From a Long Time English Instructor Turned Administrator

I guess it doesn't really matter what the new to Richland students look like: fat, thin, blonde; what matters is how prepared they are, and they are not, at all. From what I've heard and experienced, most don't know how to take notes, make an outline, or even have realistic expectations of the responsibilities of being students at Richland: turning in papers on time, coming to class and once there, not leaving early, and recognizing that the instructor has better credentials than they do and that what the instructor says to them has greater authority than their opinion. It has been interesting dealing with Millennia students. They come to my office to argue a grade, and their argument is that the instructor is merely expressing an opinion about their paper, and the students' opinion is just as valid. New students coming out of the DISD also have the added deficiency of extreme grading leniency and little to no homework.

Older students new to Richland also have unrealistic expectations. They often have conflicts with life situations versus their classes, and they expect to be excused for their excessive absences because, after all, they couldn't help what caused them to miss. That, and most of them seem to wear their hearts on their sleeves and get very hurt and angry if the grade they receive on a paper is not what they expected. They're often scared and not very confident in the first place, so any obstacle is seen as a threat.

Well, I hope I haven't degenerated into a bitch session--that's not my intent at all. I want students to find some balance between their expectations and the reality of being in college. I'm not sure how to resolve that. Perhaps you might have various instructors from different disciplines come with copies of their syllabi and talk to the students about what they require in their courses and how they grade.

From a Journalism Instructor

The students we get have no idea how to study, do work before they get to
class or take notes during class. They expect the professor to hold their
hand. I think they think that since we are a community college, we are just
a continuation of high school and we are not for real.

They need to have a tour of campus including the library and be made aware
of the extras that they qualify for. They need to be exposed to the web and
signed up for the Twitter messages so they can stay in touch.

Also, it would be nice for them to tell us what they are looking for.

From a Student Assistant

Hello ... I love this question!

I am a student assistant in the ACCESS Center here at Richland, which is why I received your email.

As a new student just two short years ago I will tell you that she is someone who is by choice or circumstance re-evaluating her life and wondering where to go next. She is nervous about taking classes because she hasn't been in school for a very long time. She is wondering how she will possibly fit in with other students who may be up to 20 years younger than she. She is scared that she will not be able to handle classes in addition to taking care of her family. She is unsure of what will be required of her. She is excited about her future. She has been in the workforce for many years making less than the national average and has come to realize the value of a college degree. She is needing help and information about how to pay for college. She will be a good student and will receive great grades. She is a long-time consumer and will expect to receive what she paid for. She may need help maneuvering around eCampus and eConnect and will not understand what "Lect, Web" or "OnlinePtl" means when trying to register for a math class.

She will also come to see her time at Richland as "one of the best things she ever did!" She will be very proud when she walks across the stage in May to receive her Associates Degree and will cry tears of joy when she receives her acceptance letter from TWU's Nursing School. She will miss Richland College because it has supported her, encouraged her, motivated her, and accepted her.