Student Success Strategies for New College Students
There is a saying in Student Affairs that “the first six weeks tell the tale” and those of us who have been in higher education for a while can attest that for many first-time or returning students, this is true.
Entering or returning to college is often fraught with new challenges and stresses. And it is during this stressful and exciting time that students need to become anchored to the institution. We are most at risk for losing students during the first six weeks of their tenure with us.
Just as a spider’s web needs three points of contact to be stable, most students need multiple anchors to feel stable at their new institution. What does that look like?
For many students, one engaging instructor makes them feel like they belong. For some students, it is belonging to a club or organization. Making one friend can anchor a student to the institution as well. And we shouldn’t underestimate how having a faculty or staff member smile and greet students helps them feel like they belong on our campus.
During the first six weeks of the fall semester, most new students will be enrolled in FYE 100, a one-hour class designed to help students become successful in college. A requirement of FYE 100 is participation in five MERIT QUEST activities. Students will be told about these online and in-person activities each week in their FYE 100 class, will receive a weekly email about upcoming activities, and will see signage on the new Student Activities wall in the Campus Center, on TV screens throughout campus, and on flyers on campus bulletin boards.
What does the first six-weeks look like at OCTC?
Welcome Week occurs during the first week of classes and club presidents will meet to plan for their year. This will be followed by Student Fest where students can learn about clubs and campus resources during Week Two.
Fall Fling, sponsored by SGA, will occur in week four. Pizza with the Prez, Constitution Day and Creating your Personal Brand will be offered in week five as well as the online Pathfinder Student Leadership Conference. We will offer Lakeside Yoga during Week Six with an instructor from Willow and Ash.
Beyond these activities, students will be recruited for campus clubs: SGA will have a interest meeting on August 20 and clubs will begin meeting during the second week of classes. Clubs expected to return include:
- Cornerstone Campus Ministries
- Campus Rocks
- Psychology Club
- Cyber Club
- Radiography Club
- Lambda Nu
- NAVTA (Vet Tech Club)
- Art Club
- Nursing League
- Volunteer Club
- Student Government Association
- Turning Point
- SAFE
- Phi Theta Kappa
Please help students get engaged on our campus so they can persist longer and have a positive experience at OCTC.
Dr. Shane Armstrong is the Dean of Student Success at OCTC where she focuses on student engagement, retention, and the first-year experience. She holds a bachelor's degree in English and a master's degree in English Literature from the University of Louisville, and a doctorate from California Lutheran University.
