Student Success in College

Dr. Christine Harrington is a professor and co-coordinator of the doctorate degree of education in community college leadership program at New Jersey City University. Prior to this role, she served a two-year term as the executive director of the Center for Student Success at the Council of County Colleges, supporting all 19 community colleges in the state with student success reform efforts. Dr. Harrington worked at Middlesex College for almost 20 years in the following roles: professor of psychology, student success course coordinator, director for the Center for the Enrichment of Learning and Teaching, counselor and disability services provider. She earned a Ph.D. in counseling psychology from Lehigh University, an M.A. in counseling and personnel services and a B.A. in psychology from The College of New Jersey. She taught the student success course at the community college level for more 15 years, often teaching special sections for students with learning disabilities. Dr. Harrington frequently presents at national conferences, colleges and universities on student success and teaching and learning topics such as student engagement and motivation, the syllabus and dynamic lecturing. She is the lead or sole author for numerous books including Why First-Year Seminars Matter: Helping Students Choose and Stay on a Path, Keeping us Engaged: Student Perspectives (and Research-based Evidence) on What Works and Why, Dynamic Lecturing: Research-based Strategies to Enhance Lecture Effectiveness, Designing a Motivational Syllabus: Creating a Learning Path for Student Engagement, Ensuring Learning: Supporting Faculty to Improve Student Success and Engaging Faculty in Guided Pathways: A Practical Resource for College Leaders. . Dr. Harrington received the 2016 Excellence in Teaching First-Year Seminars Award at the Annual Conference of the First-Year Experience hosted by the National Resource Center on the First-Year Experience and Students in Transition.

• Preface.Part I: DETERMINING YOUR PATH TO SUCCESS.Introduction: Getting Started.College Expectations: Getting a Strong Start. Value of the First-Year Seminar Course.1. Discovering the Value of Education and Sharpening Key Thinking SkillsExploring the Research in Summary. Value of College Education: Societal and Individual Benefits. Decision Making. Information Literacy. Critical Thinking. Chapter Summary: Note Taking Model.2. Setting Goals and Choosing a Career Path.Exploring the Research in Summary. Setting Goals. Career Exploration and Decision Making. Chapter Summary: Note Taking Model.Part II: STRATEGIES AND SKILLS FOR SUCCESS.3. Building Academic Skills.Exploring the Research in Summary. How Memory Works: Building Foundational Knowledge. Active reading strategies. Note-taking. Study strategies (include a chart of effective and ineffective approaches). Chapter Summary: Note Taking Model.4. Strengthening Soft Skills.Exploring the Research in Summary. What are Soft Skills? Professionalism. Time and Project Management. Interpersonal Skills. Leadership. Chapter Summary: Note Taking Model.5. Demonstrating Knowledge and Skills.Exploring the Research in Summary. Purpose of Academic Tasks. Academic Integrity. Papers and Presentations. Test-Taking Strategies. Chapter Summary: Note Taking Model.Part III: BEING SUCCESSFUL: PLANS AND PERSEVERANCE.6. Mapping Your Path to Success: Plans and Action Steps.Exploring the Research in Summary. Creating an Academic Plan. Exploring Experiential Learning Opportunities. Career Planning: Discovering the Power of Networking. Financial Planning. Chapter Summary: Note Taking Model.7. Staying on Track and Celebrating Success.Exploring the Research in Summary. Reflecting on Progress. Staying Motivated. Managing Stress. Being Resilient and Developing Grit. Celebrating Success. Chapter Summary: Note Taking Model.Exploring the Research in Depth Appendix.Answer Key Appendix.References Index.Subject Index.