Muskingum College - Center for Advancement and Learning (CAL)

First Step Program

The First Step Transition Program at Muskingum College provides an intensive and comprehensive summer orientation to postsecondary education for students prior to entry into an undergraduate program. The program targets learning-disabled and at-risk students choosing to pursue postsecondary education. Primary emphasis is on the application of learning strategies within the context of a college-level expository course. Additional foci include campus familiarity and the social and emotional changes associated with the transition to college. Overall, the program aims to reduce student anxiety and to improve student success in the postsecondary environment. Students will leave with a better understanding of their learning styles and a concrete plan for improving their chances for academic success.

First Step is administered by professional learning consultants with the assistance of student mentors, who serve as contact persons during the first year, and is coordinated through Muskingum College's Center for the Advancement of Learning, which has been providing academic support to students for over a decade. Some aspects of the program are geared specifically to Muskingum College's liberal arts academic program, but most topics covered during the orientation are applicable to other postsecondary programs.

Based on previous research and existing transition programs at other institutions, the Center for the Advancement of Learning developed an eight-pronged approach to facilitating the postsecondary transition for learning-disabled and other students. These eight components are integrated throughout the orientation period.

Diagnostic assessments of learning style
College-level expository courses
Learning strategies training
Social and emotional support
Campus awareness
Support services
Career awareness

Diagnostic assessments of students' learning styles are used to create profiles of students' strengths and weaknesses, to plan appropriate strategies to use during the academic year, to help students better understand their learning disabilities (if applicable), to evaluate students' expectations about college compared to high school, to assist students in self-advocacy, and to assist students in scheduling courses and in considering career options. The Center's professional staff members demonstrate how learning style assessments may be applied to students' academic programs. Students will be provided with oral and written summaries of learning style assessment results.

One course focuses on writing. The other is an expository science course that introduces students to the college-level lecture and lab experience. FSTP courses are instrumental in demonstrating to students the expectations of college and the performance standards of professors. In addition, the courses provide an academic context for the application of learning strategies.

The learning strategies component of First Step provides students with effective means of enhancing learning strengths and compensating for learning deficiencies. As students begin to develop an effective learning strategies repertoire, they become more effective and efficient learners. Students apply learning strategies to the content of the expository course in individualized and group sessions with the Center's professional learning consultants. Strategy instruction and application activities emphasize time management, organization, notetaking, testing, memory, reading, writing, debriefing, and self-advocacy.

Because the transition to college is often accompanied by significant social and emotional changes, First Step provides opportunities for student growth and awareness. Participants experience communal living and dining during the program. Professional staff members from the Center and from Muskingum College's Student Life Office as well as student mentors facilitate relationship building among students, encourage the establishment of new friendships and personal support networks, foster internal student motivation, encourage the development of student independence, provide students with a forum for discussing emotional and social concerns, and enhance students' social skills and interpersonal communication skills.

To reduce student anxiety about the college environment, campus awareness activities are an important component of First Step. Students are familiarized with the campus and community layout, are informed of campus activities, and are familiarized with college operations. Because students are housed in campus dorms and eat in campus dining facilities during the orientation, they gain first-hand experience in campus living.

The variety of campus support services available to students are introduced during the orientation. Knowledge and understanding of support services aids students in becoming independent and in developing self-advocacy skills.

Career awareness activities help students to explore possible majors, encourage students to begin thinking about career options, and help students evaluate their preferences, strengths, and weaknesses with respect to career requirements.

The First Step Transition Program culminates with the development of an Individualized College Plan (ICP) for each student (Clark, 1996). Copies of the ICP are provided to each student and are filed in each students' file for future use in academic support. While development of the ICP begins during the summer orientation, the ICP is a dynamic plan that evolves throughout the student's career. Components of the ICP include:

Summary of academic strengths, weaknesses, and preferred learning style
Summary of learning disabilities and needs (if applicable)
Summary of appropriate accommodations (academic, personal, social, environmental) for minimizing obstacles to learning
Listings of effective and ineffective learning strategies
Identification of available resources (educational, financial, physical, emotional, social) relevant to the student's needs
Summary of short-term and long-term goals
Listing of potential majors and careers
Academic plan of study and preparation for achieving goals

Because First Step is a highly structured endeavor and because some topics are covered only in general terms during the two-week orientation, it is important to allow for follow-up as students move into the less-structured schedule of the academic year. At Muskingum College, subsequent support is multifaceted and additional information about various topics may be obtained through several avenues:

Contacts with the primary tutor and other tutors in the PLUS Program (for qualified disabled students who request services)
Contacts with Learning Strategies and Resources Program tutors (for other students who request services)
Weekly Center for Advancement of Learning workshops
Contacts with First-Year Seminar mentors, student mentors, and classmates
Monthly meetings of the Center's Chat-Back group
Contacts with student mentors from First Step
Workshops and personal sessions with Student Life staff

First Step Activities

The two-week orientation program is packed with academic and social activities geared toward easing the transition from high school to college. Every attempt has been made to simulate the activities that occur in the typical college student schedule.

Morning and afternoon sessions include lectures, labs, presentations, library work, computer work, tutoring, and study groups. Activities scheduled for the evening sessions include a night course, social interactions, and cooperative learning activities.

Participants arrive on early Sunday afternoon. The afternoon is devoted to settling in and socialization. After a cookout on the campus quad, the evening sessions focus on policies, course overviews, and time management-organization strategies. Activities scheduled for the first week include classes, learning assessments, strategy instruction, strategy application, academic reinforcement, campus awareness, and social and emotional issues. Supervised field trips to local attractions are planned over the weekend. During the second week, students participate in classes, strategy application, academic reinforcement, support services, social and emotional issues, and career counseling activities. The session concludes on the second Saturday with a parent's workshop and individual student evaluation sessions.

Admission to First Step Program

Although learning-disabled and at-risk students are targeted, First Step is open to any student making the transition from high school to college. The orientation is appropriate for incoming Muskingum College students or any student preparing to enter a postsecondary program. Computer equipment is provided and no prior knowledge of computers is required.

Participants in First Step are charged a fee that includes instruction, room and board, course materials, orientation materials, and field trip transportation. The fee for 2003 is $2,000.

Space will be limited. Interested students are encouraged to apply early for the program. Application materials may be obtained by contacting the Center for the Advancement of Learning by phone at 740-826-8280 or by mail at 223 Montgomery Hall, Muskingum College, New Concord, Ohio 43762-1199.

Additional Information

To obtain the First Step Transition Program activity schedule, application materials, or additional information about the Program, the Center for the Advancement of Learning, or Muskingum College, please contact the First Step coordinators listed below.

Eileen Henry Ed.D, MBA

223 Montgomery Hall
Muskingum College
New Concord, OH 43762-1199
740-826-8284
ehenry@muskingum.edu



		First Step Program The First Step Transition Program at Muskingum College provides an intensive and comprehensive summer orientation to postsecondary education for students prior to entry into an undergraduate program. The program targets learning-disabled and at-risk students choosing to pursue postsecondary education. Primary emphasis is on the application of learning strategies within the context of a college-level expository course. Additional foci include campus familiarity and the social and emotional changes associated with the transition to college. Overall, the program aims to reduce student anxiety and to improve student success in the postsecondary environment. Students will leave with a better understanding of their learning styles and a concrete plan for improving their chances for academic success. First Step is administered by professional learning consultants with the assistance of student mentors, who serve as contact persons during the first year, and is coordinated through Muskingum College's Center for the Advancement of Learning, which has been providing academic support to students for over a decade. Some aspects of the program are geared specifically to Muskingum College's liberal arts academic program, but most topics covered during the orientation are applicable to other postsecondary programs. Based on previous research and existing transition programs at other institutions, the Center for the Advancement of Learning developed an eight-pronged approach to facilitating the postsecondary transition for learning-disabled and other students. These eight components are integrated throughout the orientation period. Diagnostic assessments of learning style College-level expository courses Learning strategies training Social and emotional support Campus awareness Support services Career awareness Diagnostic assessments of students' learning styles are used to create profiles of students' strengths and weaknesses, to plan appropriate strategies to use during the academic year, to help students better understand their learning disabilities (if applicable), to evaluate students' expectations about college compared to high school, to assist students in self-advocacy, and to assist students in scheduling courses and in considering career options. The Center's professional staff members demonstrate how learning style assessments may be applied to students' academic programs. Students will be provided with oral and written summaries of learning style assessment results. One course focuses on writing. The other is an expository science course that introduces students to the college-level lecture and lab experience. FSTP courses are instrumental in demonstrating to students the expectations of college and the performance standards of professors. In addition, the courses provide an academic context for the application of learning strategies. The learning strategies component of First Step provides students with effective means of enhancing learning strengths and compensating for learning deficiencies. As students begin to develop an effective learning strategies repertoire, they become more effective and efficient learners. Students apply learning strategies to the content of the expository course in individualized and group sessions with the Center's professional learning consultants. Strategy instruction and application activities emphasize time management, organization, notetaking, testing, memory, reading, writing, debriefing, and self-advocacy. Because the transition to college is often accompanied by significant social and emotional changes, First Step provides opportunities for student growth and awareness. Participants experience communal living and dining during the program. Professional staff members from the Center and from Muskingum College's Student Life Office as well as student mentors facilitate relationship building among students, encourage the establishment of new friendships and personal support networks, foster internal student motivation, encourage the development of student independence, provide students with a forum for discussing emotional and social concerns, and enhance students' social skills and interpersonal communication skills. To reduce student anxiety about the college environment, campus awareness activities are an important component of First Step. Students are familiarized with the campus and community layout, are informed of campus activities, and are familiarized with college operations. Because students are housed in campus dorms and eat in campus dining facilities during the orientation, they gain first-hand experience in campus living. The variety of campus support services available to students are introduced during the orientation. Knowledge and understanding of support services aids students in becoming independent and in developing self-advocacy skills. Career awareness activities help students to explore possible majors, encourage students to begin thinking about career options, and help students evaluate their preferences, strengths, and weaknesses with respect to career requirements. The First Step Transition Program culminates with the development of an Individualized College Plan (ICP) for each student (Clark, 1996). Copies of the ICP are provided to each student and are filed in each students' file for future use in academic support. While development of the ICP begins during the summer orientation, the ICP is a dynamic plan that evolves throughout the student's career. Components of the ICP include: Summary of academic strengths, weaknesses, and preferred learning style Summary of learning disabilities and needs (if applicable) Summary of appropriate accommodations (academic, personal, social, environmental) for minimizing obstacles to learning Listings of effective and ineffective learning strategies Identification of available resources (educational, financial, physical, emotional, social) relevant to the student's needs Summary of short-term and long-term goals Listing of potential majors and careers Academic plan of study and preparation for achieving goals Because First Step is a highly structured endeavor and because some topics are covered only in general terms during the two-week orientation, it is important to allow for follow-up as students move into the less-structured schedule of the academic year. At Muskingum College, subsequent support is multifaceted and additional information about various topics may be obtained through several avenues: Contacts with the primary tutor and other tutors in the PLUS Program (for qualified disabled students who request services) Contacts with Learning Strategies and Resources Program tutors (for other students who request services) Weekly Center for Advancement of Learning workshops Contacts with First-Year Seminar mentors, student mentors, and classmates Monthly meetings of the Center's Chat-Back group Contacts with student mentors from First Step Workshops and personal sessions with Student Life staff First Step Activities The two-week orientation program is packed with academic and social activities geared toward easing the transition from high school to college. Every attempt has been made to simulate the activities that occur in the typical college student schedule. Morning and afternoon sessions include lectures, labs, presentations, library work, computer work, tutoring, and study groups. Activities scheduled for the evening sessions include a night course, social interactions, and cooperative learning activities. Participants arrive on early Sunday afternoon. The afternoon is devoted to settling in and socialization. After a cookout on the campus quad, the evening sessions focus on policies, course overviews, and time management-organization strategies. Activities scheduled for the first week include classes, learning assessments, strategy instruction, strategy application, academic reinforcement, campus awareness, and social and emotional issues. Supervised field trips to local attractions are planned over the weekend. During the second week, students participate in classes, strategy application, academic reinforcement, support services, social and emotional issues, and career counseling activities. The session concludes on the second Saturday with a parent's workshop and individual student evaluation sessions. Admission to First Step Program Although learning-disabled and at-risk students are targeted, First Step is open to any student making the transition from high school to college. The orientation is appropriate for incoming Muskingum College students or any student preparing to enter a postsecondary program. Computer equipment is provided and no prior knowledge of computers is required. Participants in First Step are charged a fee that includes instruction, room and board, course materials, orientation materials, and field trip transportation. The fee for 2003 is $2,000. Space will be limited. Interested students are encouraged to apply early for the program. Application materials may be obtained by contacting the Center for the Advancement of Learning by phone at 740-826-8280 or by mail at 223 Montgomery Hall, Muskingum College, New Concord, Ohio 43762-1199. Additional Information To obtain the First Step Transition Program activity schedule, application materials, or additional information about the Program, the Center for the Advancement of Learning, or Muskingum College, please contact the First Step coordinators listed below. Eileen Henry Ed.D, MBA 223 Montgomery Hall Muskingum College New Concord, OH 43762-1199 740-826-8284 ehenry@muskingum.edu