How to Succeed in this Class: A Checklist
1. Read your emails and check in on Blackboard regularly.
a. Your instructor will send out communications to the class via your GTC Gmail account.
b. Announcements, assignments and grades will be posted to Blackboard periodically.
2. Attend every class.
a. If you miss a class, YOU are responsible for learning the material you missed. Read the
textbook, complete the homework, and learn the material before coming back for the next class.
b. Please be aware of the college’s attendance policies and the criteria for withdrawal. Students
who are absent for more than 20% of the course contact hours will be administratively withdrawn
from the course.
3. Be on time and don’t leave early.
a. If you must leave early, inform your instructor before class.
b. The attendance policies show the amount of time you must be in class to be counted present for
the day.
4. Bring your book and materials to class (pens, calculator, etc.).
5. Participate in class activities, problem-solving, and discussions.
6. Stay focused on the class from beginning to end.
a. Do not pack up early.
b. Turn off your cell phone and iPod and put any other distractions away. It is important for you to
be focused on class activities and nothing else. It will help you learn.
7. Read your textbook and study the problems and examples it provides.
8. Do your homework/assignments.
a. As with all college classes, plan on doing at least 2 hours of study outside class for every hour
spent in class.
b. Use online learning software and help features and practice opportunities to master each topic.
c. Homework is a required part of your learning, and you need your homework scores to pass this
class, so make this a regular part of your study plan.
9. If you need computer access or assistance
a. Blackboard & GTC Gmail: Technical Support, phone: 250-8226 (or toll free: 855-241-8226) or
email: 8226@gvltec.edu.
b. LaunchPad: Access directly through Blackboard. Get help and Technical Support at 1-800-9366899.
c. Go to Transitional Studies tutoring in the ASPIRE Learning Zone (ALZ; 104/357 on the Barton
campus). The ALZ serves as the learning and support center for students enrolled in Transitional
Studies courses and provides access to computers and help with online learning software.
10. Ask for help as soon as you have problems.
a. Don’t wait until it is too late to recover from these problems as you might miss your chance for
doing well in (or passing) the course.
b. Contact your instructor online or request an appointment (see the instructor information in
Blackboard).
c. Use a tutor (go to Student Resources in Blackboard and select Tutoring Services at GTC).
Free on-campus tutoring services are available at GTC, both through Transitional Studies Tutoring
in the ALZ on the Barton campus and 1 to 1 Tutoring all campuses (Barton, Brashier, Benson, and
Northwest). Go to the 1 to 1 tutoring link.
Free online tutoring services are also available through Brainfuse (found in Blackboard under
Student Resources).
d. Contact an Academic Coach – An Academic Coach is available to assist students with learning
success strategies such as study skills, time management, and use of campus resources. Students
may connect with an Academic Coach by visiting the Academic Coaching office at their campus or
by emailing GTCStarfish@my.gvltec.edu.
e. Check your Starfish alerts on Blackboard and follow up.
f. Go to the Math or Writing Center (see locations at each campus and schedules at the Learning
Center link).
g. All students who have a disability and need accommodations should visit, call, or e-mail Student
Disability Services at the beginning of each semester. Students are strongly encouraged to obtain
their accommodation forms within the first 2 weeks of class to ensure appropriate services. The
office is located on the Barton Campus in the Student Center, Building 105 room 115, and can be
reached by phone at 250-8202 or 250-8408 or by email at sharon.bellwood@gvltec.edu. The
Disability Services Counselor is available to meet with students on satellite campuses by
appointment. The deadline for submitting accommodation forms to instructors is the end of the
second week of a full term course (after the first week for terms of shorter duration) unless there
is a compelling reason, like a new diagnosis, after that date. Accommodations cannot be granted
retroactively.
Additional information on these and other support programs can be found by visiting the Success
Network information area located within Starfish.
Greenville Tech Policies and Learning Resources
Greenville Tech has policies and learning resources that have been developed and designed to help
learners succeed. Please review the Academic Advancement and Support Division Policies and
Important Dates in Blackboard. They include information and guidelines for how to access
resources and complete information on time. It is important that you read through them,
understand your opportunities and your responsibilities, and make the most of the supportive
learning environment that has been designed with your success in mind.
Updated: February 8, 2016