Table of Contents

Preface.
Acknowledgments.
Travel with Me.
1. GETTING ON COURSE TO YOUR SUCCESS.
College Smart-Start Guide. What to Do Before the End of Your First Week in College. Get Familiar. Get Organized. Get Serious. Money Matters. Managing Money: The Big Picture. Increase Money Flowing In. Decrease Money Flowing Out. Tech Tips: MONEY. Understanding the Culture of Higher Education. The Surface Culture of Higher Education. One Dozen College Customs. Write a Great Life. Journal Entry 1: Understanding the Expectations of College and University Educators. Eight Key Expectations. A Dozen Differences Between High School and College Culture. Journal Entry 2: Understanding Yourself. What Does Success Mean to You? Ingredients of Success. Assess Your Soft Skills for College Success. Forks in the Road. A Few Words of Encouragement. Journal Entry 3: One Student’s Story Jalayna Onaga. Soft Skills at Work.
2. ACCEPTING PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY.
Case Study in Critical Thinking the Late Paper. Adopting a Creator Mindset. Victim and Creator Mindsets. Responsibility and Culture. Responsibility and Choice. Journal Entry 4: One Student's Story: Taryn Rossmiller. Mastering Creator Language. Self-Talk. The Language of Responsibility. Journal Entry 5: One Student's Story: Alexsandr Kanevskiy. Making Wise Decisions. The Wise Choice Process. Journal Entry 6: One Student's Story Freddie Davila. Personal Responsibility at Work. Tech Tips: Personal Responsibility. Believing in Yourself Change Your Inner Conversation. The Curse of Stinkin'' Thinkin''. Disputing Irrational Beliefs. Stereotype Threat. Journal Entry 7: One Student's Story Dominic Grasseth.
3. DISCOVERING SELF-MOTIVATION.
Case Study in Critical Thinking Popson''s Dilemma. Creating Inner Motivation. A Formula for Motivation. Value of College Outcomes. Value of College Experiences. Journal Entry 8: One Student's Story: Chee Meng Vang. Designing a Compelling Life Plan. Roles and Goals. How to Set a Goal. Discover Your Dreams. Your Life Plan. Journal Entry 9: One Student's Story Brandon Beavers. Committing to Your Goals and Dreams. Commitment Creates Method. Visualize Your Ideal Future. How to Visualize. Journal Entry 10: One Students' Story James Terrell. Self-Motivation at Work. Tech Tips: Self-Motivation. Believing in Yourself Write a Personal Affirmation. Claiming Your Desired Personal Qualities. Living Your Affirmation. Journal Entry 11: One Student's Story Tina Steen.
4. MASTERING SELF-MANAGEMENT.
Case Study in Critical Thinking The Procrastinators. Acting on Purpose. Harness the Power of Quadrant II. What to Do in Quadrants I and II. Journal Entry 12: One Student's Story: Jason Pozsgay. Creating a Leak-Proof Self-Management System. Time and Culture. Weekly Calendar. Monthly Calendar. Next Actions List. Tracking Form. Waiting-For List. Project Folder. The Rewards of Effective Self-Management. Journal Entry 13: One Student's Story: Allysa LePage. Developing Self-Discipline. Staying Focused. Being Persistent. Avoiding Procrastination. Journal Entry 14: One Student's Story: Holt Boggs. Self-Management at Work. Tech Tips: Self-Management. Believing in Yourself Develop Self-Confidence. Create a Success Identity. Celebrate Your Successes and Talents. Visualize Purposeful Actions. Journal Entry 15: One Student's Story: Ashley Freeman.
5. EMPLOYING INTERDEPENDENCE.
Case Study in Critical Thinking Professor Rogers' Trial. Creating a Support System. A Sign of Maturity. Seek Help from Your Instructors. Get Help from College Resources. Create a Project Team. Start a Study Group. The Difference between Heaven and Hell. Journal Entry 16: One Student's Story: Mitch Mull. Strengthening Relationships with Active Listening. How to Listen Actively. Use Active Listening in Your College Classes. Journal Entry 17: One Student's Story: Teroa Paselio. Respecting Cultural Differences. Showing Respect. Journal Entry 18: Interdependence at Work. Tech Tips: Interdependence. Believing in Yourself Be Assertive. Leveling. Making R

About the Author

Skip Downing is an international consultant in the field of faculty development and student success strategies. Dr. Downing has earned degrees from Princeton University, Johns Hopkins University, the University of Santa Monica and Carnegie Mellon University. He holds advanced degrees in English and counseling psychology. He was a professor of English at Baltimore City Community College (BCCC) for 32 years. In addition to his role as an academic instructor, Dr. Downing created and coordinated BCCC's Student Success and Learning Community Programs. These programs teach students how to apply proven success strategies to achieve their full potential in college and in life. The College Success Program resulted in a significant increase in both student academic success and retention. Dr. Downing has made numerous presentations at national conferences and conducted faculty development workshops at many two- and four-year colleges and universities in the United States, Canada, Bermuda and the Virgin Islands. Dr. Downing's teaching, writing and consulting are all guided by his belief that the greatest mission of any educational institution is to empower its students to live rich, fulfilling lives. From 1996–2016, he facilitated the On Course Workshops, intensive four-day retreats for college educators focusing on proven strategies for helping students become active, responsible partners in their education and achieve greater success in college and in life. Dr. Brennan has a PhD in Comparative Ethnic Studies from UC Berkeley, an EdD in Educational Leadership and Change (Fielding Graduate University), an MA in English (UC Berkeley) and an MS in Cognitive Psychology (USM). In the last three decades, he has focused his research on higher education leadership, best practices in non-cognitive learner competencies, virtual and AI learning and the intersection between race, culture, equity and access to education. Dr. Brennan is a faculty member and former chair of the English Department at Mission College in Santa Clara, California. He designed and coordinated an On Course Program at Mission College that significantly improved the retention and academic success rate of students in English, Mathematics, Reading and ESL. He was voted Faculty of the Year at Mission College in 2000 and was awarded a NISOD Teaching Excellence Award. In 2005, he was awarded the Stanback-Stroud Diversity award from the California State Academic Senate, and in 2008, the California State Hayward Award for Excellence in Education. Since 2006, he has served as Chair of the On Course National Conference and is currently Editor of the On Course student success newsletter which has nearly 150,000 subscribers worldwide. He has facilitated workshops on improving student engagement and learning for over 6,000 faculty from colleges and universities across North America. Dr. Brennan is the author of the forthcoming, LEARNING WITH CHATGPT, DALL-E and AI GENERATIVE TOOLS: AN EDUCATORS’ GUIDE TO AI AND EFFECTIVE STUDENT LEARNING. His other titles include ENGAGING LEARNERS THROUGH ZOOM, CHOOSING A GOOD ROAD (High School Success), WHEN BRER RABBIT MEETS COYOTE (African-Native American Literature) and MIXED RACE LITERATURE. Dr. Brennan’s teaching, writing, keynotes and workshops are guided by his belief that all students deserve an opportunity to find their passion for lifelong learning and accomplish their academic, career and life goals.