Chapter 1 Understanding the New Environment
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Syllabus --Review
Why take SLS?
The Scissors Game
Chapter 1 Learning Outcomes
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Define positive psychology
Describe how High School differs from College
Describe the principles of a “College Culture”
Describe what it takes to be successful in College
Describe support systems available to you at
college in the roles of faculty, staff, and
administrators.
Explain why it is important to establish
relationships with all of these people.
Define work ethic, values, and priorities
Complete and understand the results of a Work Ethic
Inventory
Complete and understand the results of a Commitment
Inventory
Complete an Academic Contract
Why take SLS?
 Relationship to retention
 Relationship to success
 Effective transition course
Retention—
persisting
from semester
to semester
Took SLS in Fall
Did Not Take SLS in Fall
81%
78%
64%
2007
63%
2008
Effect of taking SLS on student success
in College Prep and College credit
SLS
classes
100
All FSCJ
78.0
76.6
75
61.7
58.2
50
25
0
Fall College Prep
Fall College Credit
What FSCJ Students Say
 Among students responding to the survey,
three-fourths agreed with the SLS requirement
policy, and 84% said they would recommend
the course to a friend.
SLS 1103 and SLS 0001 Scholarship
Survey 2006
What FSCJ Students Say
 An overwhelming majority (94%) said they
planned to continue their studies, and
of those planning to continue, 77% had
already registered for the summer or
fall term.
SLS Survey
Good Morning!
 Place your signed application and commitment letter on the shelf marked
3A.
It's faith that will take you through, and determination that will drive you.
~Jonathan Anthony Burkett
How determined are you to achieve your college graduation? Give me 3
adjectives to describe your determination.
Today’s Agenda
Commitment Inventory
Scissor Game
High school vs College
What one need to be successful in college
Positive Psychology
Goals and Motivation Assignment
Commitments and Choices
 Commitment—a promise or pledge to do something for or with
someone or something
◦ Formal—often (but not always) involves a legal contract (marriage
or something important like completing a college degree)
◦ Informal—less structured (agreeing to get together every week
with your friends)
 Will enhance your ability to earn your degree
 Involves choices about the direction you wish your life to take
◦ Informed choices vs influenced choices—with informed choices,
you understand the power other people’s opinions have on your
choices, but you ultimately make the final decision. With
influenced choices, you let other people’s opinions have the final
say, even if they conflict with your own values.
Commitment Survey
The Scissors Game
Why play the Scissors Game?
 To play a game well, you need to
know the rules
 If you don’t know the rules, you
feel uncomfortable and start feeling
like you don’t want to play the game
at all
 Moving from high school to college
is like going to a new game where
you don’t know the rules
How does high school differ
from college?
With your elbow partner list at
least 5 ways high school and
college differ. -5 mins
How does high school differ from
college?
 Choice in class selection
 Choice in class days and times
 Flexible attendance policy
 Greater expectations of doing work
outside of class
 Emphasis on why an answer is correct –
can you support your answer?
 Responsibility for learning the
material is on the student—you need to
step up to the plate
What are the characteristics of a
“college culture”?
 “College talk”--clear, ongoing communications with students about what it
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takes to get to college
Clear expectations
Information and resources
Comprehensive counseling model
Testing and curriculum
Faculty involvement
Family involvement
College partnerships
Articulation or transfer agreements with other colleges
What does a student need to
be successful in college?
 Which your elbow partner, discuss and write down 5
characteristics, traits etc.
What does a student need to be
successful in college?
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Positive outlook and attitude
Skills—Communication, Critical Thinking, High Level Math
Ability to work in teams
Positive work ethic—responsibility, motivation, people
skills
Ability to set Values, Priorities, Goals
Ability to make a commitment with informed rather than
influenced choices
Time management skills
Organizational skills
Motivation and ambition
Understanding of the culture of college
Supportive relationships both in and out of college
Strong Work Ethic
 A belief in work as a moral good
 Responsibility—acceptance of a duty or action and being
accountable for it
 Motivation—something or someone that creates an
incentive or drive to action
 People skills—positive habits, attitudes, behaviors or
manners we use around other people
Other needed vocabulary!
 Success—a favorable or desired outcome or the
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attainment of wealth, favor, or eminence
Hope—perception you can reach your goals
Expectation—to consider something reasonable, due or
necessary such a an obligation
Purpose—something set up as an object or end to attain,
or a resolution or determination
Ambition—the effort or drive with which you pursue your
dreams and goals
Attitude—should be a “can do” approach which in the
case of your College will include being prepared, paying
attention, taking part in class activities and completing
assignments on time
 Value—a principle or characteristic that is important to
someone
 Priority—a task, duty, or other action that is more
important than others at that moment in time
 Goal—the end toward which effort is directed
 All are important to success
Positive Psychology
 Study of positive emotions, positive character traits, and
positive institutions
 Does not negate the reality of bad things that occur or
bad situations, but assists you in focusing on what is
good to help you move forward
 Traits that contribute to positive psychology
◦ Subjective well-being
◦ Optimism
◦ Happiness
◦ Self-determination
Benefits of Positive Psychology
 More success in your work or school
 Greater ability to persevere
 Less depression and stress
 Better overall health
 Better relationships with other people
GOALs and Motivation -Individual class assignment
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To help motivate you as you begin your college journey,
look at magazines or publications and choose a picture or
photograph that represents your dream of how you wish life
to be when you have graduated from college.
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Describe the picture or photo that you chose. Why did
you choose that particular one?
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Put the picture or photo where you are likely to see it
often, to inspire and motivate you. Next to your picture, put
one of your favorite quotes.
 If you find yourself thinking about giving up or not pursuing
your goals, read your quote and think about the picture you
chose.
Welcome! I hope that you had a great weekend.
Take out your quote and picture assignment . We will share
if you would like. Turn in you application if you have not
already
Warm Up
Scissor game 
Agenda
 College resources
fill in chart from Wed.
 Work Ethic Inventory
 Chapter 1 discussion or Stress and college students article
analysis
 Chapter 1 reflection- individually
Why play the Scissors Game?
 To play a game well, you need to
know the rules
 If you don’t know the rules, you
feel uncomfortable and start feeling
like you don’t want to play the game
at all
 Moving from high school to college
is like going to a new game where
you don’t know the rules
Who will support you?
 Faculty—Full-time professors and instructors, Adjunct
(part-time) professors, and in large universities Teaching
Assistants
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Will assist you in class
◦ Will assist you during office hours
◦ May be able to provide other information about your field
 Counselors and Advisors
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Can help you stay on track with coursework
◦ Can assist when you are having difficulty
◦ Can refer you to a mental health counselor if you are having personal
problems
 College administrators—especially Deans and Associate Deans
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They are there to help you if you have problems
◦ There are Academic Deans and Deans for Student Success
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Mentors
Library and Learning Assistance Center Staff
Other College Staff
Your Classmates
Your personal support system
What other support is available ?
 Library and Learning Assistance Center
Resources
 College Catalog
 Student Planner
 Online Resources
 Connections homepage
 Blackboard
Work Ethic Inventory
Use the results of your
commitment and work
ethic inventories as
you complete your
Chapter 1 Reflection
Journaling activity
Read and Fill out
Your Academic
Contract
Hello lovely people
 Please turn in your reflection assignment
Good character is more to be praised than outstanding talent. Most
talents are to some extent a gift. Good character, by contrast, is not given to
us. We have to build it piece by piece by thought, choice, courage and
determination.”
—John Luther
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Today’s Agenda
Return papers
Chapter 1 open book quiz- thins time ONLY
College major worksheet-due Sept 10th
College scavenger Hunt-due Sept 10th
Class Assignment
 College major worksheet
 College scavenger hunt
Collect the following information about a college that you plan to
attend. Include the information in a PowerPoint presentation.
We will work on this in class Thursday 9/3, Tuesday 9/8 and your
PowerPoint will be due on Thursday 9/10. WHAT’S NOT
COMPLETE IN CLASS MUST BE COMPLETED AT HOME BEFORE
ARRIVING TO SCHOOL ON THURSDAY SEPT. 9th. Everyone will
present. Your presentation should be no longer that 3 mins.
Make it interesting. Save everything to a flash drive and bring it
to class. You may email me your presentation in advance if you
would like. Your worksheet will be due on Thursday 9/10 as well.
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When grading I will be looking for the follow:
1. Cost of attendance itemized (on campus vs. off campus living, meal plan)-(remember you live in the great
state of Florida so you will be paying OUT OF STATE tuition if you attend college in another state)
2. Graduation Rate and retention rate
3. Undergraduate advising office: location, hours, contact information
4. A campus map, dorms, example of a dorm room (picture of dorm rooms)
5. Choose a major and find the department website -include the link
6. Who is the department chair of your major? How do you contact the department chair?
7. What the course requirements are for the major (meaning how many types of courses do you need to
take in order to graduate with your specified major)
8. Find at least eight (8) courses you would take in that major, listing the course titles and descriptions (the
information you completed on the worksheet)
9. If the college has an intramural sports league, what are they and where do they meet for the spring
semester?
10. What official college sports does your college have? Choose two of the sports and indicate where they
play and what conference they are in? (Make sure to have lots of pictures)
11. What is the endowment for your college?
12. Where is the library location? What are the hours and resources available?
13. Make sure that you have interesting pictures of your campus (at least 15 different pictures throughout
all the slides, NO ONLY TEXT slides)
14. List 3 scholarships that your school offers that you would qualify for. Include information about the
requirements, amounts and deadlines
15. What are the application deadlines and the start dates for the year/semester you plan to start at that
university/college?