The Trip of a Lifetime: m aking a Successful Transition to The College of New Jersey

1. The Trip of a Lifetime:making a Successful Transition to The College of New Jersey Presented by: Magda Manetas, Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs

2. Goals • To guide you in developing realistic expectations of the TCNJ college experience • To assist you as you prepare for the transition to TCNJ • To encourage you to develop strategies to build on the benefits and cope with challenges of entering as a transfer student • To provide you and your family with information about TCNJ resources

3. Benefits and Challenges • Benefits: • Maturity • Experience with College Environment & Expectations • Focus • Developed Wisdom, Knowledge & Skills • Experience with Change & Transition • Living Off Campus Challenges: • “Baggage Fees” • Dealing with THIS Transition • Entry Mid-Year • An Accelerated College Experience Timeline • Living Off Campus

4. Partnering with Parents • Student Affairs Email – sa@tcnj.edu • Parents Webpage – http://www.tcnj.edu/~sa/parents/ • Parents Listserve • Family Weekend 2011- October 21-22 • Problem-Solving • Parental Notification Letter • FERPA • Billing Notification - ~sfs/account/ - Auxiliary Access User • Parent and Family Association Executive Board

5. Preparing for Success What changes might I experience? How can I prepare for these changes in advance and manage them as I experience them?

6. Health and Safety Transition to: • Taking More Responsibility for Personal Health and Safety • Increased Level of Independence • Change in Environment – Home to College & College to College • Change in Consequences – State and College Processes Strategies for Success: • Discuss Family & Student Expectations • Understand Expectations of the College & Consequences for Violations - Application to Off Campus Life • Question/Challenge Connection of Substance Use to the College Experience • Knowledge - Students Who Are Actively Engaged in their Education Less Likely to Use Alcohol • Anticipate Need for Healthy Coping Strategies for College Health Issues • Seek Assistance – Alcohol and Drug Education Program, Counseling and Psychological Services, Student Health Services, Dean of Students Office

7. Campus Safety More Strategies… • Think About Safety in New Environment • Take More Time Before Trusting Individuals New to You • Travel with Others When On and Off Campus • Be Aware of and Utilize 9-1-1/Campus Police 24-7/Bike Patrols/Escort Service • Lock Residence Hall Rooms & Cars • Support Campus Safety Features (exterior doors, 24-7 residence hall card swipe access system) • Subscribe to Campus Text-Messaging System

8. Academic Effort and Success Transition to: • Fewer Grading Opportunities • Different Relationship with Faculty • Competitive Environment • Our Expectation of Your Active Engagement in Learning Experience Strategies for Success: • Build on Success • Get to Know Faculty & Work with Academic Advisor • Refer to Syllabus and Work Backwards from Major Assignments and Tests to Prepare • Develop and Apply a Study Plan • Act Quickly to Address Problems – Faculty/Tutoring/Center for Academic Success • Keep and Analyze a Time Log

9. Dealing with Personal Finances Transition to: • Increased Control Over & Responsibility for Expenditures • Increase in Cost of Education • Credit Card Management Strategies for Success: • Build on Success • Family Discussion of Spending/Saving Expectations (including guidelines for credit card use) • Use of Debit Card in Place of Credit Card • Track Expenses – Checking In • Alternate Bill Payer Option for Parents • Employment • Utilize Student Financial Services – 11:00 Session

10. Navigating a New System Transition to: • Need to Accomplish Tasks More Independently • Learning to Take Responsibility • Embedding in a New College Environment • Finding Off-Campus Housing Strategies for Success: • Read TCNJ Material and Forms • Identify Information Source and Record Information • Pay Attention to Deadlines • Speak Up and Ask Questions • Attend Residential Education and Housing Session & Access Link: tcnj.edu/~reslife/assignments/offcampus.html for information re: off-campus rentals

11. Divesting and Investing Transition to: • New Environment • Need to Develop New Social Network • Feeling Homesick Strategies for Success: • Build on Success • Anticipate Changes in Relationships & Interaction • Anticipate Possibility of Homesickness • Put Away the Suitcase & Settle In

12. Getting Involved Transition to: • Affiliating & Embedding in New Environment Strategies for Success: • Build on Success • Attend Student Activities Fair – 1/26/11 • Utilize Student Activities Website • Join the Student Transfer Association – sta@tcnj.edu & Off-Campus Student Organization – ocso@tcnj.edu • Explore Campus – Art Gallery, Hiack Observatory, Concert Hall • “Try On” Activities and Organizations • Ask Other Students, Staff and Faculty • Consider Balance of Academics, Campus Involvement and Personal Time

13. Resources Associate Dean of Students – Angela Lauer Chong/BSC 230: General Support Off-Campus Living – Issues with Landlords, Housemates, Neighbors Faculty/Academic Advisor/Center for Academic Success/Tutoring Center Office of Differing Abilities Services/Career Center/Anti-Violence Initiatives/Counseling and Psychological Services/Student Health Services Records & Registration/Student Accounts/Student Financial Services Transfer Student Association/Off Campus Student Organization/Peers

14. “Light” Bulbs Making The Most of College by Dr. Richard Light, Harvard Graduate School of Education What Did HeLearn About Student Success in College? Students Should: • Act Quickly to Address Problems • Get to Know Their Faculty • Study in Groups • Track, Analyze & Improve Time Use