First Semester Support

The first semester presents a moment when students are asked to adapt quickly to a new, demanding learning environment. Students arrive the college carrying diverse backgrounds and skill sets and the college aims to receive and foster the skills and strengths that all of these students carry. We recognize that the way that students are welcomed and received by teachers and student services has a major impact on their adaptation to college life and their ongoing success at the collegial level.

 

Champlain Lennoxville aims to coordinate the efforts of faculty and student services so that students have access and exposure to the skills, strategies and support they need to be secure, happy, and successful and the collegial level.

STUDENT NEEDS

Broadly, Champlain Lennoxville aims to meet the following needs of first semester students:

 

  • to feel safe (comfortable, secure);
  • to be informed;
  • to be equipped;
  • to be supported;
  • to find meaning in their learning;
  • to be engaged.

We aim to meet these needs by:

 

  1. Ensuring that first-year students have access to skills, strategies and support required to meet this needs through:
    • Student services;
    • Pedagogy in first year courses.
  2. Providing instructors with pedagogical strategies aimed to facilitate successful learning for first-year students.

SKILLS, STRATEGIES AND SUPPORT FOR STUDENT SUCCESS

The following is non-exhaustive list of skills, strategies and support that have been shown to improve student success at the collegial level and beyond:

  • English Language skills (in an ESL context)
  • Academic writing skills
  • Active reading strategies
  • Note taking
  • Research skills
  • Referencing skills
  • Study skills
  • Motivation and engagement
  • Stress management
  • Time management
  • Mental health
  • Emotional and physical wellness
  • Academic honesty
  • Self-awareness of learning styles

IMPLEMENTATION

Champlain Lennoxville aims to provide the above services through the following avenues:

  • Student services:
    • First year orientation;
    • On-going services – group workshops, individual consultations, referrals to external resources
  • In classrooms within:
    • Programs;
    • General Education.