EPE 174 Theories of College Student Success
TEB 207 – TR 12:30-1:45
Instructor:
Office:
Phone:
E-mail:
Russell Hall, M.S.
11 Dickey Hall
257-3897
rbhall2@uky.edu
Course Description
EPE 147 is designed to introduce 1st and 2nd year students to the field of higher education,
namely the areas of college student development, post-secondary institutional organization,
college teaching and learning, and the history of campus life. The objective of the course is to
provide opportunities for experiential learning and self-assessment to help students improve their
academic performance. Sections of this course may be offered exclusively to students on
academic probation, as research indicates that awareness of campus issues and an understanding
of student development can assist students in meeting their academic goals.
Required Materials
 VanderStoep S. W. & Pintrich, P. R. (2003). Learning to Learn: The Skill and Will of
college Success. New Jersey: Prentice Hall.
 E-reserves in Education Library (http://www.uky.edu/Libraries/Reserves/copyrt.html)
 Active email account and the ability to use it regularly
Course Structure
 Class meetings twice a week during which campus issues, theories of student
development, learning strategies and problem solving skills will be discussed and applied
 One 30-minute conference every other week with the instructor to discuss class
assignments and e-mail essays, review applications of concepts discussed and/or ask any
other issues pertinent to student success
Grading Criteria and Evaluation
The grading criteria for this course are based upon each student’s willingness and ability to take
responsibility for his or her own learning. Each student must show knowledge or/and be able to
apply the concepts and strategies introduced throughout the semester. Evaluation is based upon
preparation for and participation in three content areas. Each of these will be evaluated by a
major project during the semester in addition to journal entries and class discussion.
1. 30% Class Participation. We will discuss your progress in conference
2. 30% Academic Success Portfolio. A successful portfolio will include a self-assessment
of your past academic performance including pre- and post- MSLQ scores, a critical
investigation of appropriate study skills, and the development of a strategic plan for your
academic success.
3. 20% Goals to Graduation Project. This project should show a clear understanding of
why you want to be in college, what you want to get out of your education, the steps
necessary to graduate in your desired field, and knowledge of your career options.
4. 20% Campus Life Knowledge Project. This project will show an understanding of the
ways knowledge is produced, disseminated, and received within higher education. It will also
examine and evaluate an aspect of life at UK and investigate life for different groups of
students as a way of learning how the environment affects you and your development.
Writing and Research Projects: All must be completed for a grade in the course
 Academic Success Portfolio: DUE ON THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 30
1. Learning Log: This assignment asks you to reflect upon your college career thus far
and identify key elements that have contributed to your experience.
2. Skill Enhancement Paper: After determining your academic challenges and strengths
through MSLQ, you will select two challenging areas and two strengths to form study
strategies for academic success. You will comment on the effectiveness of those
strategies you chose.
 Goals to Graduation Project: DUE ON THURSDAY, OCTOBER 28
1. Living on Purpose Exercise: The first of three goal setting exercises that contribute to
your Goals to Graduation Project, this assignment requires you to keep a time
management log and identify strategies for organizing everyday priorities.
2. Major Essay: This is the second goal setting exercise. This assignment requires you
to explore a possible major-what will it take to graduate with that degree and what
steps can you take now to be successful?
3. Career Exploration: The final goal setting exercise requires you to investigate
possible career options within your field of study. What is the nature of the work in
this field, what are the typical earnings, benefits, working conditions, and outlook for
employment? You should also be knowledgeable about alternative occupations. This
project also requires making an appointment with the Counseling and Testing Center
to take the Strong’s Interest Inventory.
 Campus Life Knowledge Project: DUE ON TUESDAY, NOVEMEBER 23
1. Through group discussion in class you will identify a research question important to
college students today. Using basic research methods drawn from the social sciences,
you will investigate your research question. Based on the information gathered from
your investigation, you will design and present a program, event, or policy proposal
that addresses the issues defined.
E-mail: An e-mail thinking homework is due each week no later than noon on Monday. Each
week your essay will cover a new topic or issue discussed in class, as well as reflection upon the
highlights (or low points) of the past week. Weekly e-mail essays are considered part of your
participation grade for the class.
Attendance in class and at conferences is MANDITORY. Attendance is defined as active
participation in these activities including appropriate preparation. If you have a good reason for
being excused, you must notify the instructor before the fact. Any absence not explained before
class is unexcused.
Class Participation: This is not a lecture course with tests; however, quizzes may be used at
times to check for understanding. It is a forum in which you as a class will be expected to work
together to share information, investigate new areas of study skill development, and discover
more about yourselves as students. You are expected to participate during and outside of class.
Cell Phones, Pagers, Text Messengers, Beepers are not permitted to be on during class.
Turn them off when you enter the room. Usage of these items in class will result in being asked
to leave class for the rest of the period.
Tentative Class Schedule
Week #1:
(A) Week #2:
Thursday, August 26
Introduction to the course and yourselves
Tuesday, August 31
Chapter 1: Becoming a Self-Regulating Learner
E-mail (due Aug. 30): Topic to be announced
Thursday, September 2
(B) Week #3:
Tuesday, September 7
Chapter 2: Goal Setting
E-mail (due Sept. 6): Topic to be announced
Thursday, September 9
(A) Week #4:
(B) Week #5:
(A) Week #6:
(B) Week #7:
Tuesday, September 14
Chapter 3: Motivation
E-mail (due Sept. 13): Topic to be announced
Thursday, September 16
E-reserves: When Hope and Fear Collide: A Portrait of
Today’s College Student
Tuesday, September 21
Chapter 4: Getting Organized
E-mail (due Sept. 20): Topic to be announced
Thursday, September 23
E-reserves: Lives on the Boundary: A Moving Account
of the Struggles and Achievements of America’s
Educational Underclass
Tuesday, September 28
Chapter 5: Improving Your Attention and Memory
E-mail (due Sept. 27): Topic to be announced
Thursday, September 30
Academic Success Portfolio Due
Tuesday, October 5
Chapter 6: Improving Your Cognition and
Metacognition
E-mail (due Oct. 4): Topic to be announced
Thursday, October 7
(A) Week #8:
Tuesday, October 12
Thursday, October 14
Chapter 7: Taking Notes
E-mail (due Oct. 11): Topic to be announced
(B) Week #9:
Tuesday, October 19
Chapter 8: Taking Tests
E-mail (due Oct. 18): Topic to be announced
Thursday, October 21
(A) Week #10: Tuesday, October 26
Thursday, October 28
(B) Week #11: Tuesday, November 2
Thursday, November 4
(A) Week #12: Tuesday, November 9
Thursday, November 11
(B) Week #13: Tuesday, November 16
Chapter 9: Improving Your Reading
E-mail (due Oct. 25): Topic to be announced
Goals to Graduation Project Due
NO CLASS, GO VOTE
Chapter 10: Improving Your Writing
E-mail (due Nov. 1): Topic to be announced
E-reserves: Slang & Sociability: In Group Language
among College Students
Chapter 11: Critical Thinking
E-mail (due Nov. 8): Topic to be announced
E-reserves: College and Society: An Introduction to the
Sociological Imagination
Chapter 12: Problem Solving
E-mail (due Nov. 15): Topic to be announced
Thursday, November 18
Week #14: Tuesday, November 23
Thursday, November 25
(A) Week #15: Tuesday, November 30
Thursday, December 2
(B) Week #16: Tuesday, December 7
Thursday, December 9
Campus Life Knowledge Project Due
E-mail (due Nov. 22): Topic to be announced
NO CLASS, THANKSGIVING
Chapter 13: Conclusion
E-mail (due Nov. 29): Topic to be announced
E-reserves: Campus Life: Undergraduate Cultures from
the End of the Eighteenth Century to the Present
Presentations
Presentations