College Excel: Students: What To Expect

What to expect at College Excel

"We like to say, 'Your life is art in the making.' College Excel gives you the unique opportunity to create yourself in a new light and work toward a fresh vision of what you want your life to be. But sometimes, as a young adult, you need the support and encouragement to take chances, make your own decisions, and experiment with choices. We support and see great value in this process. We want you to have this freedom to come to terms with your strengths and weakness, learn to fully own your life, and develop a value system of your own."

– Jeannie Crowell, Co-Director, College Excel

You've heard our philosophy. Now see what the College Excel experience involves, from Orientation to the weekends and beyond…

1. The Best Time To Enroll In College Excel
2. Week one: Orientation
3. Week two: Beginning the Process
4. Weeks three & Four: Adjusting
5. Months two & Three: Into the Swing
6. Evenings: options aplenty
7. Weekends: follow your passions
8. What's next?

1. The best time to enroll in College Excel

We highly recommend enrolling in College Excel two weeks prior to the beginning of the next college term. This gives you time to set up your new life and establish relationships with your coaches.

Two weeks prior to each college term, we offer daily classes on study skills, relaxation techniques, time management, learning styles, procrastination and motivation. During this time a student's life and academic coach combine efforts to help each student design a weekly routine of fixed and flexible commitments that they will use for the term ahead. We also plan outdoor adventures, movies, dinners and shopping excursions which give students the opportunity to get to know Bend and each other.

If you enroll midterm, you still have the opportunity to attend all College Excel activities, including the Supervised Study Groups and Skill Development Courses offered through our first term student curriculum.

2. Week one: orientation

Your first week at College Excel is a structured Orientation supervised by our Student Life Co-Director and Enrollment Counselor, Greta Cheney. Your schedule includes daily appointments with your Life Coach and meetings with our Academic Advisor, Leslie Lim, and our Academic Director, Mike Smith. During Orientation, you also participate in our first term student curriculum, fun activities with other students, and attend your first cooking class, barbeque or movie night.

Day one: You formally enroll, meet your Life Coaches, tour the facilities, and set-up a new home. Students living in CE Student Housing check-in and meet their roommates to discuss house rules and responsibilities, including chores, menu planning, grocery shopping and cooking. Students not living in CE Student Housing should move in and set-up prior to Orientation.

Day two: You will begin attending our First Term Student Curriculum classes and meet with your Life Coach and our Computer Technician, Scott, to set-up wireless internet access. One of our student mentors/RA's will take you on a tour of Bend and help you find any additional items you may need to feel settled in.

Day three: You meet with learning specialists at our Academic Center for Excellence (ACE). Our team helps you determine your academic status, needs, and goals. Leslie Lim interviews you about your educational history, and conducts a Learning Styles Inventory, which helps you identify your learning style, strengths, and weaknesses. Based on this information, Mike Smith guides you through registration and class selection, then provides a tour of the college campus tutoring facilities, library, computer lab, bookstore, advising and counseling departments, and athletic facilities. He then shows you how to sign up for campus activities, pay tuition, and add or drop courses. If you still need to complete placement tests for math and English, this is scheduled and may delay class registration.

Day four: You buy class books and supplies. Working with your Life Coach, you will plan how best to use your weekly stipend for entertainment, transportation and recreation. You might also plan how best to proceed if your attendance is to low to receive your weekly stipend.

Day five: You meet with your Life Coach to review the week and share your life story, goals and dreams. The coach also explains how to derive the greatest benefit from the coaching sessions. Together, you and your coach build a weekly schedule that includes classes, study hours, activities, meetings and free time. This schedule is revised weekly to help you maintain a balanced lifestyle that enables you to accomplish your goals.

3. Week two: beginning the process

During week two, you begin an intensive process with your Life Coach to develop your Action Plan. You establish short- and long-term goals and learn how to utilize CE and the resources in the community and college to achieve your objectives.

Skills: Your coach also helps you identify independent living skills you may need. Examples: how to open a bank account; begin a job search; meet financial objectives; fill a prescription; find the best doctors, dentists and counselors; or make a nutritious weekly menu and shop within a budget. If you are registered in CE's accredited courses -- such as Personal Finance, Study Strategies, Stress Management and Human Relations -- you further solidify these skills by completing formal assignments. You'll work on these skills until you are successfully managing your life.

Classes: Once classes have started, you and your academic advisor carefully review your syllabus and develop a comprehensive calendar of assignments, due dates and tests. You and your coach review this calendar every week and build a weekly schedule that incorporates assignment completion dates and test preparation. You regularly attend Supervised Study Groups, and if you need extra academic support, you can make appointments with private tutors.

If you're not yet attending classes, you can receive support to find a job or internship, or get involved in a community service project.

Parents: Also this week, your parents receive an introductory call from your Life Coach, who updates them on your progress and answers their questions. They may also enroll in our Teleclasses or Parent Coaching. Parents are always welcome to contact College Excel with questions or concerns, but we do not provide them with regular updates. If your parents want additional progress reports, we will conduct three-way calls with you, your parents, and your Life Coach.

4. Weeks Three & Four: Adjusting

You are still adjusting to your new environment, and being coached to stay on track, establish healthy daily practices, and follow your weekly schedule. You are just beginning to practice independent living skills, and if you're interested in working, you may still be looking for a job. If you are seeking counseling, you may still be interviewing therapists. If you are looking to make friends, you're joining extracurricular activities offered by CE and your college.

Academically: You are still being closely supervised and supported. You begin to establish an academic routine, know your professors and complete assignments. Because both OSU and COCC operate on a quarter schedule, you may have already turned in your first paper or taken your first test. During these weeks, you start participating in the CE Skills Development courses.

5. Months Two & Three: Into the Swing

You have established a healthy daily routine and are practicing independent living skills, such as managing your home, keeping track of your finances, and establishing vital relationships with CE staff, doctors, therapists, tutors and new friends. You are achieving short-term goals and revising your action plan if needed. You may be working or involved in a community service project. Your free time may include more fun activities and your confidence is growing.

Academically: The ACE staff has evaluated your true abilities and identified areas where you need extra support. You receive general guidance on degree and career options which present you the best possibility of excelling. During this time, many students struggle with college life and pressures. You might seek out counseling or extra support from your coach, or revert to unproductive patterns of coping, but we'll coach you to implement new ways to overcome challenges.

By the end of month three: You have a much better understanding of yourself as a learner, and know how to use college and community resources to succeed academically and personally. Having completed a college term, you're happy, more confident, open to trying out new challenges, and not shy about asking for help. You have new friends, a solid relationship with your coach, and a foundation to support your footing as you create a life that brings you more challenges, pleasure, and success.

6. Evenings: options aplenty

When the day is done, you have the option to participate in healthy, fun, supervised activities like cooking classes, bike rides, rock climbing, concerts, jam sessions and movies.

The colleges also provide free evening and weekend activities, including drop-in volleyball, pick-up basketball, spin classes and open studio time for artists.

See CE @ Night for more details on our after-hours events.

7. Weekends: follow your passions

Work, play, study or relax – this is your time. Your Life Coach will help you find fun, healthy, constructive ways to spend your time.

Getting out – way out: Students often plan group activities, and if there's enough interest and the weather permits, we contract with local guides to take students on outdoor adventures. These optional excursions are offered at an additional cost.

In the winter, many students head up to Mount Bachelor Ski Resort. If you want to learn to snowboard or ski or just improve your technique, Central Oregon Community College offers weekend credit courses. The college also offers instruction in wilderness search and rescue, backpacking, cross-country skiing and whitewater rafting.

Balance: As you progress through College Excel, we help you balance your life with fun, work, and relaxation. You are given the time and encouraged to explore your spiritual life, practice meditative arts through yoga or tai chi, work out regularly, and pursue your intellectual, musical or artistic interests.

All these activities are discussed with your coach and implemented into your Action Plan.

8. What's Next?

You progress at your own pace at College Excel. What you're working to accomplish is completely individual and based on your goals and needs. About 90% of College Excel students re-enroll for another three-month term of support, about 80% stay for a total of nine months, while 30% chose to continue past the nine month mark.