pta www.tri-c.edu/sport www.tri-c.edu/surgicaltech

Western Campus Health Careers Programs Diagnostic Medical Sonography www.tri-c.edu/sonography Electroneurodiagnostic Technology (END)/ Polysomnography www.tri-c.edu/end www.tri- c.edu/polysomnography EMT /Paramedic www.tri-c.edu/emt Nuclear Medicine www.tri-c.edu/nuclearmed Physician Assistant www.tri-c.edu/physicianasst Radiography www.tri-c.edu/radiography Respiratory Care www.tri-c.edu/respiratory Sports Exercise Studies www.tri-c.edu/sport Veterinary Tech www.tri-c.edu/vettech

Westshore Campus Health Careers Programs EMT /Paramedic www.tri-c.edu/emt Nursing www.tri-c.edu/nursing State Tested Nursing Assistant www.tri-c.edu/workforce/health-care-training/stna

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CHAPTER 6: PLANNING YOUR CAREER PATH

ACTIVITIES Activity 1: MyPlan Complete the MyPlan assessment online. Set up an appointment with an academic counselor to help interpret your results and explain how they might help you clarify your academic and career goals. Prepare three questions about your results and your path forward through academics and into the workforce before you go to your counseling appointment. Then choose one of the following options to complete the activity.

Option 1: Write a summary of what you learned and create a plan of action for utilizing career services and finding the right place in your chosen field. This plan should contain a list of action items that will help you achieve clear, measurable goals. This may include job shadowing, internships, co-ops, etc.

Option 2: Utilize a SWOT analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) to help you explore career options. See the Blackboard site for a more complete assignment that utilizes the SWOT method.

Activity 2 (walkabout): Meet and Greet Meet with a faculty member in your chosen discipline (if you have one) and have one or more specific questions prepared about the academic and vocational sides of your field of interest. Describe what you learned in one page of writing.

Activity 3 (walkabout): Moving on Up Sit in on an upper-level class in your prospective major or field of interest. Write a page about your observations from the experience and discuss the biggest challenges you foresee in your path to success in your chosen field.

Activity 4: College Central Network Network at www.collegecentral.com/tri-c. Once you’ve signed up, write a paragraph describing the general services provided by the website and which might be most useful to you.

Activity 5: DegreeWorks Follow your instructor’s directions about how to log in to DegreeWorks and utilize the various tools for self-audits and planning for graduation.

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TRI-C CHALLENGER’S GUIDE: PRACTICAL ADVICE FOR COLLEGE SUCCESS AND PERSONAL GROWTH

CHAPTER 7: The Whole Self “I keep fit, I work out, I eat pretty damn well, I don’t drink like a fish, and all of those things are tempered with a holistic mind-set that you need to damn well respect the vehicle that you’re walking around in.”

– Mick Fleetwood

Balance isn’t only about eating right and keeping an open mind – all of life’s experiences over time contribute to establishing balance. Living with a healthy spiritual understanding, fostering fruitful relationships, establishing a fulfilling career, finding emotional stability, increasing our knowledge and fostering wisdom are all great challenges.

Finding the balance between these important elements of healthy living can help us reach our goals, provide for our families and live up to our potential.

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Imagine you are a bicycle wheel-full of air, working properly and efficiently, rolling along as any good wheel would. As you travel along your path, you hit an object that punctures your well-balanced wheel. What happens to that wheel? Yes, you are correct – the wheel is now flat! As you may have guessed, a punctured wheel does not roll well. This image of a wheel symbolizes how You you balance all areas of your well-being. As a college student, your health and wellness are essential to your academic success.

Int One of the most important things you ell ec can do is take responsibility for making tua l choices that will help you maintain all aspects of your well-being.

Wellness can be defined as a purposeful, enjoyable and deliberate lifestyle choice that promotes balance through healthful practices You Social/ l C a u and attitudes. u lt t ural Spiri There is more to life than just sleeping, exercising and eating right.

Living a healthy, well-balanced life as a student involves all aspects of you and your “wheel”: emotional, physical, spiritual, social, intellectual, environmental and occupational.

Let’s take a closer look at these seven areas of your wheel and ways you can maintain and enhance them for your optimal success.

PHYSICAL (body) The ability to maintain a healthy body and quality of life helps you to get through your daily activities without fatigue or physical stress.

• Recognize that your behaviors have a significant impact on your wellness and adopt healthful habits while choosing to avoid destructive ones. ° Eat a nutritious breakfast every morning ° Exercise at least three times a week ° Make good decisions concerning risky sexual behavior ° Choose to avoid or restrict the intake of harmful substances The Recreation offices on each campus can help you maintain your physical health. This is your “go-to” place for sports participation, recreation activities, physical education classes and other fitness programs. Visit in person or check their website to get involved. Keep in mind that each campus has a recreational center (gymnasium, exercise room, pool and more) that is free for you to use! Swim, play basketball, take a samba class or use the weight and exercise rooms!

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CHAPTER 7: THE WHOLE SELF

INTELLECTUAL (mind) A willingness to open your mind to new ideas and experiences can help you make good personal decisions, enhance interactions and improve your community.

• Strive to learn new concepts, improve skills and seek challenges in the pursuit of lifelong learning. Engage in creative and stimulating mental activities to expand your knowledge and skills to share with others.

° ° ° °

Welcome and accept challenges as an opportunity for growth Read often for the enjoyment of it Be willing to listen to ideas other than your own Be curious about the world around you

EMOTIONAL (feelings) The ability to understand ourselves and cope with the challenges life can bring. Being attentive to your thoughts, feelings and behaviors, whether positive or negative • Express emotions appropriately, adjust to change, cope with stress in a healthy way and enjoy life despite its occasional disappointments and frustrations.

° Take action to control stress (running, journaling, yoga, kickboxing, etc.) ° Calmly and openly discuss your feelings in a respectful way with someone you trust ° Consider how your actions and words affect others At Tri-C, we take emotional health issues seriously. If you have serious emotional trauma, or just want to maintain your mental health, you can get free personal counseling and consultations with our counseling faculty. A licensed psychologist is also available during all office hours. Contact your counseling office in person, by email or by phone.

A survey by Psychology Today notes that almost 30 percent of respondents had sought some type of counseling in the previous two years and that 80 percent of them found it helpful. Maintaining and learning more about your mental health is a lifelong journey – don’t be afraid to get some advice!

SOCIAL (family, friends, relationships) The ability to relate, connect and interact with a diverse range of people; communicating well both verbally and nonverbally; having meaningful, healthy relationships; and demonstrating respect for self and others.

• Establish and maintain positive relationships with family, friends and classmates; balance time and prioritize academics with friends and family.

° ° ° ° °

Adjust to changing relationships in a positive manner Evaluate/re-evaluate current relationships Interact with people from different cultures and ways of life Work to decrease violence and handle conflict in a positive way Demonstrate basic social etiquette (e.g. say thank you, excuse me/pardon me, good morning, etc.). Good manners are a way of showing people you respect them.

Tri-C offers a variety of ways to connect socially. See Chapter 3 for information about student life, student organizations and other ways to socialize with your peers and the Tri-C community.

“Meditation is something that calms me down.

It makes me feel at peace, it comforts me.”

ISORAILYS LACEN Business, Brooklyn

**Toni Pickens (2013) 37

TRI-C CHALLENGER’S GUIDE: PRACTICAL ADVICE FOR COLLEGE SUCCESS AND PERSONAL GROWTH

SPIRITUAL (values, purpose, intuition, vitality) The sense that life is meaningful and has a purpose including the ethics, values and morals that guide us and give meaning and direction to life; showing and exercising compassion, forgiveness, love, joy and fulfillment • Spirituality is a personal matter defined by you – a process of discovering meaning and purpose in life and demonstrating values through your behaviors. For some college students, spirituality can be a source of comfort and strength as well as an aspect of wellness.

° ° ° ° °

Meditate or pray on a regular basis Take time to enjoy beauty (nature, art, music, etc.)

Enjoy life; free yourself of self-destructive behaviors and people Explore your current faith or a different one Explore your faith in a like-minded group

OCCUPATIONAL (career, skills) Fulfillment from your job or chosen career may involve exploring new options based on your interests, values, skills and personality.

• Make choices that match your values, skills and personality so that your occupation positively affects you and the community.

° ° ° ° °

Accept that school work and formal education are meaningful and allow for personal growth Balance work with rest and play Continue to do the best you can while at work Have a positive attitude about your career and the fulfillment and rewards it brings Seek to learn or continue to use best practices in your chosen field

Don’t forget about the Career Center, your one-stop shop for all career-related assistance!

ENVIRONMENTAL (air, water, food, safety) The understanding that an individual’s actions impact the cleanliness and safety of their surroundings involves taking steps to protect and minimize threats to the environment and community.

• The quality of today’s environment has a direct effect on personal wellness., but maintaining your personal environment is also important..

° Create a living space that is conducive to good physical and mental health (e.g., de-clutter your living space, ° ° °

maintain a safe and clean living area) Recognize your own impact on the environment Reduce, reuse and recycle, realizing that there is no “away” when you throw things into the garbage Identify steps you can take to maintain and enhance your personal health through your surroundings

Tri-C is fully committed to promoting a healthy relationship between our community and the environment.

Environmental clubs, an Environmental Health and Safety degree, Earth Day programs and campus recycling are just a few examples of how we promote that relationship.

Now that we’ve outlined and definied the various aspects of well-being, we can direct our attention to some practical ways of putting a plan for personal wellness into action. The key word in the title of this chapter is SELF. Each individual’s personal circumstances are unique and the methods with which we respond to these conditions are just as distinct. For this reason, you will find a wide variety of techniques to choose from as you explore ways to improve your life from the inside out. These suggested practices are structured by theme, with specific supporting points.

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YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH YOURSELF** • Meditate With the constant external stimulation we encounter, it is essential to quiet our minds regularly. You may choose to meditate with a concentrated intention, such as improving self-confidence or attracting a specific desire. If you are unsure of how to start, there is an abundance of guided meditations available on YouTube. Most of them are accompanied by peaceful music and words of affirmation. Alternatively, you can find a quiet space where you will remain undisturbed for at least 20 minutes and simply sit peacefully in a comfortable position. Pay attention to your breathing and do your best to clear your thoughts. Remember to be patient with yourself – it takes practice!

• Practice Self-Affirmation We all have enough outward forces sending the message that we aren’t good enough. To top it off, we can be quite hard on ourselves. Protecting the image of our personal integrity takes practice. Examples may include saying to ourselves things like “I am capable,” or “I am hard-working.” Of course, it is essential to be honest with yourself. You want to use affirmations that are accurate. If there are areas in your life that you desire to improve, utilize specialized affirmations with intention. More specific affirmations may sound like “I will encourage my children today,” or “I will manage my money carefully and wisely this month.”

• Review previous accomplishments and list your assets How can you improve upon your foundation if you aren’t well aware of what the foundation is made from? Take some time to review past moments of victory: honors, awards, milestones and proud moments. You may have forgotten how much you’ve done! Reminding yourself of previous achievements can inspire you to do even more along the road ahead. In addition to reviewing previous accomplishments, it is important to be familiar with your unique assets. A clear understanding of your strengths can benefit you in a variety of circumstances such as job interviews, networking events, dates – any situation in which you need to represent yourself well.

YOUR SURROUNDINGS • Take a break from social media Constant connection with the alternate reality that we call social media can make you jaded. Those who balance their time spent on electronic devices/social media are less likely to become depressed or experience increased depression. Consider other activities like exercise or meeting with people face-to-face for a more balanced social well-being.

In addition, you want to make sure that you aren’t pulled into believing everything you see online. This may seem obvious, but if you spend too much time in the virtual world, it can drastically affect your own vision of reality. For instance, images in print media are heavily altered with programs like Photoshop to depict false perfection. It would not be fair to use these illustrations as a measuring stick to compare yourself against.

Similarly, the image that others portray online is often exaggerated. Take a break from time to time, whether it’s 24 hours, a week or a month. We must remember that real life awaits us outside of cyberspace!

• Purge your environment Clean house – literally! As time passes, we begin to accumulate needless clothing, paperwork, household items and even outdated personal hygiene products. Cluttered surroundings can sometimes equal a cluttered mind.

Set aside time to go through your closet, cabinets, junk drawer, car and even your refrigerator. You may be surprised to see how much you’ve been holding on to! You may find old, outdated items that should have been pitched ages ago. Purging can give you a fresh outlook with an added sense of accomplishment. Out with the old and in with the new!

• Get outside!

Winter, spring, summer, fall -- we all have our favorite season, but communion with the great outdoors should be practiced year-round. Many propose that spending time in nature can connect you with your spirituality.

To behold natural creation is a grounding experience. There is an energy of vitality and perfection that nature carries with it, which is worth connecting to.

YOUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHERS • Learn what you can and cannot give We often subconsciously expect that others will adjust what they “withdraw” from relationships based on how much they are able to “deposit,” much like a bank account. An individual who is a natural giver may not notice an imbalance until they are near depletion. Establish boundaries and learn how to say no.

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TRI-C CHALLENGER’S GUIDE: PRACTICAL ADVICE FOR COLLEGE SUCCESS AND PERSONAL GROWTH

• Forgive with intention Make a point to forgive those whom you feel have wronged or offended you. Have you ever heard that we judge others based on their behavior, but assess ourselves based on our intentions? Bring balance to your outlook. Extend every individual the same grace that you would like for yourself. Harboring a grudge can also block positive energy. Dark emotions hold a negative charge and focus on what cannot be changed – the past.

Remember, forgiveness is never for the other person as much as it is for you. Let go of the burden of resentment and set yourself free!

• Remove the pressure to please all of the time The “disease to please” affects the best of us. We were raised in a society that teaches us to thrive on recognition, from the elementary award assembly to pats on the back in the office. Of course you should put forth your best effort in every endeavor, but you must not operate under the consistent construct of making sure everyone is satisfied with your performance. Some of the greatest contributors to history were misunderstood until generations later! As long as you are at peace with your decisions, and you feel that they align with your heart’s purpose, you can be sure you are doing the right thing. Trying to make everyone happy is a sure way to disrupt that inner harmony.

PRACTICE PERSONAL PRESERVATION • Take a biology class… on you!

Our nutritional and health needs can be as unique as we are. A one-size-fits-all approach may not be the best method when it comes to properly fueling our bodies. Talk to your doctor about your specific body type and your family history. There may be a specific recommended diet that will assist you in looking and feeling your best.

Also keep track of your doctor visits. Keeping in tune with your highs and lows in personal health results in a detailed and informed outlook for years to come.

• Sleep Really, it’s as simple as that. Getting fewer than six hours of sleep per night can increase your risk of acquiring an illness. Sleep deprivation can also contribute to stress, heart attack, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

An adequate amount of sleep can reduce stress and enhance the nervous system, and is believed to assist in significant weight loss.

• Go into airplane mode Do not simply silence your phone -- the call and text message alerts still appear on your screen, which will definitely serve as a distraction. You could find yourself engaged in a thirty-minute text conversation before you know it! Stop that train before it starts. Carve out a reasonable amount of time regularly to switch your phone to airplane mode. This will allow you to redirect your attention elsewhere (family, friends, projects, etc.) without interruption.

• Visualize If you can see it, you can achieve it. There is power in visualization. This practice can truly help you attract the things that you want. Keeping these desirable images in your mind causes you to react in a favorable way emotionally, sending out a ripple of positive results. These images also consciously and subconsciously affect your decisions and behaviors, leading you toward your goals.

• Journal Another therapeutic and cathartic activity is journaling. Document as much as you can. It’s amazing to look back on your process of growth through sincere journaling. Also try free writing. Sit down for a period of time and simply write whatever comes to mind. Many innovative ideas and/or discoveries of hidden emotions may come from this activity.

• Evaluate your mental health It is essential to have regular checkups with your dentist and general health care provider, so what would make you think that your mental health is any less important? Some people view mental health as a taboo subject. You wouldn’t be embarrassed to see your dermatologist for eczema, or a respiratory care therapist for asthma. You should not feel ashamed for seeking help to balance your mood, emotions or thought patterns (your brain is an organ too!). If you feel that you may be experiencing an imbalance in any of these areas, please see your health care provider or stop in to the Counseling Center on campus. There are also simple, self-guided assessments you can take online as a first step.

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CHAPTER 7: THE WHOLE SELF

ACTIVITIES Activity 1: SMART Goals Use the SMART goal guidelines below to formulate your personal goals for each of the seven dimensions of wellness.

Consider whether your goals are short-term or long-term and how this impacts your planning.

Specific - Who, what, when, where, why?

Measurable - If you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it Attainable – Action bound steps Realistic – is it doable?

Timely – Is it traceable and time-bound?

My SMART Intellectual goal:

My SMART Spiritual goal:

My SMART Occupational goal:

My SMART Environmental goal:

My SMART Physical goal:

My SMART Social goal:

My SMART Emotional goal:

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TRI-C CHALLENGER’S GUIDE: PRACTICAL ADVICE FOR COLLEGE SUCCESS AND PERSONAL GROWTH

Activity 2: Relax, Relate, Rejuvenate The instructor will lead a meditation exercise with a guided YouTube video, or invite a campus yoga/sports exercise instructor to lead the activity.

Activity 3: Gratefulness List three things you are grateful for. Share one or more of your ideas with the class. Discuss how gratitude can be a powerful tool.

Activity 4: “F-You!” Construct a letter of forgiveness to someone (this can even be yourself ). Be detailed about your feelings and how you plan to move forward.

Activity 5: Put it in Perspective Learn to reframe a situation by viewing it from another’s perspective. Read the following short story adapted from Stephen Covey’s “7 Habits of Highly Effective People”: Covey tells of an experience on a subway ride. Some kids were jumping around in the same car he was in. They were really bothering him, so he went over to the children’s father and asked if he could please control his boys. The father responded, saying that he did not notice his boys were bothering anyone. Covey thought this was very strange, as the boys were clearly out of control. He asked the father, “How could you possibly not have noticed?” The father said that he was extremely sorry and explained that they just left the hospital where he and his boys got word that their mother, his wife, had died. The father said that none of them had any idea how to act in this situation.

Raise your hand if you’ve ever experienced a situation in which someone else’s behavior was suddenly clear once you gained insight into a situation from their perspective. Describe how you felt about that person before and after the insight, and what you learned from the experience.

Activity 6: “Am I balanced?”

Complete this assessment to determine your current wellness behavior. The activity can help you become aware of your current level of wellness, and any changes you may want to make. This activity can found in Blackboard under chapter 7 activities.

“Education is a valuable asset for anyone at any time in their career. Tri-C provides programs and guidance for people at all levels in countless fields.

We are fortunate to have an institution like Tri-C in our community and I am happy I made the decision to continue my education there.”

KIM AUGUSTINE Class of 1994, Associate of Science, Manufacturing / Industrial Engineering Technology

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CHAPTER 8: MONEY MATTERS

CHAPTER 8: Money Matters There is no denying the power of money in our world.

Yet many of us don’t manage our money well. Money management can be stressful because so many of us ignore or postpone important financial obligations. For these and many other practical reasons, money management deserves a lot of thought. Not managing your money can start you down a path of debt where you have far less control over your own income! You don’t want to ignore this part of your educational and personal journey. The reality is that your financial responsibility exists whether you pay attention to it or not.

This chapter will discuss basic concepts and best practices in personal finance. It will also cover important academic financial information to help you understand your options, including scholarships and loans.

Personal Finances The Art of Budgeting “Where does the money go?” is a question many individuals and households ask when it comes to budgeting and money management. A personal budget is a financial plan dealing with your income, expenses, savings and debt repayment that can help figure out where and how your money is actually spent.

A variety of resources are available to help you with your personal finances. Check out “Personal Finance for Dummies” or any of the practical personal accounting books and websites that can help you learn how to make your money work for you most effectively.

Effective money management starts with goals and a step-by-step plan for saving and spending. Financial goals should be realistic, be specific, have a time frame, and imply an action to be taken (refer to SMART goals in Chapter 7).

It will take time and effort to develop your personal financial goals and budget. However, once you gain a better understanding of financial matters, you will learn how to get the most out of the money you have coming in – that is, your earnings or income. The knowledge and practice of money management skills will serve you for a lifetime. We all figure this out at some point. You can either be proactive in your money management or wait for a debt collector to knock at your door!

The activity at the end of this chapter will help you create and understand a basic budget. It will give you valuable information about your spending and allow you to reach certain financial goals faster. Pay particular attention to the spending aspect of your budget, as it often reveals ways you might be able to save money and/or lessen headaches caused by improper spending and borrowing.

Our money is scarce and we have to learn how to better earn, spend and save. When you make a choice, you give up one thing (cost) in exchange for another thing ( benefit). Most people are constantly balancing what they want with what they can afford.

The following concepts are basic building blocks of financial planning and stability: Income: The way to get money is to earn it. You can’t balance your money if you don’t have any! Attending college helps you obtain a fulfilling career and increases your income. Monitor your current income and plan for ways to make more!

Expenses: Balance the money you spend (your expenses) against your income. Measure the money coming in and compare it to what is going out. Look closely at your financial necessities and then consider your “wants.” Obviously, to save, you need to get have more income than expenses.

Savings: Not many people look back on their career and think, “I should have saved less.” This is hard to do while in college. One reason to save is to create financial stability and security. Keep in mind that you should always be looking for ways that your money can make more money for you. Interest and compound interest are key concepts to consider in long-term savings.

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TRI-C CHALLENGER’S GUIDE: PRACTICAL ADVICE FOR COLLEGE SUCCESS AND PERSONAL GROWTH

If you put $100 in a savings account that offers a 6 percent interest rate, you will have $106 at the end of the year. If you add just $100 to that account each year for the next 40 years, you will end up with $17,433. Of course, you need much more than that in order to retire comfortably. The message is start saving EARLY and REGULARLY.

What is Credit?

In today’s world, credit is integrated into everyday life. From renting a car to reserving an airline ticket or hotel room, credit cards have become a necessary convenience. Using credit wisely is critical to building a solid credit history and maintaining fiscal fitness.

Many people do not realize that credit cards are a loan! Not only do they need to be paid back, but because they are risky loans, the lender often charges annual payments and interest which make the actual cost of the money you are using much higher.

Because credit cards are relatively easy to get, some people think of them as easy money. Though a credit card may allow you to purchase what you want in the short term, the cost becomes much greater the longer you don’t pay the bill. Read the following story of an all too common situation which can easily be avoided: http://www.christiancollegeguide.net/article/credit-card-nightmare Consider getting a debit card rather than a credit card. This will allow you to only use money you actually have rather than money you wish you had.

The importance of a credit score A credit score is a three-digit number that combines a variety of financial data to determine your approval and the terms of credit cards and other types of loans. Your credit score will come into play when you seek a better credit card, home loan or even a car loan. Some practical advice for maintaining a good credit score is as follows: • Keep your credit card balances low • Eliminate small balances on credit cards or small loans • Pay your bills on time – late payments affect your credit significantly and remain on your credit report for several years • Don’t remove “good” credit history from your credit report • Maintain balanced spending rather than obsessing over your credit score Creditkarma.com notes the following ratings for credit scores (2016): Excellent: 701-750 Good: 641-700 Fair: 581-640 Poor: 580 and below Experian (U.S. Credit Reporting Bureau) notes that the average credit scores by age are as follows: Age 19-29: 628 credit score Age 30-46: 653 credit score Age 47-65: 700 credit score Age 66+: 735 credit score You can check and monitor your credit score on a variety of websites including: www.AnnualCreditReport.com

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CHAPTER 8: MONEY MATTERS

Phishing and Fraud We’ve all heard stories of con artists attempting to steal personal and financial information. This information is often used or sold to make money. There are many forms of phishing and fraudonline. To avoid having your information stolen try the following: • Check your bank and credit card reports regularly for unusual expenditures • Be wary of emails asking for personal information, especially financial in nature • Be aware of website privacy policies • Watch out for generic-looking requests for personal information • Don’t get pressured into providing personal information – scare tactics are common, including threatening to disable an account or withhold services • Never submit forms with embedded email messages • Never use direct links in an email – open the site in a new browser window • Maintain effective, up-to-date security software

Help for Financial Troubles If your finances are in trouble, don’t hide from it! Project GO! is a service at Tri-C that partners with the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS), the Ohio Benefit Bank (OBB) and the Cleveland Food Bank to break down barriers to college completion. The program, also known as Benefits Access, helps ease students’ financial challenges to education through utilities assistance, food assistance and health care while they work toward their educational goals.

This grant-funded program utilizes Tri-C staff and interns as benefit coaches for students, who are able to determine eligibility and apply for public benefits from all four main campus locations. Students can get more information or get started by going to: http://www.tri-c.edu/paying-for-college/financial-aid-and-scholarships/benefits-accessproject-go.html

College Finances When it comes to planning your financial future, paying for college may be at the top of your list. With tuition, general fees and books to be factored in, it is worth the effort to evaluate the many opportunities available to you to meet these costs head on. Paying for college isn’t easy for most students. Tri-C continues to keep tuition rates reasonable despite the rising cost of education. Regardless of the low relative cost, it is wise for you as a student to develop a plan to pay for your education. When you crunch the numbers, a college degree pays off in big ways (see chart in Chapter 1). However, this doesn’t change the fact that many of you need to pay for college now! The following options are available to help students pay for college. Information about each can be found in the Financial Aid office on your campus or at the website below: http://www.tri-c.edu/paying-for-college/financial-aid-and-scholarships/index.html • GIFT AID (GRANTS/SCHOLARSHIPS) – Free money that does not need to be repaid. These funds are awarded on the basis of need, merit, skill or unique characteristic.

• STUDENT EMPLOYMENT – Work-study jobs that let you earn a paycheck as you learn.

• STUDENT LOANS – Money that is repaid over several years, usually with interest.

• MILITARY STUDENT AID – Includes ROTC and the GI Bill. Earn money for your education in exchange for service rendered in the United States Armed Forces. Information can be found at Veteran Services and Programs offices on each campus.

Obviously, a personal budget that takes into account your income, expected income and spending is extremely useful whendetermining your college finances.

The videos on this website may prove useful when making decisions about these finances: http://www.tri-c.financialaidtv.com 45

TRI-C CHALLENGER’S GUIDE: PRACTICAL ADVICE FOR COLLEGE SUCCESS AND PERSONAL GROWTH

Federal Financial Help The first step in addressing your college finances is to complete the Federal Application for Student Aid (FAFSA). All of you should have already done this or should do it in short order! The FAFSA is a tool that determines if you are eligible for financial aid, which covers the cost of college beyond what a family or individual can afford to pay. Approximately two-thirds of undergraduate students receive some form of financial aid.

Financial aid comes in three main forms: loans, grants and scholarships, and employment programs such as work‑study.

Keep in mind that loans have to be paid back! While the terms of federal loans are often good in terms of the loan marketplace, they still add to your debt. You can face serious consequences with your future credit rating due to non‑payment of student loans.

A variety of loans exist from the federal government and other sources. You will want to consult Tri-C’s Financial Aid office with your questions. You should also work to understand these matters on your own. Funding Your Education: The Guide to Federal Student Aid and the Federal Student Aid Handbook are two resources that can help you understand academic finances.

These U.S. Department of Education websites also provide practical advice for helping pay for college: • Federal Student Aid: good starting place for planning for college and looking for financial aid • Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA): takes students line-by-line through the financial aid application process • Financial Aid Overview: includes links to many useful sites on this topic • Information for Financial Aid Professionals (IFAP): consolidates guidance, resources and information related to federal student aid

Tri-C’s Student Financial Aid and Scholarships Office Each Tri-C campus has a Student Financial Aid and Scholarships Office that serves as the main point of inquiry about college finances and financial aid. They also have a variety of online tools that can answer some of your questions and give you more information to make communication with the financial aid personnel as efficient and productive as possible.

This office is dedicated to helping students navigate financial aid options for paying for their college expenses. Students can meet with a financial aid advisor to obtain information about various financial aid options, including grants, scholarships, student loans and public benefits.

The Student Financial Aid and Scholarships Office and website helps with the following: • Applying for financial assistance • Explaining financial aid policies • Applying for scholarships • Applying for student loans • Lists important financial aid dates • Facilitates work-study programs/jobs http://www.tri-c.edu/paying-for-college/financial-aid-and-scholarships/index.html

“This class has taught me more on real world situations than four years of high school. The second to last week of class, I finally figured out what credit score is and the difference between that and student debt..”

SPENCER ZILLICH Graphic Design, Cleveland Heights

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CHAPTER 8: MONEY MATTERS

Student Financial Aid and Scholarships: Phone: 216-987-6000, Option 2 Email: financialaid@tri-c.edu School Code: 003040

Campus Locations: East: Enrollment Center room1602 Metro: Student Services room 209 West: Student Services room 224

Corporate College West: room 108 Westshore: Enrollment Center Brunswick: room 117

Finding Work Now! The Career Center is Tri-C’s best option for help in finding a job or career after you graduate. They can also help you find an internship/externship or give help with interviewing tips and resume writing. Numerous students utilize the Career Center to help them find jobs, identify opportunities and begin working in their field quickly (even while still earning their degree!).

Stop by the career center on your campus or set up an appointment online or via phone: http://www.tri-c.edu/career-services/ Phone numbers for each location are available on the first page of the website listed above.

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TRI-C CHALLENGER’S GUIDE: PRACTICAL ADVICE FOR COLLEGE SUCCESS AND PERSONAL GROWTH

ACTIVITIES Activity 1: Personal Budget Create a personal monthly budget. You can use the template in this chapter or find another that works better for you. Be as specific as possible, especially with your spending habits. Write one page reflecting on the following: • What did you notice about your spending patterns?

• Which habits do you want to keep? How might these habits change over the course of a year?

• Do you have any big expected expenses in the coming months other than college and monthly bills?

• Which spending habits do you need to change?

• Are you able to save any money in your budget? How? Monthly Budget.png: Open as a hyperlink or find your own budget chart. https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/prepare-for-college/budgeting/creating-your-budget#tool: This federal government website will give you more detailed advice for how to budget and manage your money.

Activity 2: Dear Money…

This is a letter of reflection about your personal connection with money. Genuinely contemplate the relationship between the two of you.

What has it been like over the years? Where would you like to see the relationship go in the future?

Include responses to thoughts such as: • I knew I needed you in my life when…

• This is what I already understand about you…

• What I don’t understand about you is…

• This is how I’ve mistreated you…

• This is how I’ve respected you…

• These are some exciting plans that I have for us…

Activity 3: Financial Aid Facts vs. Myths: a True/False Activity All funds received from financial aid must be paid back. ........................................................ T/F There is small fee for submitting the FAFSA. ............................................................................. T/F Work-study money is earned through a job on campus while attending school. .................. T/F Parents can also apply for financial aid to support their children in school. ......................... T/F Community colleges are usually more expensive than four-year schools. ............................. T/F Financial aid limits the funding that a student can borrow at a two-year college.................. T/F A subsidized loan has interest that is paid by the government while a student is in an in-school, grace or deferment status............................................................................. T/F It is OK to temporarily ignore default notices from your loan servicer. .................................. T/F Male applicants aged 25 and under must register with Selective Service (potential military draft). ............................................................................................................ T/F The FAFSA must be completed every year. ................................................................................ T/F

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CHAPTER 8: MONEY MATTERS

The following is a template for a common budget:

College Monthly Budget Worksheet INCOME

$ BUDGETED

$ ACTUAL

$ DIFFERENCE

Grants

$

$

$

Scholarships

$

$

$

Loans

$

$

$

Job (your salary)

$

$

$

Parents’ Contribution

$

$

$

Other Income

$

$

$ TOTAL INCOME

ACADEMIC EXPENSES

$ BUDGETED

$

$ ACTUAL

$ DIFFERENCE

Tuition & Fees

$

$

$

Books & School Supplies

$

$

$

Miscellaneous (postage/etc.)

$

$

$

Computer (paper/disks/etc.)

$

$

$

LIVING EXPENSES

$ BUDGETED

$ ACTUAL

$ DIFFERENCE

Rm. & Board/Rent

$

$

$

Utilities (water/electric/heat/air cond.)

$

$

$

TV (cable/etc.)

$

$

$

Phone (hookup/monthly)

$

$

$

Insurance (medical/car/rental)

$

$

$

Food (dorm meal plan)

$

$

$

Food (other than dorm meals)

$

$

$

Loan Payments

$

$

$

Credit Card Payments

$

$

$

Transportation (gas/bus/etc.)

$

$

$

Trips Home/Vacations

$

$

$

Other

$

$

$

PERSONAL EXPENSES

$ BUDGETED

$ ACTUAL

$ DIFFERENCE

Personal (toiletries/hair care/etc.)

$

$

$

Entertainment (music/video/movies/games/etc.)

$

$

$

Clothing/Shoes

$

$

$

Savings (amount you put away)

$

$

$

Other

$

$

$

TOTAL EXPENSES

$

Your Income Minus Your Expenses = Your NET

$

Even if your class doesn’t choose to create a personal budget, you should consider creating one for your own personal understanding.

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www.tri-c.edu