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page 1 FYE 1101 – Freshman Success Strategies I
Spring 2018
Class Time: 5:00-5:50pm Tuesday Web site: http://freshman.msstate.edu Section F01 Section F02 Location: McCool 100 Old Main, rooms 1030 and 1050 Instructors: Dr. Rodney Pearson
[email protected] 126 Magruder St, 662-325-7361 (mornings) Lee 3500, 662-325-7282 (afternoons) 662-312-9052 (cell)
Dr. Cade Smith [email protected] 313 Moseley Hall 662-325-0244 (office) 662-418-0140 (cell) Mrs. Meggan Franks [email protected] 313 Moseley Hall 662-325-2208 (office) 662-648-9032 (cell)
Catalog description:
One hour lecture. Aids students in the transition from high school to college, providing information and experiences designed to help students succeed academically and socially, and progress toward graduation and fulfilling lives and careers.
Course Description: This class is designed to inform, motivate and guide MSU students onto a path toward
retention (staying in school), graduation, and success. Over the course of the semester, the instructors will present information on topics like Goal Setting, Time Management, Listening and Taking Notes, Financial Management, and Career Planning. Speakers will come to our class to describe their own lives, their challenges, their work, and their successes. These speakers have volunteered to do this because they want to help. They want to help you. They want to help you overcome challenges, avoid mistakes, and be successful. Their job is to deliver a message; your job is to receive it and to apply it to your own life.
Some class meetings will focus on learning about resources and opportunities that are
available to students right here on campus. This is information that can help you be a better student, make better grades, better achieve your own potential, and be more successful.
Several aspects of the class will encourage active learning – learning in which you are an
actively engaged part of the learning process. You will have the opportunity to interact with your instructor, to utilize MSU resources that we learn about in class, and to interact with your Navigator and your fellow students. The class is designed to build a sense of community, a group in which you are a vital member. You will learn from the instructor, from your Navigators, and from your fellow students. We will hear life stories, stories of challenges and successes. You will be pressed to apply these lessons to your own life, for your own learning and growth, to put you on a road to success.
page 2 Study Materials: Your instructor will give you a course packet at the beginning of the first class. This course
packet contains all of the materials you will need for this class, including course information, syllabus, assignments, and handouts. Bring your course packet and a pen to each week's class.
Learning Outcomes: By the end of the semester, students should have:
- gainedanunderstandingofthedifferencebetweenhighschoolandcollege,especially(butnotlimitedto)academicdifferences,
- becomeawareofthemanyresourcesthatareavailabletoassiststudents,- developedasenseofcommunitywithMSUstudents,faculty,staff,and
administrators,- developedskillsthatwillhelpontheroadtostudentsuccess.
Exams: None. Class Attendance and Engagement: Class attendance is important in every class. Attendance will be checked at each class
meeting. It would be good to develop the habit of getting to class on time (or early). This will help you prepare for upcoming jobs in the workplace. As will be explained below (under "Grading"), part of your grade depends on class attendance. Another part of your grade depends on being in class on time. Yet another part depends on paying attention and doing well on in-class exercises.
MSU student performance data from fall 2007 through spring 2016 shows the importance of
class attendance. Based on the performance of 72,090 students during that time, each absence lowers a student's course GPA by .2 grade points (on average, then, two absences lowers the final letter grade in the course by almost half a letter grade). In all of your classes, you will have important material and activities in each and every class, and you really should be in class every day. The #1 way to be unsuccessful in college is to miss class.
Attendance will be taken via id card scanners. Be sure to
bring your id card to every class, because without an id card, you cannot be marked as present in that class.
Grading: Final grades will be based on your points earned, using the table on the following page:
page 3 points
each total
points
CLASS ATTENDANCE Attendance at our 15 class meetings Attendance will be taken at each class meeting by ID card scanning. All students are expected to abide by the MSU honor code. It is a violation of the honor code to pretend to be in class when you in fact are not. DEADLINE: 5:10pm for each Tuesday class meeting
2 30
On time for our 15 class meetings In addition to 2 points for attending class, 1 additional point will be given if you are on time. You must scan in before 5:00:00 to be on time. (If you scan in before 5:00:00, you will receive 3 total points, 2 for attendance and 1 for being on time. If you scan in between 5:00 and 5:10, you will receive 2 points for attendance, but you will not receive the 1 point for being on time. If you scan after 5:10:00, you will not receive any attendance points.) DEADLINE: 5:00pm for each Tuesday class meeting
1 15
HOMEWORK After-class online exercise after each class meeting (page 30) We will have a short online after-class activity at the end of each class. These can be completed either immediately after class, or later that night. They are due by 11:59pm each class day. DUE: After class, at each Tuesday class meeting
1 15
On-line Situational Analysis exercises (page 32) We will have an outside-of-class on-line exercise to assess our situation in school at the beginning, and then at the end of the semester. DUE: 1st Situational Analysis due by Monday, January 29 2nd Situational Analysis due by Monday, April 16
5 10
Navigator meeting (page 34) You will need to have a meeting with your Navigator during the semester. DUE: Navigator appointment due by Monday, February 19
5 5
GPA Plan (page 35) freshman.msstate.edu provides a GPA Calculator and Planner. You will use this tool to develop your GPA plan, setting a Goal GPA for the semester and developing your plan for how you will achieve that goal. DUE: by Monday, February 26
5 5
MSU activity (page 37) You will be given a list of MSU activities in which you can participate during the semester. You must participate in at least one of those listed activities. DUE: 1st MSU activity due by Monday, March 5
5 5
Service activity (page 38) Each student will be required to participate in one service activity during the semester. Navigators will organize group service activities for anyone interested. DUE: by Monday, April 9
5 5
Written reflection after your service activity (page 38) You will complete an online "reflection" after your service activity. DUE: by Monday, April 9
5 5
Written assignment (page 41) You must write a one-page paper (typed, single-spaced, 12 point Arial font, with one-inch margins) describing your first year at MSU and your plans for your academic future. You will submit your paper via a link at freshman.msstate.edu. DUE: by Monday, April 23
5 5
Maximum total points 100
page 4 If you ever have any question about a grade – if you believe that there was a grading mistake,
or any other question about a grade – you must talk with your teacher about it by the Tuesday after the grade was posted.
Letter grades will be assigned using a 10-point scale. 90-100 A 80-89 B 70-79 C 60-69 D 0-59 F Bonus Points: You have the opportunity to earn up to 8 bonus points, to be added to your class points. You
can earn bonus points by applying some of the principles that we cover in class in your MSU student life. Bonus points will be calculated twice, after each of our two sets of Progress Grades are submitted by teachers. Each time, we will calculate three things that are part of your academic achievement: (1) your GPA, based on progress grades that have been submitted to Banner by your teachers as of those dates, (2) your total number of absences in all courses combined, and (3) the number of times you have attended Supplemental Instruction in any of your classes that have it available. Here’s how we will calculate these three things. Whichever of these calculations is highest will be added to your class points. (1) YourGPAasofeachdatewillbecalculatedasGPA’sarenormallycalculated,ona
scaleof0.00to4.00.Ifnoneofyourteacherssubmitprogressgrades(hopefullythatwon’thappen),thiswillcalculateto0.00.Ifonegradeissubmitted,yourGPAwillbecalculatedbasedonthatgrade.Ifmultiplegradesaresubmitted,yourGPAwillbecalculatedbasedonallofthosegrades.Ifthisisthehighestofyourthreecalculations,thatGPAwillbeaddedtoyourclasspoints.Thus,ifyourGPAis3.50andthatishigherthancalculation(2)andcalculation(3),3.50pointswillbeaddedtoyourclasspoints.(We’reusingGPAasapossiblebonuspointitembecauseyourgradesthissemestersetyouonyouracademictrajectory.Ifyouearngoodgradesthissemester,youareprobablywellontheroadtoacademicsuccess.)
(2) Ifyouhave0totalabsencesonthecalculationdate,thiscalculationwillbe4.0.0.5pointswillbesubtractedfromthat4.0foreachabsencethatyouhavereportedinBanner.Thus,ifyouhavetwototalabsencesinallofyourclassescombined,thiscalculationwillbe3.0.Ifthisishigherthatcalculation(1)andcalculation(3),3.0pointswillbeaddedtoyourclasspoints.(We’reusingclassattendanceasapossiblebonuspointitembecauseit’sthefirststeptodoingwellinschool–gotoclass!)
(3) IfyouhaveSupplementalInstructionavailableinanyofyourclasses,youwillreceive0.5pointsforeachtimeyouattendSI(upto4.0points).(We’reusingSIattendanceasapossiblebonuspointitembecausehistoryshowsusthatgoingtoSIregularlyboostsstudents’gradesonetotwolettergrades,leadingtoacademicsuccess.)
After our first Progress Grades are posted, we will perform the three calculations. Whichever of the three calculations results in the highest value will be used, and those points will be added to your class points. After our second Progress Grades are posted, we will perform the three calculations again. Your GPA as of that date will be calculated. Absences SINCE the first Progress Grades will be calculated. SI attendance SINCE those first Progress Grades will be calculated. Once again, whichever calculation results in the highest value will be used, and those points will be added to your class points.
page 5 Classroom Etiquette: Please get to class on time (early is even better), and remain seated, reasonably quiet, and
attentive throughout class. Please don't bring food or drinks to class. If you have a cell phone or pager, please turn it off while you are in class to avoid disruptions. Don't start packing up your belongings until class is over. Please respect our speakers.
Class Participation: You are encouraged to participate in class! Employers sometimes say that communication
skills are a problem area for some of our graduates. We encourage you to work on your communication skills in this class. Ask questions. Answer questions. Volunteer.
The class schedule will allow for time for you to ask questions of invited speakers (and in
other classes as well). When you do so, please: 1. raise your hand, and wait to be called on. 2. ask your question. 3. state your name, your classification, your major, and your hometown. 4. ask your question. Homework: We will have eight homework assignments for this class, each worth 5 points. All of the
assignments are described briefly on page 3 (including the due date). More detail on each assignment is provided at the end of the course packet.
Each student will submit two web-based Situational Analysis exercises. These will assess
your current status in school as well as plans for the future. One is due near the beginning of the semester; one is due near the end of the semester.
You will need to make an appointment to meet with your Navigator at least one time during
the semester. You will set a GPA Goal and develop a Plan to achieve that goal. You will participate in at least one MSU activity – more information on that later. You will go through the Maroon Volunteer Center to volunteer for a service activity – and be sure to submit your online Reflection after you perform your service! Finally, you will submit a one page paper reflecting on your freshman year at MSU.
Course Web Site: For your ease of use and to make many of our
materials available to other freshmen and MSU students, our course web site will be available from the freshman.msstate.edu web page. Look for the "FYE 1101" button.
Did you know that you can adda Home Screen icon for anyweb page? iPhone, Android,just about any phone, you cancreate a Home Screen icon,then access your favorite websites with just a single tap.sites with just a single tap.
google “add home screen icon”for instructions for any phone.
Create a quick-access icon forfreshman.msstate.edu
page 6 Class Communications: We will periodically send you email as part of our class communications. You are expected to
read it. Class email is considered business communication. When you send email, please write professionally, not as if you were in a chat room. Write complete sentences, spell correctly, use correct grammar, and capitalize where appropriate. Make sure that your message makes sense. When you send email, be sure to include your name in your message.
Academic Integrity: Mississippi State University has an approved Honor Code that applies to all students. The
code is as follows: "As a Mississippi State University student I will conduct myself with honor and integrity at all
times. I will not lie, cheat, or steal, nor will I accept the actions of those who do." Upon accepting admission to Mississippi State University, a student immediately assumes a
commitment to uphold the Honor Code, to accept responsibility for learning, and to follow the philosophy and rules of the Honor Code. Ignorance of the rules does not exclude any member of the MSU community from the requirements or the processes of the Honor Code. For additional information please visit:
http://students.msstate.edu/honorcode You are expected to maintain the highest levels of academic integrity in this class. All work
that you submit must be your own, original work, done specifically for this class, this semester. That means that you should not copy anyone else's work, you should not use work that you did for another class, you should not use work that you did for this course during a previous attempt in the course, etc. If you ever have any question as to whether something is acceptable or not, please ask your instructor!
Academic misconduct will be reported to the Dean of Students. Student Support Services: Student Support Services seeks to provide educational access and opportunity through
support, resources, advocacy, collaboration, and academic accommodations for students with disabilities (as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973) who are accepted to the University.
Visit the following page for more details: http://www.sss.msstate.edu
page 7 Title IX Compliance:
MSU is committed to complying with Title IX, a federal law that prohibits discrimination, including violence and harassment, based on gender. This means that MSU’s educational programs and activities must be free from sex discrimination, sexual harassment, and other forms of sexual misconduct. If you or someone you know has experienced sex discrimination, sexual violence and/or harassment by any member of the university community, you are encouraged to report the conduct to MSU’s Director of Title IX/EEO Programs at 662-325-8124 or by e-mail to [email protected].
Additional resources are available at the following web sites: http://www.msstate.edu/web/security
http://students.msstate.edu/sexualmisconduct Visit the following page for more details:
http://www.hrm.msstate.edu/aaeeo/titleix
page 8
FYE 1101 – Freshman Success Strategies I Spring 2018
Week Date
1 Mon Jan 8
Spring semester classes begin.
Tue Jan 9
Class #1 Course Introduction. Immediate Goals.
Fri Jan 12
5:00pm deadline. Last day to drop a course without a grade. To drop a class, log in to my.msstate.edu. Click on the "Banner" tab. In the "Registration" section, click on "Register for Classes".
2 Mon Jan 15
University holiday.
Tue Jan 16
8:00am deadline. Last day to add a class. To add a class, log in to my.msstate.edu. Click on the "Banner" tab. In the "Registration" section, click on "Register for Classes".
Tue Jan 16
5:00pm deadline. Last day to request undergraduate academic forgiveness. To request academic forgiveness for a prior class, log in to my.msstate.edu. Click on the "Banner" tab. In the "Registration" section, click on "Retake a Course (Academic Forgiveness)".
Tue Jan 16
Class #2 Ice breakers. Getting to know each other.
3 Tue
Jan 23
Class #3 Guest Speaker: MSU President Mark Keenum. Sections F01 and F02 both meet in Old Main Academic Center auditorium.
4 Mon
Jan 29 Assignment Situational Analysis #1 due.
Tue Jan 30
Class #4 Setting S.M.A.R.T. Goals.
5 Tue
Feb 6 Class #5 Community Engagement.
Tue
Feb 6 Deadline for undergraduate students receiving incomplete grades in previous
semester to submit the coursework. 6 Tue
Feb 13 Class #6 Time Management.
7 Mon
Feb 19 Assignment Navigator meeting due.
Mon
Feb 19
Progress grades #1 due. To check your grades, log in to my.msstate.edu. Click on the "Banner" tab. In the "Academic Records" section, click "View Your Class Schedule & Grades".
Tue Feb 20
Class #7 Calculating Your GPA. Grades, Advising, and Registration.
page 9 8 Mon
Feb 26 Assignment GPA Plan due.
Mon Feb 27
5:00pm deadline. Last day to drop a class with a W grade.
Tue Feb 27
Class #8 Listening and Taking Notes.
9 Mon
Mar 5 Assignment MSU activity due.
Tue Mar 6
Class #9 Campus Resources.
Mon Mar 12
Fri Mar 16
Spring Break
10 Mon March 19
Fri March 30
Advising for summer/fall preregistration begins. Be sure to contact your advisor and make an appointment for your advising.
Tue Mar 20
Class #10 Overcoming Obstacles.
Fri Mar 23
Progress grades #2 due. To check your grades, log in to my.msstate.edu. Click on the "Banner" tab. In the "Academic Records" section, click "View Your Class Schedule & Grades".
11 Tue
Mar 27 Class #11 Financial Management.
12 Mon Apr 2
Fri Apr 13
Preregistration for summer and fall classes. Register for classes by logging in to my.msstate.edu.
Tue Apr 3
Class #12 Balancing College Life.
13 Mon Apr 9
Assignment Service activity due.
Mon Apr 9
Assignment Online reflection due.
Tue Apr 10
Class #13 Finding Your Major and Career.
Wed Apr 11
5:00pm deadline. Last day to withdraw from the university. Talk with your academic advisor and/or your Navigator for assistance in making this important decision.
14 Mon
Apr 16 Assignment Situational Analysis #2 due.
Tue
Apr 17 Class #14 To be determined.
page 10 15 Mon
Apr 23 Assignment Written paper due.
Tue Apr 24
Class #15 Finishing the Semester Strong. Class wrap-up.
Wed Apr 25
Last day of fall semester classes.
Thu Apr 26
Reading day.
Fri Apr 27 Wed
May 2
Final exams begin.
Mon May 7
Final grades due from instructors, submitted to Banner (10:00am deadline).
page 11 FYE 1101 Freshman Success Strategies Class #1: Course Introduction. Immediate Goals. 1. What is the address of our course web site?
2. Who is your Navigator? If you don’t know, use your phone or laptop to
go to freshman.msstate.edu. (While you’re there, create a home screen icon on your phone so you can go to that web site very quickly in the future. See the picture to the right.) Click on “Who’s my Navigator?” (see detailed instructions on page 34).
3. A planner is a key part of being organized and doing well in college. Did someone
give you an MSU Student Planner this year? If so, do you still have it?
4. Is going to class important in college? (Can you support your answer with data –
numbers?)
5. List at least three examples of good classroom etiquette (behavior).
- - - 6. Do you check your email regularly? You definitely need to in college.
7. Does MSU have an Honor Code?
8. Is scanning and leaving class a violation of the Honor Code?
9. Is scanning for another student a violation of the Honor Code?
10. Is your GPA an important factor in your success in school?
11. What is your goal GPA this semester?
page 12 FYE 1101 Freshman Success Strategies Class #2: Ice breakers. Getting to know each other. Who is your Freshman Year Navigator (an MSU student)? (If you don’t know this information, look at the instructions on page 34.) Name: _____________________________________________________ Year in school: ______________________________________________ Major: _____________________________________________________ Email address: ______________________________________________ Contact phone number: _______________________________________ Have you ever met your Navigator in person? During class, you will have several opportunities to meet your fellow students, and to learn things about them. 1. Do you know the names of any students in our class? How many?
2. Do any of them live in your residence hall?
3. Did you meet any students who are in your major?
page 13 FYE 1101 Freshman Success Strategies Class #3: Guest speaker: MSU President, Dr. Mark Keenum MSU’s President, Dr. Mark Keenum, is a graduate of Corinth High School. He has an associate’s degree from Northeast Mississippi Community College, and three degrees from Mississippi State – all in agricultural economics. After graduating from MSU, Dr. Keenum became an MSU faculty member with the Extension Service and the Department of Agricultural Economics. Later, he served in several public service roles, including Legislative Assistant and, later, Chief of Staff for U.S. Senator Thad Cochran, and Under Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Dr. Mark Keenum became MSU’s 19th president on January 5, 2009. MSU has experience unprecedented growth and success under his leadership, with enrollment growing from 17,127 in the fall before his Presidency to well over 21,000 students today. During that time, the average ACT scores of freshmen have also increased, from 23.6 to today’s 25.1. Under President Keenum’s leadership, construction projects such as The Mill at MSU, the Old Main Academic Center, two new residence halls, and a new Center for America’s Veterans have been built. Athletic facilities have expanded. Fund-raising has reached all-time record levels – working toward the university’s largest goal ever, $1 billion by 2020. MSU is ranked as a Top 100 research university by the National Science Foundation. President Keenum comes to our class every semester because he truly cares about our students, and wants to help them be successful.
page 14 FYE 1101 Freshman Success Strategies Class #4: Setting S.M.A.R.T. Goals. 1. What is a goal? Define it. 2. What happens if you don’t have goals? 3. What are typical everyday distractions that keep you from your daily goals? 4. SMART goals slide:
(a) Identify 2 additional goals that are very important to you.
(b) Write 3 SMART goals for the general goal of “Excel in Academics” for this semester.
5. On a typical weekday, on average………
–How much time do you sleep? –How much time do you eat? –How much time do you work? –How much time are you in class? –How much time do you study? –How much time do you waste?
6. How can you make your goals more visible and prominent in your day-to-day life?
page 15 FYE 1101 Freshman Success Strategies Class #5: Community Engagement 1. Where can you go on campus to learn more about volunteer projects available in the
community?
2. What are two benefits of volunteering?
3. What is the deadline to complete your service opportunity?
4. What is the deadline to complete your online reflection?
5. What is the campus website to search and sign-up for service opportunities?
page 16 FYE 1101 Freshman Success Strategies Class #6: Time Management 1. What are three benefits of getting organized?
2. What are two key characteristics that come into play when you are prioritizing your
tasks?
Where am I now? Complete the table below, listing all of your classes. In the second column, mark Y if you have a printed copy of the syllabus for that class, or N if you don't (and if you don't, get a copy asap). Indicate whether SI is available in each of your classes.
After class tonight, log into my.msstate.edu. Click on the Banner tab. In the "Academic Records" section, click on "View Your Class Schedule & Grades". Record the number of absences you have in each class in the table.
Get this information from your Banner class schedule. Course (such as
EN 1103 or MA 1313)
Do I have syllabus?
Y/N
Is SI
available? Y/N
Credit hours
Progress Grade
Late (LA)
Absent
Excused (AE)
Absent
Unexcused (AU)
page 17 FYE 1101 Freshman Success Strategies Class #7: Calculating Your GPA. Grades, Advising, and Registration. 1. What is your GPA based on?
2. Where you can get your official letter grades in your classes?
3. If you were taking four 3-hour classes (12 hours total), and had a B, two C's, and a D,
what would your GPA be?
4. If you were taking four 3-hour classes (12 hours total), and had two B's and two C's,
what would your GPA be?
5. A 3-credit hour class has more impact on your GPA than does a 1-hour class.
6. How many credit hours would you expect BIS 1012 to be?
7. Do Intermediate clases, like MA 0103 (Intermediate Algebra), EN 0103 (Intermediate
English), and LSK 0103 (Intermediate Reading) count as part of your GPA?
page 18 Where am I now? Complete the table below, listing all of your classes. In the second column, mark Y if you have a printed copy of the syllabus for that class, or N if you don't (and if you don't, get a copy asap). Indicate whether SI is available in each of your classes.
After class tonight, log into my.msstate.edu. Click on the Banner tab. In the "Academic Records" section, click on "View Your Class Schedule & Grades". Record your Progress Grade in each class, and the number of absences you have in each class in the table. From your Banner class schedule, write your current GPA in the bottom cell of the Progress Grade column. How does your current GPA compare with your GPA goal that you set in Week 1?
Get this information from your Banner class schedule. Course (such as
EN 1103 or MA 1313)
Do I have syllabus?
Y/N
Is SI
available? Y/N
Credit hours
Progress Grade
Late (LA)
Absent
Excused (AE)
Absent
Unexcused (AU)
GPA>>
page 19 FYE 1101 Freshman Success Strategies Class #8: Listening and Taking Notes. Complete the following questions during class as we talk about each topic. Completing the questions will help you focus on listening and learning the material shared in the class. 1. Write your answers below to the Listening Quiz questions shown on the screen
1. 2. 3.
4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. BONUS:
GRADE: Number of correct answers ____________________________
2. Three levels of listening. How would you define each one?
Half listening Sound listening Active listening Source: Strickland, College Success a Concise Practical Guide.
3. What is the body language of a Half Listener? 4. What is the body language of an Active Listener?
5. How does taking notes help you become an Active Listener and retain more of what
you hear?
page 20 FYE 1101 Freshman Success Strategies Class #9: Campus Resources. 1. What are four things that you should include in every email that you send to one of
your teachers? 1. __________________________________ 2. __________________________________ 3. __________________________________ 4. __________________________________
2. Which MSU office provides counseling services that help students learn how to
positively cope with the stress of school, life, and relationships? 3. Which MSU office provides medical services to students so that they may stay
healthy and heal from sickness or injury?
4. Which MSU office provides group and individual tutoring services and study skills
classes to help students achieve greater academic success?
5. Which MSU office assists students with disabilities receive academic and physical
accommodations and other resources to lessen the barriers resulting from physical, mental, and/or learning disabilities?
6. Which MSU office assist students who are having difficulty paying off their MSU
account balance?
7. Which MSU office helps students select an academic major and develop skills to
enhance future career satisfaction?
8. Which MSU office helps students connect with student organizations and participate
in student activities?
9. Which MSU office helps students engage in volunteering on and off campus?
page 21 FYE 1101 Freshman Success Strategies Class #10: Overcoming Obstacles. 1. Describe one possible obstacle that could get in your way in your work to achieve
your semester GPA goal.
2. What can you do to overcome that obstacle?
page 22 FYE 1101 Freshman Success Strategies Class #11: Financial Management. 1. List your sources of money (cash inflows) for this
semester: ________________ Scholarships
________________ Pell grant
________________ Other grants
________________ Subsidized loans
________________ Unsubsidized loans
________________ Contributions from family or others
________________ Part-time job (____________ per week * # of weeks worked)
________________ Other: ______________________________________
________________ Other: ______________________________________
________________ Other: ______________________________________
________________ Other: ______________________________________
________________ Other: ______________________________________
________________ Other: ______________________________________
2. List your uses of money (cash outflows) for this semester (Spring 2016): ________________ Tuition
________________ Room & Board
________________ Books
________________ Personal (______________ per week, times 15 weeks)
________________ Transportation (____________ per week, times 15 weeks)
________________ Savings (____________ per week, times 15 weeks)
________________ Other: ______________________________________
________________ Other: ______________________________________
________________ Other: ______________________________________
________________ Other: ______________________________________
________________ Other: ______________________________________
________________ Other: ______________________________________
3. Do you know what a typical starting salary is for a graduate in your major, or your intended major?
page 23 FYE 1101 Freshman Success Strategies Class #12: Balancing College Life.
1. A college student needs to maintain balance in four areas of his or her life. What are those four areas?
a. _____________________________________
b. _____________________________________
c. _____________________________________
d. _____________________________________
2. What are some ways to maintain academic balance?
3. What are some ways to maintain psychological balance?
4. What are some ways to maintain physical balance?
5. What are some ways to maintain financial balance?
page 24 FYE 1101 Freshman Success Strategies Class #13: Finding Your Major and Your Career. 1. Who typically evaluate students' skills higher – employers, or the students
themselves?
2. Career Planning can help close the gap between what students believe their skills are
and what potential employers believe the students' skills are. True or False?
3. An MSU student can get help with Career Planning at the Career Center. Where is
MSU’s Career Center?
page 25
page 26 FYE 1101 Freshman Success Strategies Class #14: To be determined.
page 27 FYE 1101 Freshman Success Strategies Class #15: Finishing the semester strong. Class wrap-up.
1. What does the S.M.A.R.T. stand for in S.M.A.R.T. Goals?
2. Do you have a GPA Goal? Do you have a plan to achieve that Goal?
3. MSU has a wide range of resources that can help a student toward the end of the semester. Do you know where they are?
4. Do you know when your final exams are? Do you have a plan for managing your available remaining time?
5. Do you know any obstacles/hurdles/challenges that you will need to overcome in the next few days?
page 28 FYE 1101 Bulldog Participation Bingo (we may or may not actually do this this semester) Throughout the semester, we will play FYE 1101 Bulldog Participation Bingo. A sample card is on the next page. You should print your own personal Bingo card, keep it with this course packet, and then bring your course packet to class each week so you always have your card with you. To prepare your card for class next week (that’s when the game begins), do the following: 1. Go to http://freshman.msstate.edu, and
click on the “FYE 1101” button (you should do this in a computer browser, not on your phone).
2. This will take you to our course web
site. The links on this next page will vary throughout the semester, but there will always be a link to “FYE 1101 Bulldog Participation Bingo”.
3. Your personal Bingo card will be
displayed. Copy the names from your on-screen card onto your paper-based card on the next page. (Alternatively, there is a printer-friendly version on the web site that you can print.) This will be your Bingo card throughout the semester.
When a student participates in class, that student will say his/her name, and you can then cross that student’s name off your card (if the student’s name is on your card). Be sure to also write the day’s date in the square, because winning cards will need to be verified. Any time that you have seven squares in a row, either horizontally, vertically, or diagonally, your name will go into the Bingo Pot for an end-of-semester prize drawing.
page 29
FYE 1101 Bulldog Participation Bingo B1
U1 L1 L8 D1 O1 G1
B2
U2 L2 L9 D2 O2 G2
B3
U3 L3 L10 D3 O3 G3
B4
U4 L4 L11 D4 O4 G4
B5
U5 L5 L12 D5 O5 G5
B6
U6 L6 L13 D6 O6 G6
B7
U7 L7 L14 D7 O7 G7
page 30 Weekly after-class online exercises: (1 point per week, 15 points total) We will have an online exercise to complete after each class meeting. Each week’s online exercise is due by 11:59pm that night. The instructions below describe how to submit your exercise for class credit. Be sure to complete your online exercise after each class, by 11:59pm.
1. Go to http://freshman.msstate.edu, and
click on the “FYE 1101” button (you can do this in either a computer browser, or on your phone).
2. This will take you to our course web
site. The links on this next page will vary throughout the semester, but there will always be a link to each week’s after-class online exercise.
3. Log in with your MSU net id and
password, and complete that week’s online exercise.
page 31 4. When you submit your form, you
should get a “Thank you” message. If you don’t get this message, your form most likely did not submit properly. You can submit more than one time if there is any doubt that you submitted your form properly.
If you get the “Thank you” message, you can be sure that your form was submitted successfully.
Be sure to check your grades on our course web site frequently to verify that you get
the points you earn with your work. This is your responsibility! Remember, by course policy, you have seven days after a grade is posted to let the teacher know about any grading error.
page 32 Situational Analysis assignments: (10 points total) You must complete two online Situational Analyses this semester. The first one is due early in the semester, the second is due late in the semester.
Be sure to complete each online Situational Analysis by its due date.
1. Go to http://freshman.msstate.edu, and
click on the “FYE 1101” button (you should do this in a computer browser, not on your phone).
2. This will take you to our course web
site. The link for “Situational Analysis #1” will be available early in the semester. The link for “Situational Analysis #2” will be activated later in the semester.
Note: Situational Analysis #2 will not be available unless you completed Situational Analysis #1, so be sure to complete Situational Analysis #1 on time.
3. Complete the questions in the
Situational Analysis. You will be asked about yourself, about things you have learned in life, about goals that you have, and other things that will help you assess your academic situation.
page 33 4. When you submit your form, you should get a
“Thank you” message. If you don’t get this message, your form most likely did not submit properly. You can submit more than one time if there is any doubt that you submitted your form properly.
If you get the “Thank you” message, you can be sure that your form was submitted successfully.
Be sure to check your grades on our course web site to verify that you get your points
for your online Situational Analyses. This is your responsibility!
page 34 Navigator Appointment assignment: (5 points) You must make an appointment and meet with your Freshman Year Navigator at least once during this semester.
Be sure to meet with your Navigator by the due date.
1. If you don’t know who your Navigator is, go to
http://freshman.msstate.edu, and click on the “Who’s my Navigator?” button (you can do this in either a computer browser, or on your phone).
2. Log in with your MSU net id and password.
3. Your Navigator is here to help you. Always feel
free to contact your Navigator when you need information for your success.
4. Before the due date, contact your Navigator to
make an appointment for a face-to-face meeting. We encourage you to have your appointment well before the due date, so you don’t run out of time.
Your Freshman Year Navigator will be a great resource for you throughout the semester. Your Navigator is not your Academic
Advisor, but is a student, just like you.
Be sure to check your grades on our course web site to verify that your Navigator
submits your appointment for credit. This is your responsibility!
page 35 GPA Plan assignment: (5 points) Following our discussion of S.M.A.R.T. Goals and the value of goal-setting in general, you will set a GPA Goal, then develop a plan which will help you achieve that goal. 1. Go to http://freshman.msstate.edu, and
click on the “GPA Planner and Calculator” button (you can do this on a phone, but it works better and provides more information on the larger screen of a computer browser).
2. Log in with your net id and
net password. This will take you to the GPA Calculator and Planner. You will see your schedule, and your current grades shown in drop-down lists. You will also see your current number of absences reported in each class, as well as a detailed calculation of your GPA. If you don’t understand how a GPA is calculated, that is explained – step by step – just below this table.
3. The first step is to set your goal GPA. We will talk about S.M.A.R.T. Goals in class.
Your goal should be specific, and it should be measurable. A GPA Goal will be both of those. Your goal should be ambitious, and it should also be attainable. We want it to be challenging, but it also needs to be realistic – otherwise you’re just setting yourself up for failure and disappointment. Finally, your goal should be relevant, and it should be timely. Think about your current grades, any that you think you can improve, and any challenges that you foresee. Do some real soul-searching – consider your priorities and your commitment to your academic success. Are you willing to go to SI sessions once a week to improve a grade in a class? Set your Goal GPA for this semester, and enter it in the textbox above the table.
page 36 4. When you enter your
GOAL GPA, you will see your current GPA (which was already displayed in the bottom right cell) highlighted in green if it achieves your goal, or red if it doesn’t. In this example, with a Goal GPA of 3.25, the current GPA of 3.06 does not achieve the goal, so it is displayed with a red background.
5. Now it’s time to create a plan that will allow you to achieve your Goal GPA. Use the dropdown lists to create a plan – a set of grades that will help you achieve your goal. Don’t just pick grades with no thought to it – pick grades that are attainable. An unrealistic plan usually does not work. In this case, improving one grade (improving the C in CH 1213 to a B), would raise our GPA to our 3.25 goal. You will see the GPA in the bottom right change to a green highlight.
6. Click the green “save your GPA goal/plan” button to save this plan.
You can’t save a plan that doesn’t achieve your stated goal. If you don’t think you can achieve a set of grades that will achieve your goal, you may need to think about whether your goal is attainable (realistic) or not. You may need to lower your goal. Or think of a way to make better grades.
7. Throughout the semester, you can return to the GPA Planner. It will always show
your plan, and your current grades. You can easily see if you are achieving your goals or not. At any time, you can change your goal, and you can change any part of your plan.
We encourage you to set a Goal GPA, to create a plan for how you will achieve that goal, and then to work toward your goal. Commit yourself to your success.
Be sure to check your grades on our course web site to verify that you get your points
for your GPA plan. This is your responsibility!
page 37 MSU Activity assignment: (5 points) You must participate in and submit one listed MSU activity this semester. The instructions below describe how to submit your activity for class credit. 1. Go to http://freshman.msstate.edu, and
click on the “FYE 1101” button (you can do this in either a computer browser, or on your phone).
2. This will take you to our course web
site. The links on this next page will vary throughout the semester, but there will always be one for “MSU activities”. Click that link to see a list of the possible activities for which you can get class credit.
3. Select an activity from the
list. Only activities from this list count for this assignment.
4. Take a picture of yourself participating in your selected activity. Text that picture to
your Navigator, telling your Navigator: - your name - the name of your event - whether it’s ok for us to display your submitted picture on the big screen in class.
Be sure to check your grades on our course web site to verify that you get your points for your MSU Activity. This is your responsibility!
page 38 Service Activity assignment: (10 points total) You must complete one service activity this semester. The instructions below describe how to sign up for a volunteer activity through the Maroon Volunteer Center (mvc.msstate.edu), complete the activity, then return to the mvc web site afterwards to submit your online reflection.
Be sure to complete both steps of this assignment: (1) Sign up for and perform
your Service Activity, and (2) Submit your Online Reflection afterwards.
1. Your service activity for our class must be performed through the
Maroon Volunteer Center. To find a volunteer activity, go to http://mvc.msstate.edu. Click the green Login button.
Note: The mvc web site also goes by the name OrgSync. 2. To log in, click the “Sign in with
Campus ID” button. Log in with your MSU net id and password. DO NOT CREATE A NEW ACCOUNT. Always log into OrgSync with your MSU net id and password – that account has already been created for you.
3. Click on “Service Opportunities” to view a list of service events you can participate in,
or click on “Events” for a calendar view. Any event that is classified as “Service” qualifies as a service opportunity.
You will see a list of service opportunities, similar to the one shown to the right. Find an opportunity that interests you. Click on any activity to see more information about that activity (click on the blue title for that activity).
Remember, any even that is classified as “Service” qualifies as a service opportunity. That would include all of the activities shown to the right.
page 39 4. If you want to sign up to volunteer for an activity,
click the “Sign Up Now” button that is available in the detailed information about an activity.
If at any point in the future you need to cancel
your participation, be sure to log in to OrgSync and cancel your sign-up by clicking the “Can’t make it?” button.
5. When the time comes for your service activity, please be sure to show up on time,
prepared for your work. Also be sure to get the contact information for the person in charge, because you will need it when you complete your reflection afterwards.
Be sure to get the name and email address of someone in charge of your service activity. You will need that information to complete your online reflection.
6. After you complete your service activity, return to
mvc.msstate.edu to complete your online reflection.
Go to mvc.msstate.edu, login with your MSU net id and password, and click on your avatar in the top right corner. (An avatar is an icon or figure which represents a person in a computer game, internet forum, etc.) Click on the figure in the top right corner that represents you.
7. Click the “Involvement” link.
page 40 8. Click the “Add Involvement Entry” button.
9. In the ensuing pop-up, click the “Service Participation”
button. 10. Complete the fields for your online reflection.
You must enter: a. Service Partner (if available, selected from drop-
down list) b. Activity Name c. Start Date and End Date d. Total Hours e. Reference Name f. Reference Email g. Three Learning Outcomes h. A written Reflection
In the Reflection box, write a paragraph or two about your experience, what you learned, and what was accomplished.
11. Click the “Submit Involvement Entry”
button to submit your form for verification.
page 41 Written Paper assignment: (5 points) Write a single-spaced, one-page paper about what you have learned about academic success during your freshman year. You may describe things that have gone well for you, and things that have gone not as well. You must describe your plan for your academic future. Be sure to describe your first major, any majors since then, and any plans for a future change of major. Type your name and net id in the top left corner of the paper. Type the name of your class (including section number). Type the date that you submit your paper. Center your title. Type your paper. Use a 12 point Arial font, with one inch margins on all sides. Biff Lomax (bl123) FYE 1101-F01 April 20, 2018
My Freshman Year at MSU (your words from this point on) To submit your paper:
1. Go to freshman.msstate.edu. 2. Click the FYE 1101 button. 3. Log in. 4. Clink the link to “Submit your one-page paper”. 5. This will take you to the
file upload page. You must submit either a .docx or a .pdf file. Locate the file on your computer, and upload it.
6. You will get a message confirming that your paper has been submitted. Make sure you get this message.
Be sure to check your grades to verify that you get your points for submitting your paper. This is your responsibility.
