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In important ways, good students
are made, not born. In my work with college students, I am seeking
to understand the factors that underlie and promote academic success
in college. In this work, I have been looking at ways to help students
make the most of their college experience and to increase student retention. Power Up for College Success
I direct the Power Up for College Success program at
the University of Massachusetts. This annual program for UMass first-year
students, which offers one credit towards graduation, takes place
on campus just before the start of classes every fall. In addition,
there is an online version of the program.
The program addresses such issues as how to succeed academically,
how to become involved on campus, choosing majors, developing study
skills such as effective time management and test-taking strategies,
and understanding UMass resources. As part of the program, students
participate in a small class of no more than 25 students, receiving
personal attention and individual feedback. They get to know other
students and develop college-level learning skills. (For more information,
please contact Continuing
and Professional Education at the University of Massachusetts Amherst or by calling 413.545.2414).
P.O.W.E.R. Learning: Strategies for Success
in College and Life (McGraw-Hill, 2009)
My book, P.O.W.E.R. Learning, is the only
first-year experience text with a unifying system for critical thinking
and problem solving. The book is designed to maximize students’ potential
for success in college and in life. Using the research-based and
class-tested principles of the P.O.W.E.R system (Prepare, Organize,
Work, Evaluate, and Rethink), students gain a sense of mastery and
achievement as they move through the text; with the growth of their
confidence comes the increased intellectual enthusiasm and personal
discipline needed for them to excel.
The book is used at hundreds of colleges, universities, and career
schools throughout the United States and Canada and has been translated
into Spanish, Chinese, and Japanese. (For more information
go to P.O.W.E.R.
Learning).
Improving the First Year of College: Research and Practice (Erlbaum, 2005)
What are the factors that impact students during their first year of college? How can the academic and social experiences of first-year students be optimized? What can we do to improve retention rates to maximize the number of students who complete college?
My book, Improving the First Year of College, addresses these and many other questions as it examines the first year of college from a variety of perspectives. Drawing on a broad array of experts, it systematically considers the factors that produce success during the critical first year of college.
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