By Dylan Leverett/reporter
Many obstacles can trip up students in their pursuit of a degree.
However, these obstacles are easy to overcome if students are aware of the tools they have at their disposal, NE students were told March 26.
It’s easy to fall behind when students try to go to school, work and balance a family life, Randy Saleh said.
“Those are three full-time jobs,” he said.
During the Get Back on Track and Finish the Race workshop, presenters from the advising and counseling department spoke about academic issues, including understanding what a GPA is and how to raise it, how to transfer to a four-year college, what the three learning styles are, how to identify one’s personal style and where to find helpful resources on campus.
Saleh began the workshop with the ins and outs of GPAs.
“A lot of students in college don’t understand or really recognize what their GPA does for them,” he said. “I could probably wager that I could go into any college and 70 percent of the students would not know how to calculate their GPAs.”
Grade replacement is also an option for those who wish to raise their GPA by retaking a course, he said.
Vanessa Ximenez, NE transfer advisor, explained the GPA requirements for transfers, the schools that frequently visit TCC to advise transferring students and the Transfer Academy program offered to students.
NE disability support services coordinator Kim Eason and NE advisor Carey Miller discussed the three learning styles. Eason and Miller had attendees list their study habits and discuss them.
Then Eason and Miller passed out questionnaires to identify personal learning styles and explained how students can use their styles to be more successful in school.
NE counselor Masika Smith presented a list of tutoring and lab resources with their campus locations.
“Campus resources —think of us as your support system,” she said. “We’re here so you won’t be alone as you go on your journey here at TCC. So when you’re losing focus, guess what? We can help you get back one track.”
NE student Cate Holliday found the workshop informative.
“I learned how to improve my GPA, my learning style, a bunch of ways to study and campus resources I didn’t know before [and] realizing I can retake a class if I didn’t do it very well.”
The workshop will be repeated 4-5:30 p.m. April 1 in the Galley (NTSU 1506) and noon-1:30 p.m. April 21 in the Larry Darlage Center Corner (NSTU 1516).
Students can register at http://tccdnevolunteerhub.com/events/index.
