WEEK 1

INTRODUCTION TO COLLEGE LIFE AND ACADEMIC SUPPORT

OVERVIEW

🔘 MONDAY

· 8:30-9:30: Welcome Breakfast and Program Overview

· 9:30-10:30: Icebreaker Activities (Building Connections)

· 10:30-11:30: Introduction to Campus Resources: Advising, Tutoring, Library Tour

· 11:30-12:00: Student Services Rountable

· 12:00-1:00: Lunch Break

· 1:00-2:00: Understanding College Expectations: Time Management and Goal Setting

· 2:00-3:00: Group Reflection: What Does SuccessLook Like in College?

· (Grace-Odeleye & Santiago, 2019) emphasize early familiarization with campus resources to support academic integration.

🔘 TUESDAY

· 8:30-9:00: Morning Check-In and Peer Sharing

· 9:00-10:00: Academic Skills Workshop: Note-Taking

· 10:00-11:00: Academic Skills Workshop: Study Strategies

· 11:00-12:00: Academic Advisor Meetings: Individual Check-ins

· 12:00-1:00: Lunch Break

· 1:00-2:00: Navigating Learning Platforms: Canvas, Portals, Tech Tools

· 2:00-3:00: Campus Meet and Greet with Key Faculty

· (Pascarella et al., 2004) discuss theimportance of academic skill-building and advisor check-ins for
first-generation student success.

🔘 WEDNESDAY

· 8:30-9:00: Morning Check-In

· 9:00-10:00: Workshop: Effective Email and Communication Skills

· 10:00-11:00: Peer Networking: Building Support Systems

· 11:00-12:00: Using Office Hours and Asking for Help

· 12:00-1:00: Lunch Break

· 1:00-2:00: Writing Skills: Thesis Statements and Essay Structures

· 2:00-3:00: Open Study Hall: Peer and Faculty Support

· Peer networking and academic writing skills are critical for creating a sense of belonging and academic preparedness (Dennis et al., 2005).

🔘 THURSDAY

· 8:30-9:00: Morning Check-In

· 9:00-10:00: Academic Integrity Workshop: Plagiarism and Citing Sources

· 10:00-11:00: Workshop: Understanding Course Syllabi

· 11:00-12:00: Peer Group Activity: Mock Study Groups and Tutoring

· 12:00-1:00: Lunch Break

· 1:00-2:00: Introduction to Research Resources: Library Databases

· 2:00-3:00: Self-Assessment: My Learning Habits and Goals

· These activities follow suggestions forpreparing first-generation students for academic challenges and boosting retention (Grace-Odeleye & Santiago, 2019).

🔘 FRIDAY

· Service-Learning Day (8:30-3:30): Introduction to Community Service Projects

· Students meet with local community partners todiscuss their service-learning projects.

· John Dewey’s Progressive Education Theoryemphasizes experiential learning as key to bridging the gap between classroom knowledge and real-world application (Talebi, 2015; Northouse, 2022).