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Student Success Program
Curriculum | Requirements | Enrollment Process | Student Feedback
Program Overview
The Student Success Program is an intensive eight-week course designed to invite new and returning college students to improve their academic skills before they enter their technical program. This program is specifically targeted at preparing technical students for technical programs and careers; the skills and strategies covered are directly connected the classes in the students’ technical fields. The intention of the Program is to give Dunwoody students a solid foundation to allow for better success throughout their technical programs.
Curriculum
Students explore key areas critical to success in college: math, English, computer use, reading, and study skills. Classes include:
- College Reading [Link to Course Description]
- Introduction to Computers [Link to Course Description]
- New Student Seminar [Link to Course Description]
- Technical Math [Link to Course Description]
- Technical English [Link to Course Description]
Along with their coursework, students become familiar with Dunwoody’s environment through opportunities to work with other students, staff and faculty members, and tutors. Students will also stay connected to Elftmann Success Center staff throughout their technical programs through the Touchpoint system. [Link to ESSC Touchpoints]
Requirements
- All students must pass recommended classes with an overall grade of 70% or better. Student success in the program is determined by course grades, attendance, and improvement from pre- to post-test.
- All students must have no more than 5 absences during the course of any class. The student will automatically be dropped from the Program after the fifth absence.
- All students must achieve 70% or better in the New Student Seminar.
- Failure to meet these requirements may result in a re-take of the failed class/classes, or ultimately, delay progression in their technical program.
Enrollment Process
After completing the admissions process, students may be recommended to take Student Success course work as a part of the preparation for success in their technical programs. Students may be recommended to take College Reading, Technical English, Math, Introduction to Computers, and/or New Student Seminar.
Student Feedback
“The (Student Success) program is good for networking. While in (the Student Success) program, you get to meet people who are in the same field as you. Therefore, when you start your classes in your field, you will already know someone.” – ELEC student, 2012
“The (Student Success) program was a tool for college for me. It really helped me become organized, build good working habits, learn how to prepare and study for a test, and some other great tips. I would recommend it for students who are starting college for the first time or students who are returning to college and need to be refreshed to the college atmosphere.” – ELEC student, 2012
“(Student Success) has definitely helped me in my program! Now that I’m in my program I have been using note taking and highlighting very effectively and have been getting better grades on morning quizzes. I no longer highlight things that aren’t relevant. I highlight main points and important things thanks to my (Student Success) classes.” – AUTO student, 2012
“In the fall of 2010 I enrolled in the (Student Success) classes, and there is no way that I would be doing is well in my program if I wouldn’t have participated in (Student Success). It has been 12 years since I have been in school and the way that the (Student Success) teachers taught it and some of the tricks that they showed me to remember things really helped.” – CSUP student, 2012
“How hard would it have been to get to this point in my educational career without (Student Success) and the fabulous teachers in the program. Impossible – Never would have happened – Not in a million years – would I have achieved what I have done, to this point, in four classes: All A’s and just starting to get in the swing, so watch out for me from now on. I will be someone that people say “I remember him when” before I’m finished with my journey. The help I received was invaluable to me on many levels, between the extra math needed to not only pass, but to achieve what would have been a high grade in the class, is something that will be remembered forever. The difficult beginnings in my English class and with my instructor, only to discover my passion for writing, as well as the natural ability that I never knew was there in the first place. I owe this all to the wonders of the (Student Success) program, which has helped to round me into what I will become in the future. In closing, the (Student Success) program is a tremendous tool that should be continued and maybe even expanded, if possible, to help the more new students coming to start their career training at Dunwoody.” – MACH student, 2012
“I have learned more in eight weeks than in my four years of high school.” – ASRO student, 2010
“Years of elementary mathematics are covered in 8 weeks.” – ECDM student, 2010
Course Descriptions
Introduction to Technical Mathematics – 2 credits
This course offers a review of fundamental math concepts in preparation for technical programs in the fields of automotive, welding, home appliance, printing/graphics and others. Topics of arithmetic, algebra and geometry will be covered. Specific topics could include but are not limited to: adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing whole numbers, decimals and fractions; problem solving; estimating; using percents; reading a ruler; signed numbers; algebra; using a calculator; geometric concepts and definitions.
Foundation of Technical Mathematics – 4 credits
This course offers a review of fundamental math concepts in preparation for mathematically intensive technical programs. Topics of arithmetic, algebra and geometry will be covered. Specific topics could include but are not limited to: adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing whole numbers, decimals and fractions; problem solving; estimating; order of operations; using percents; reading a ruler; using a calculator; working with powers, roots and signed numbers; solving equations; unit conversions; using formulas; direct and inverse proportions; geometric concepts and definitions.
Technical English – 3 credits
Students will master English skills in writing, listening, reading comprehension and speaking. Students will improve mechanics, usage, and grammar skills with daily homework. Writing assignments will teach the writing process: planning, drafting, revising, and editing. Students will learn reading strategies to improve their ability to identify main ideas, facts, details, examples and comprehend technical reading. Students will be introduced to the vocabulary of their technical fields through technical reading and writing assignments.
English Language Learners Technical English – 3 credits
Students will master basic English skills in reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Students will develop skills by using the writing process with particular attention to common grammatical errors of the English language learner. Students will learn reading comprehension techniques to improve their ability to summarize, use context clues, hypothesize, and identify technical and non-technical reading. Students will be introduced to the vocabulary of their technical fields through technical reading assignments.
Introduction to Computers –2 credits
This course will focus on developing fundamental computer skills. An important aspect of the course will be improving students' keyboarding skills by increasing typing speed and accuracy. In addition, students will learn basic word processing, formatting and file management skills. Students will also use the Internet and learn how to conduct research by using search engines.
New Student Seminar – 1 credit
This course creates an opportunity to expose students to academic and personal tools which will help them to enhance their strengths, to acknowledge and develop their weaknesses, and to learn to adopt the tools in such a way that they can be modified for lifelong learning. Some examples of topics include test-taking strategies, time-management, looking at how motivation/attitude effects learning and stress reduction. Guest speakers include faculty, current students, and alumni.
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