College BASICS

The following are categories of essential information to know as you start college classes.  

#1: Work Outside of Class

What should I expect for the workload in my college classes?   

There is a common "rule of thumb" that states to double the number of hours that the class meets in person, which is also the number of credits of the course.  For example, a 3 credit course that meets 3 hours a week would have at least 6 hours of work outside that class time.  *For more information about workload, see 4.1 Managing Your Time & Distractions. 

An important exercise to do is to calculate how much time you can expect to devote to your classes each week. 

12 Credit Courseload (Full-time)

• 12 hours of class time + 24 hours of work outside of class = 36 total hours in your week

#2: Attendance

Am I expected to attend classes in college? 

Different from compulsory education (e.g. elementary, middle, and high school), college is considered optional.  You are expected to attend your classes but nothing is forced.  Your courses will have an attendance policy that you can read in the syllabi.  It will commonly state that attendance is expected and some instructors may assign points for attendance and participation.  

It is essential to regularly attend your classes as it will help you stay connected and for success.  This is a finding that has been supported by research.  Students who attend class regularly tend to have higher grades.  

What should I do if I have to miss class? 

Let your instructor know as soon as possible of your absence by sending them an email.  Here’s a sample email you can use to notify your professor about missing class due to illness:

Subject: [Your Name] - Absence Due to Illness - PSY 1001-G13

Dear Professor [Last Name],

I hope this email finds you well. I wanted to let you know that I have come down with a cold and, unfortunately, will be unable to attend [class name] on [date]. I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and I will reach out to ____ [classmates name] to get a copy of their notes and look on the D2L course shell for announcements. I will do my best to catch up on the content and stay on track.

Thank you for your understanding.

Best regards,

[Your Full Name]

#3: Late Work

Can I turn in assignments late?  Can I take a quiz/test late? 

Instructors can have a policy to not accept any work late or to allow students to take quizzes/tests late.  These policies are written in the syllabus, which can be considered a contract with the student.  Some instructors allow late work but may deduct points.  

Instructors can arrange for students to take tests at the Aims Testing Center.  This is a great option to ask your instructors about if you cannot attend class during an exam.  

#4: Grading System

How will be I graded in my classes? 

The grading scale (A, B, C, etc.) will be outlined in the syllabus for your classes.  Different components (exams, assignments, participation) will contribute to your final grade.

Instructors will use the grade book feature in the D2L course shell to post grades.  Your current grade is not always evident so you may need to do a calculation to understand your grade status.  

To track your grade, you should create a spreadsheet or record the scores you receive on assignments, exams, and other graded activities. By comparing these scores to the grading breakdown provided in the syllabus, you can estimate your current standing.  This is important to do in order to make changes if necessary. 

NOTE: To maintain good academic standing at Aims Community College, you must have a cumulative 2.0 GPA, which is a C average.  Good standing is required to be able to graduate with a degree or certificate.  Financial Aid has additional Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) standards beyond having a 2.0 cumulative GPA such as a 67% or above completion rate of your passed and attempted hours and passing at least one attempted course in the most recent term with a grade of "D" or better, etc.  Click here to read the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy 

#5: Dropping and Withdrawing 

What is the difference between dropping and withdrawing from a course?

You have two options to avoid being graded in a course.  

Dropping a Course:

• It is an option that occurs early in the semester, within the first few weeks.

• When a student drops a course, it doesn’t appear on their academic record or transcript. The course is removed as if it was never taken.

Withdrawing from a Course:

• It is an option later in the semester, within a few weeks of the semester ending.

• When a student withdraws, the course remains on their academic record with a "W" (withdrawn) notation. This does not affect the GPA, but it does indicate that the student did not complete the course.

Both dropping and withdrawing can have implications on financial aid, so it is important to speak to financial aid beforehand.  However, failing courses also impacts academic standing and satisfactory academic progress (SAP) for financial aid.  

Failing grades also can never be removed from your transcript.  You can repeat the course and that grade would replace the previous course in terms of being calculated in your cumulative GPA.

#6: Academic Integrity

What does academic integrity mean?  

Academic integrity refers to the ethical standards and principles that govern the academic work of students and instructors in college. The policy at Aims starts with the sentence "Aims Community College Students are expected to demonstrate qualities of morality, honesty, civility, honor, and respect."  Violations of academic integrity as outlined in the Student Code of Conduct policy and include cheating, fabrication or falsification, plagiarism, complicity in academic dishonesty, falsifying grade reports, and lying. 

The consequences for violating academic integrity in college are typically more severe than in high school. Penalties can include failing grades, academic probation, suspension, or even expulsion. 

What is expected?

All of your written assignments including papers, presentations, quizzes/tests, discussion posts, etc. are expected to be your own original work for this course. When you use any words, ideas, or data from other people or sources, it needs to be properly attributed to their sources by citing the source. You are not allowed to resubmit assignments previously submitted for a grade in another course or in a different section of this course.

NOTE: It is often okay to use AI tools like Grammarly.com and ChatGPT to improve spelling and grammar. It is NOT okay to use AI tools to generate or write your content.

#7: College Writing

In college, writing expectations are higher because assignments require more depth, analysis, and clarity. Professors look for well-developed arguments supported by evidence, proper grammar, and adherence to academic standards like citations.

Organization is crucial because it helps your ideas flow logically, making your writing easier to follow. A clear structure, such as an introduction, body, and conclusion, ensures your main points stand out and your work stays focused. Good organization also saves time and reduces stress as you plan and complete assignments.  Godwin (2017) provides the visuals and information below.

What is where in the assignment?

The shape of anything written!

Any well-written text has a diamond shape! This applies to all kinds of writing: essay reports, chapters in books, and dissertations. Remembering this will improve the structure of whatever you are writing.

What should be in a paragraph?

Every paragraph should develop ONE point only. Each paragraph also follows the diamond structure

Paragraph checker

Use WEED to check that the paragraph is complete.

Paragraph showing WEED

Making Your Writing Error Proof

In college, having errors throughout your writing is not okay because it makes your work look careless and harder to understand.  If you struggle in this area, use technological tools (e.g. Grammarly) to help you.  Many pet peeves of instructors surround errors such as not capitalizing i's. 

To use proper grammar and spelling, a student can:

1. Proofread Carefully: Reread your work to catch mistakes. Read it out loud to hear how it sounds.

2. Use Tools: Take advantage of grammar and spell-check tools like those in Word or online (e.g., Grammarly). They highlight common errors.

3. Ask for Feedback: Have a friend, classmate, or tutor review your writing.

4. Learn the Rules: Spend time reviewing grammar basics and common mistakes. Writing guides or online resources can help.

5. Work Slowly: Take your time while writing to avoid rushing and making errors.

LICENSES AND ATTRIBUTION

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED CONTENT

• Studying with dyslexia (2017). Authored by: Janet Godwin. Publisher: Bloomsbury Academic; ISBN: 9781352000399