2.) Academic Success and Student Resources

Expanding the Definition of Success

• The presentation is led by faculty and staff from various academic groups across the campus.

• The primary goal is to help students expand their definition of success beyond simply earning good grades.

• Success is subjective and defined differently for every individual; it can range from small wins in difficult classes to graduating with honors.

Question 1: How Do I Take Care of My Mind and Body?

• Taking care of oneself is the most critical aspect of being successful in a high-stress environment.

• Three essential elements typically neglected when students are stressed are:

  • Nutritious food to fuel the body.

  • Sleep to restore the body.

  • Physical exercise to increase blood flow to the brain.

• Consequences of Poor Self-Care:

  • Relying on snacks or "quick bites" instead of healthy meals decreases focus in class, memory retention during study sessions, and test performance.

  • Taking naps instead of allowing for sustained, multi-hour sleep prevents the brain from rebuilding cells and restoring energy.

  • Dehydration: A dehydrated brain and body have a significantly harder time functioning well.

• Sleep and Cognitive Performance:

  • College requires substantial cognitive performance which is dependent on sleep.

  • Sleep provides the time necessary for the brain to rebuild cells and replenish energy levels.

• Exercise and Brain Health:

  • Just $20\,\text{minutes}$ of vigorous exercise before studying can improve concentration and help a student focus.

  • Vigorous activity increases blood flow to the brain, which promotes cell growth.

  • Exercise has the added benefit of improving mood.

Question 2: Do I Know How to Study in College?

• High school study strategies often need adjustment for the college environment.

• The Credit Hour Equation: To be successful, students should follow the formula $1 = 3$.

  • This means for every $1\,\text{hour}$ spent in class (a credit hour), a student should devote $3\,\text{hours}$ to out-of-class study time.

• Successful Transition Activities:

  • Reading textbooks ahead of time.

  • Reviewing notes from the previous class period.

  • Creating practice quizzes.

  • Reviewing vocabulary.

  • Working on homework problems.

  • Devoting time to long-term projects.

• Depth of Learning:

  • Reviewing for only $30\,\text{minutes}$ before an exam is insufficient for college-level success.

  • Students must build checkpoints throughout the semester to test their understanding.

  • College courses are building blocks; understanding material is essential for prerequisites (courses required before taking more advanced ones).

• Study Environment and Timing:

  • Students should identify specific locations that foster focus, such as the stacks at DHL (D.H. Hill Library), designated study areas, or classroom buildings.

  • Students must determine their most productive time of day, whether it is morning or evening, to avoid "seeing words without taking anything in."

• Study Groups:

  • A highly effective strategy involves team members taking responsibility for specific topics and teaching them to the rest of the group.

  • Recall Principle: Teaching a concept to another person leads to more thorough recall and demonstrates actual mastery of the material.

Question 3: How Good Am I at Asking for Help?

• Students often experience a transition where high school strategies no longer apply, necessitating a need for assistance.

• Self-Assessment Scale:

  • 1: Always avoid asking for help.

  • 3: Depends on the situation/middle ground.

  • 5: Very comfortable asking for help.

• Common Myth vs. Reality:

  • Myth: Good students do not need help.

  • Reality: The most successful students seek help early and frequently.

• Proactive Strategy: Asking for help should not be a reactive measure taken only after receiving a poor grade; it should be a proactive strategy for success.

• Resources for Help:

  • Academic Success Center (ASC): Located in DHL (D.H. Hill Library) on the main campus. Their tagline is "where successful students meet."

  • Students who utilize ASC resources are statistically more likely to earn higher GPAs.

  • Other Resources: Professor office hours, Instructors, Teaching Assistants (TAs), and Academic Advisors.

Question 4: Who Can Help Me Be Successful?

• Building a support network is described as building your "Wolfpack."

• The Wolfpack Team:

  • Academic advising teams.

  • Instructors.

  • Classmates and peers.

  • Professional campus staff.

• The "Think and Do" Philosophy: Students are encouraged to take action by setting small goals to connect with people and resources.

• Resources to Explore Before Arrival:

  • Wellness and Recreation.

  • The Counseling Center.

  • Support within the specific academic college.

• Navigate Mobile App:

  • A "one-stop shop" for student success.

  • Used to schedule appointments with academic advisors.

  • Connects students to resources.

  • Features a "virtual hand raise" to ask for help.

Question 5: What Obstacles Can Keep Me From Being Successful?

• Students must acknowledge that obstacles—such as illness, injury, or family financial emergencies—can arise unexpectedly.

• Identifying potential obstacles in advance prepares students to access strategies and solutions more quickly.

• NC State provides numerous support systems for when things are not going well.

Questions & Discussion

• Audience Activity (Sleep): The presenter asked students how many hours of sleep they get a night by holding up fingers. The point made was that college demands more of the mind and body, and getting fewer hours of sleep than currently achieved is likely detrimental.

• Audience Reflection (Study Groups): The presenter asked how many had heard of or used study groups before, reinforcing their value for teaching material to others.

• Peer Discussion (Obstacles): Students were asked to talk for one minute about obstacles they have faced in the past or might face in college to help normalize the presence of challenges.

Final Reminders and Takeaways

• Documentation: Students were encouraged to take a picture of the slide or use a QR code to access links for all referenced research and academic policies.

• Script Access: A link to the full presentation script is available at the end of the second page of the linked document for further reflection before August.

• Closing Message: The central takeaway is that students are not alone and there are many people on campus happy to help them navigate their journey.