UT Arlington First Year Seminar Text
Title: No Limits – Foundations and Strategies for College Success
ISBN: 978-0-7380-3724-0
Our Bookstore has the information to place the order.
CHAPTER 1: WELCOME TO UT ARLINGTON
Mission Statement: Our Reason for Being
UT Arlington’s Mission Statement
First Year Seminar (FYS): The Value Added
Goals and Objectives for a FYS at UT Arlington
Quick Reference Academic Support Services
A Brief History Lesson about UT Arlington (from Saxon, 1995)
Active University Initiatives
Active Learning for Critical Thinking: What is Active Learning?
Campus Sustainability
Embracing Diversity
College Town UTA
CHAPTER 2: ABOUT A UNIVERSITY
What Does a University Do?
Historical Perspective
Today at UT Arlington
General Organizational Structure of UTA
Faculty Expectations of Students
Focus #1: Interacting with the Subject Matter
Higher Standards in Thinking: Universal Intellectual Standards
Focus #2: Developing and Maintaining Respectful Relationships
What Should I Call My Professor?
Academic Advising: Your Roadmap to a Bachelor’s Degree
Who is Your Academic Advisor?
When Should I See an Advisor?
Student and Academic Advisor Responsibilities
Why is the Undergraduate Catalog Such an Important Document?
How to Calculate a Grade Point Average (GPA)
CHAPTER 3: CAMPUS LIFE – THE VALUE ADDED FROM INVOLVEMENT
New Beginnings: Becoming Involved On-Campus
The Relevance of Leadership Development
Campus Involvement as a Resident
Campus Involvement as a Commuter Student
Challenges and Solutions for Commuter Students
CHAPTER 4: FOUNDATIONS OF ACADEMIC SELF-MANAGEMENT
Attitude: It’s Your Choice
Victims and Creators
Motivation: Just Do It
How Can I Get Motivated to Study?
Goal Setting: Plans for Progress
Be S.M.A.R.T about Your Goals
Time Management: Manage Your Time, Don’t Let It Manage You
Tools for Time Management
Quick Tips for Time Management
Concentration: Make the Most of Your Study Time
Quick Tips to Improve Concentration
CHAPTER 5: SELF-DIRECTED AND ACTIVE LEARNING
Bloom’s Taxonomy
Active Learning from Lectures
Effective Techniques for Learning from Class
Ten Tips for Active Listening
Note Taking Methods: What Is Right for You?
Active Learning from Reading
Effective Techniques for Reading
In Search of Main Ideas
Visualize Your Information
Cram Cards for Long-Term Review
Test Taking and Preparation
Effective Techniques for Test Preparation and Taking
Create a Five Day Study Plan for Exams
Tips for Better Test Taking
Collaborative Student Learning: The Art of Study Groups
Tips for Effective Study Groups
Library Research: It’s a Process
About the Information Search Process
The ISP Model and You
The Importance of Citing Sources
Timeline
CHAPTER VI: AVOIDING THE HAZARDS ALONG THE WAY
Absenteeism: If You Miss School, You Miss Out
What the Research Shows
Do’s and Don’t’s of Class Attendance
Procrastination: Don’t Let Time Get Away
Six Styles of Procrastination
Procrastination Elimination Strategies
Dealing with Test Anxiety: Managing Your Stress for Success
Dos and Don’ts of Managing Anxiety Related to Exams
Policies with “Teeth”: Academic Standing & Other Need to Know Policies
Academic Standing
Freshman PASS Policy
Satisfactory Academic Progress
Adding – Dropping – Withdrawing
Six Course Drop Limit
Excessive Hours
Midterm Progress Reports
Academic Integrity: Why Does It Matter So Much?
CHAPTER 7: HEALTHY LIVING
Exercise and Diet
Is Gaining Weight Part of the College Experience?
What Is a Healthy Diet?
How Much Water Should I Drink?
What about Exercise?
Sleep and Sleep Habits
Why Is Sleep Important?
How Much Sleep Do I Need?
Sleep Hygiene Tips
Stress and Stress Management
What Is Stress?
How Can I Manage Stress?
Mental Health
What is Self-Esteem?
How Do I Build Self-Esteem?
Why Is Building Positive Body Image Important?
How Do I Build A Better Body Image?
What about Mental Illness?
How Do I Know If I Am Depressed?
Alcohol, Drugs and Tobacco Use
What Constitutes “A Drinks”?
Why Is Binge Drinking a Problem?
Isn’t Drinking Alcohol Just Part of the College Experience?
Am I Drinking Too Much?
What Does Alcohol Do to the Body?
Can Drinking Affect My Schoolwork?
What about Drugs?
Types of Drugs and the Impact on the Body and Health
What about Tobacco?
Sex and Sexual Health
What Is Risky about Oral Sex?
What Are STIs?
How Will I Know if I Have a STI?
UT Arlington Services for Health and Wellness
CHAPTER 8: SELF AND CAREER EXPLORATION
Assessing Your Strengths and Learning Styles
General Self-exploration
Learning Preferences
Career and Major Exploration as a Process
Relationship between Majors and Careers
The Career Exploration Process
How to Conduct an Informational Interview
Career Planning Timeline in an Ideal World
Experiential Learning: Rounding Out Your College Career
Internships
Research Opportunities
Study Abroad
Service Learning
Tips for Reflective Journaling
CHAPTER 9: FINANCIAL SELF-MANAGEMENT
Long Term Benefits of a Bachelor’s Degree
Preparing for the Costs of School
Living Expenses Budget
Compare Your Income to Expenditures
Balance Your Income and Expenses
Decrease Fixed and Variable Expenses
Managing Cash Flow
Monitor Your Progress
Student Loans
Applying for Loans
A Note on Interest Rates
Using Credit Wisely: The Credit Card Trap
Using Credit Means Greater Cost
Credit Card Tips to Remember
Maintaining Good Credit
Free Credit Reports
Purchasing a Credit Report
Ways to Improve Your Credit Score
Personal Information Security
What is your Identity Theft Probability Score (ITP)?
Tips to Minimize the Risk of Identity Theft
CHAPTER 10: CAMPUS RESOURCES
Academic Learning Centers
UT Arlington Libraries
Student Enrollment Services
Campus Housing
Student Affairs Resources
Health and Wellness Resources
Computer Labs and Wireless Access
Safety on Campus
Campus Map
Glossary
References