Celebrate the Struggle
Transitioning to college can be challenging. You may feel a mix of emotions that can be both exciting and overwhelming. At times, you may feel alone in trying to figure out how to be successful, but in fact, it is very common to experience insecurity and lack confidence as you try something new. The key is to ask for help when you need it, as early as possible, and to recognize that everyone needs help. Professionals at all levels look to their peers and experts in the field for guidance and assistance. Writers look to fellow writers and editors. Administrators in higher education look to other colleges and hire consultants to offer advice. In fact, it is good practice to learn to ask for feedback and advice.
When you are feeling challenged and need assistance, celebrate and know that it is a normal part of the college experience. Where could you use some feedback and/or assistance? What on-campus or off-campus resources might be able to assist you?
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. —Lao Tzu, philosopher
Orientation to the College
New Student Orientation
Effectively transitioning to the college environment is an ongoing process. Westchester Community College helps you get this process off to a strong start through the New Student Orientation program. Additionally, the Parent and Family Orientation program provides members of your support network with valuable information about the WCC college experience.
One Day On-Campus Orientation
Students who attend New Student Orientation in August before classes begin receive some or all of the following during their experience: an overview of the opportunities available to them at WCC, various opportunities to connect with both their peers and department representatives, presentations regarding Title IX, safety and security, personal counseling and others, a detailed presentation on various involvement opportunities on campus and an academic orientation that includes school or program-specific information and requirements.
Parent and Family Orientation
Parents and families are welcome to attend either short two-hour sessions or a full-day experience during the week of New Student Orientation. These sessions are not mandatory, but offer a wealth of information for families working with students in their transition. The College offers Family and Parent Orientation sessions in both English and Spanish.
Flash Day On-Campus Orientation
Students who do not attend the full-day New Student Orientation may still meet the college’s Orientation requirement by attending one of the Flash Day Orientations.
These Flash Day sessions include all the material from the full day experience in a condensed 2.5 hour format in late August.
New Student Orientation is required for all first-time full-time students. Students that do not meet the Orientation requirement will have a hold placed on their account preventing them from registering for the upcoming semester’s classes, obtaining student transcripts, or other college related documents.
New Student Orientation REQUIREMENT
Students who didn’t attend New Student Orientation before classes started may still do so online through the Online Orientation Program. All students that did not attend Orientation have been sent an e-mail inviting them to complete the Online Orientation. If you weren’t able to attend the face-to-face Orientations, look for the email invite to participate online. Online Orientation is available after Flash Day Orientations are completed and remains available through the entire semester.
First-Year Seminar
First-Year Seminar is designed to help students successfully transition into the college environment and is a great option for students who want to start smart. This first-semester course provides a supportive, interactive community of peers who are also embarking on their own college experiences and help you to develop the tools you need to succeed in college. Students in First-Year Seminar explore timely topics, engage in First-Year Experience activities and programming, and participate in an ongoing conversation that helps clarify their purpose, meaning, and direction.
Check your School, Pathway, Academic Program
When students apply to WCC, they indicate their future interests. In doing so, they become part of one of its four Schools. Each of the Schools includes many different pathways, including certificates, Applied Associate’s Degrees (to enter a career after WCC), and Associate’s Degrees (to transfer to another college after WCC). Whichever School you are part of, it is important to stay connected to your resources (your professors, tutors, advisors, etc.).
ARTS, HUMANITIES, & SOCIAL SCIENCES: The disciplines in the School of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences offer students the opportunity to explore creative means to express themselves and to develop the skills most significant for success in and beyond college: innovation, written and oral communication, critical thinking, and problem solving. In the School of Arts, Humanities, and Social Science students can explore career programs such as communications and media arts; liberal arts and sciences/humanities with additional concentrations in art studio, English, or Spanish; liberal arts and sciences/social sciences with additional concentrations in anthropology, economics, history, psychology, or sociology; digital filmmaking; journalism; performing arts; visual arts; digital arts; and digital filmmaking. In the School of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences you will find poets, philosophers, painters, journalists, filmmakers, dancers, singers, actors and linguists…and more — many of whom are award-winning professors eager to work with you.
SCHOOL OF BUSINESS & PROFESSIONAL CAREERS: If you are interested in a career involving business, human services, cybersecurity, criminal justice, management, paralegal, fashion, accounting, education, or computer information systems, then the School of Business and Professional Careers is is the right place for you. Here you will find an exciting array of program and certificate options that will prepare you to transfer to a four-year institution or to gain meaningful employment. Students in this School apply their developing knowledge to provide the best service to the public or to their future clients and customers.
SCHOOL OF HEALTH CAREERS, TECHNOLOGY, & APPLIED LEARNING: Are interested in a career in healthcare; culinary arts, hospitality, nutrition and dietetics; health, physical education and human performance; nursing; paramedics; radiological technology; respiratory care; or veterinary technology? Then the School of Health Careers, Technology, and Applied Learning is the place for you. Programs in this School provide students with classroom, clinical, and practical experiences to develop proficiency in their professional skills to become a valued member of their team within their chosen field.
SCHOOL OF MATH, SCIENCE, & ENGINEERING: The School of Math, Science, & Engineering offers a wide array of programs that engage students in discovery, application of theoretical principles, and opportunities to learn how to work with cutting-edge technology. The School prepare students for careers across a broad range of science, engineering, mathematics, and technology disciplines; and activate students’ thirst of knowledge in science and mathematics. To accomplish its mission, the School maintains a nurturing academic atmosphere conducive to excellent in teaching and expects high standards of performance for faculty and students. Our students are working to become leaders in STEM fields and beyond, and our award-winning faculty work hard to help them meet those goals.
Satisfactory Academic Progress
Westchester Community College’s Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policy stipulates that:
- Students must maintain a 2.00 cumulative GPA when reached 48 or more cumulative attempted credits. Developmental credits and transfer credits are all included in the cumulative attempted credits
- Students’ credit completion must equal 67% of credit-bearing courses taken in the current term
- Students must complete their educational program in no longer than 150% of the published length of the educational program
Photo ID
It’s important to get a WCC identification card as soon as possible because it serves as your library card to check out books and media and to access the study rooms available in the Library. Additionally, you should be ready to show your current photo ID card any time you are asked to do so by a college official (Public Safety, administrator, staff, faculty). Getting an ID card is one of the activities completed during New Student Orientation. If you didn’t get your ID card yet, you should go get it right away by going to Security Office, first floor of the Student Center.
Course Materials
Coming prepared to your class is an important part of your success at WCC. Required materials for each course are listed in your course syllabi. The College Bookstore offers several options for required texts including new, used, rental, and digital texts. Many course texts are also on reserve at the circulation desk for your use in the Library. You can expect to be assigned work in your course texts as early as the first day, so it is a good idea to purchase materials early
The College Bookstore is located behind the Student Center and is a Barnes & Noble store. Sponsored by the Faculty-Student Association, the Bookstore supplies textbooks, study aids, bargain books, software, school supplies, drinks and snacks, art supplies, calculators, notebooks, laptops, tablets, book readers, Westchester Community College apparel and gift items, sundries, nursing supplies, greeting cards, backpacks, and Metro cards. All the merchandise is available for purchase on the e-commerce site: www.sunywcc.bncollege.com
For textbooks and related supplies:
- WCC Bookstore, call (914) 347-3858
- WCC Library to borrow faculty-reserved textbooks, call (914) 606-6960, or click here to search for textbooks
Information on Financial Aid, scholarships, and using these funds to purchase books:
- Financial Aid, call (914) 606-6773, or click here
- Using Financial Aid for books, click here
- WCC Scholarships, many of which can fund books, click here
Spend some time early in the semester getting organized. Some students use different colored folders for each class with corresponding notebooks. They keep important course handouts, such as the course information sheet, syllabus, and any other handouts (especially those that refer to assignments and assessments) in the folder. And, they keep all their notes in a spiral bound notebook, adding a date each time they take notes. Other students take notes on loose leaf paper, so they can add them to the folder and have all materials for assignments and tests in one place. Many online students keep a similar paper system or house all their materials electronically. The key is to find a system that works for the course and for your learning style.
Getting Involved at WCC
Making connections to peers, professors, and resources can enrich your time in college. WCC has a diverse student body. The varying backgrounds and different perspectives in the WCC community are part of what makes the college experience valuable. Getting to know classmates gives you an opportunity to find support with peers, create study groups, and make friends. Professors often know about opportunities and resources at the College, as well as opportunities beyond the College. The more the faculty are aware of who their students are, the more they can make timely recommendations, so getting to know your professors is just as valuable as getting to know other students.
There are resources at WCC to support students at each stage of their academic journey. To name a few, the First-Year Experience program assists students as they transition to college, and the many learning centers help students excel in courses throughout their time at WCC. Counseling services supports students as they adjust or work through crisis, and many clubs and organizations help students connect with others who have similar interests.
By taking advantage of the resources on campus, you can not only find the support you need, but you can also learn valuable leadership skills that will be helpful in any job. These skills include preparing an agenda, running a committee meeting, presenting to an audience, making decisions by consensus, planning events, and more. Not only do you have the opportunity to learn these skills by participating in clubs and organizations, but you can develop those skills in a supportive environment where mistakes won’t cost you the job or promotion. The full college experience means getting the most out of each class as well as being involved in campus life.
Your Rights and Responsibilities as a WCC Student
Now that you have transitioned into college, it is important to commit to your many responsibilities as a student. What are your new student responsibilities? Are they financial? Course specific? Social? Health related? Ethical? What exactly is expected of you?
According to recent research, students who are involved in career-planning activities stay in college longer, graduate on time, improve their academic performance, tend to be more goal focused and motivated, and have a more satisfying and fulfilling college experience. This is why an important first step in college is examining your personal identity and values. By examining your values first, you begin the process of defining your educational goals and ultimately planning your career. These important steps will be addressed in the following chapters of this text.
Westchester Community College respects the dignity of each individual member of the College community and recognizes certain rights and responsibilities as integral to achieving opportunities for intellectual, cultural, social and personal growth, and the health and safety of every student. Student rights and responsibilities are outlined in WCC’s 2019-2020 Student Handbook and discussed in this textbook. You may wish to refer to the handbook and the information shared with you throughout the course for important policies and procedures.
Overall, you demonstrate that you are a responsible student when you do the following:
- Uphold the values of honesty and academic integrity
- Arrive on time and prepared for all classes, meetings, academic activities, and special events
- Attend all classes and stay for the entire class period
- Participate actively in groups
- Give attention to quality and excellence in completing assignments
- Allot sufficient time for responsibilities outside of class
- Observe etiquette in all communications,
- Give respect to instructors, fellow students, staff and the larger college community
- Take full advantage of college resources available to you
- Respect diversity in people, ideas, and opinions
- Achieve educational goals in an organized, committed, and proactive manner
- Take full responsibility for personal behavior
- Comply with all college policies
By allowing these overarching principles to guide you, you embrace responsibility and make choices that lead to college success.
Step Out of Your Comfort Zone
As you transition to being a college student, you’ll need to “put yourself out there” by meeting new people and experiencing many firsts. In the next week, make a conscious effort to talk to someone on campus you don’t know or utilize a college resource or learning center you’ve never been to before. Take a step, even if it is a small step, toward connection to Westchester Community College and all it has to offer.
