Communications, Health Sciences, Health and Physical Education, and Humanities

Students’ academic success is our most important goal here at Montgomery College. Our faculty members are dedicated to communicating the most up-to-date knowledge and skills in their disciplines through a wide variety of proven teaching strategies and techniques. Our staff members offer a wide variety of academic support and tutoring services and our learning centers and computer labs contain the latest in educational software and other technology. In other words, we offer a learning environment that contains everything students need for academic success.

Unfortunately academic success is not automatic. MC faculty and staff can’t just unscrew the tops of your heads and pour in the knowledge and skills you need to graduate and enter the workforce. A large part of academic success depends on student motivation. In other words, you have to show up and do your part. You have to make use of the tools and support we offer at MC. Academic success rarely happens by accident. You have to want it and I can help. I have six suggestions on how to be successful. In fact, if you follow these suggestions every day during your college career, I guarantee you’ll be successful. I can make this guarantee because in more than 30 years as a college instructor, advisor, professor and administrator, I have never seen a student fail if he or she followed these six suggestions every day. There is no magic in these suggestions although each of them is based on hundreds of research studies about how people learn effectively. Are you ready to take steps to guarantee your academic success? Here’s what you need to do:

1. Go to Class.Go to every class. Be there on time. This suggestion only works if you do everything in your power to attend every single class. And if you miss a class to tend to some important emergency, get in touch with one of your classmates as soon as possible and find out what went on in class. This suggestion is crucial for two reasons. First, the research on how people learn clearly demonstrates the importance of time on task. The more time you spend trying to learn something, the more you learn. Second, almost all college professors spend the most class time on the concepts and information they want you to learn. Let me put it another way, if you want to know what will be on the exams or in the paper assignments for a course, go to class. The professor will spend most of his or her time talking about these topics. There is no substitute for going to class.
2. Do Your Assignments on Time.College instructors are different than high school teachers. They do not give assignments just to keep you busy. They spend a lot of time crafting assignments that are designed to help you learn a theory, concept or set of facts. Faculty members understand that time on task is the best way for you to learn a theory or a concept, how to solve a math problem, or learn the parts of human anatomy. You should also know that most faculty members view blowing off assignments or turning them in late as an indicator that you really don’t care about learning the material or passing the course. Also, make sure you do your own work unless your professor indicates that you may work in groups on an assignment. Learn what plagiarism is and be sure not to engage in it. You may fail an assignment, you may fail a course, and you may be dismissed from MC if you engage in plagiarism.
3. Talk to Your Professors.You should do this for two very important reasons. First, if you don’t understand the course material, the best person to ask about it is the instructor. Tutors and your classmates can be very helpful, but the best person to answer questions is the professor. Second, college instructors enjoy the opportunity to talk with students about their academic disciplines. Third, talking to your professors also indicates that you want to learn the material and they may provide you with all kinds of hints and tips about how to study, what the best paper topics are, etc. Oh, and by the way, talking to your professors is more time on task.
4. 阅读一切。Read your texts, read your syllabus, read course handouts, read everything your professors give you. Also, read everything the financial aid office, the business office, the Security office or your advisor gives you. And read these things until you understand them because it is what everybody at the College assumes is happening. In U.S. colleges and universities, words on paper or in electronic messages are the most important form of communication. If you do not understand something in class or from your advisor or from the financial aid office, ask about it as soon as possible. The longer you wait, the more serious the consequences will be. And, you guessed it; reading is another form of time on task.
5. Respect the Teaching and Learning Environment.There are several parts to this suggestion. First, read and follow the policies and procedures contained in the MC Student Code of Conduct. Second, read and follow the directions, rules, and regulations contained in the syllabi for each of your courses. Third, turn off all of your wireless devices in class. Allowing your cell phone to ring, listening to music, text messaging, or using social media while in class indicates to your instructor that you are not interested what he or she is attempting to teach you. Such actions will also likely be interpreted as a sign of disrespect by the person who will be assigning you a grade for the course. Multi-tasking is not time on task. Fourth, MC is a tobacco and smoke-free environment. Do not use these products at MC. Finally, please remember your primary purpose for being here is to learn and the same is true of your fellow students. Please do not engage in behaviors that disrupt the teaching and learning environment.
6. Use the Library and Academic Support Centers and Services.蒙哥马利学院的TP/SS校区通过其图书馆世界杯摩洛哥vs克罗地亚欧赔和学术支持中心提供各种各样的学术支持和个性化帮助。在图书馆、写作、阅读和语言中心、数学/科学学习中心、医学学习中心、学习技能支持中心、社会科学计算机中心和校园信息技术实验室，训练有素、充满爱心的工作人员都致力于帮助您取得学业上的成功。

Remember, if you follow these suggestions every day, your academic success is guaranteed. Following these suggestions will help you develop the habits of mind you need to succeed in college and in the workforce. Everybody here at Montgomery College will be more than happy to find ways to help you follow these suggestions. Just ask.