Our Student Retention Services assist you in achieving and maintaining good academic status and in fulfilling your potential.
Book an appointment today to learn more about on and off-campus support services, explore how to balance personal and college life, learn time management skills, and how to use available resources to succeed.
You can book an In-Person appointment or a Virtual appointment with one of our Retention Team staff members. We care about your success!
Book an In-Person Appointment Book a Virtual Appointment
STUDY SKILLS
You can get the support you need right here at MxCC at The Academic Success Center
The Academic Success Center is dedicated to supporting the educational mission of Middlesex Community College by providing academic support to the college’s enrolled students. Through individualized and group tutoring, we help students work toward their potential in a welcoming and encouraging environment where learning is the priority, personal growth and development are nurtured, and long-term success is supported. Our goal is to help students become confident and competent independent learners.
Looking for a tutor in a specific area? Book a Tutoring Session
Strengthen college-level skills with this MxCC LibGuide
MxCC Lib Guides specific to our courses!
Check out the CollegeInfoGeek.com website. Thomas Frank has amazing videos, podcasts, blog posts, tools and resources to help college students! Read his free book, “10 Steps To Earning Awesome Grades (while studying less).” The CIG knows the best apps to use too!
Not being as productive as you can be? Give yourself a tune-up. Assess your Study Skills: www.studyingforcollege.com and here.
- about.com– A broad set of college life categories of short articles. For example: “Should I Be Withdrawing from a class?” Article topics you can’t easily find elsewhere. Categories include: Handling the workload, Choosing Your Academic Path, Interacting with Professors, Overcoming Challenges Along the Way, Finding Balance….
- intelligent.com: Expert Guides on how to study for college
- Take a snapshot of your study habits by completing this short study assessment here.
- academictips.org– How to Be a Good Student Offers an easy to read overview plus has great links to study skills and memory techniques as well as several short, inspirational video stories.
Know Your Basics
MyCommnet
MyCommnet is your best friend. You can access to your school email, register for classes, Add/Drop Classes, See Your Grades, Get Transcripts, Get Enrollment Certificate, Find your Advisor and Major, Update Personal Information, See your Financial Aid, Pay Your Bills, access BlackBoard and, See Degree Evaluation (DeegreeWorks). Check Out MyCommnet Quick Reference below.
Degree Works: Your Road Map to Success
Degree Works is a Web-based tool for students to monitor their academic progress toward degree completion. Degree Works also allows students and their faculty advisors to plan future academic coursework by viewing courses remaining.
Degree Evaluation. Check your academic Progress in Degree Works. A degree evaluation is a review of past, current and in-progress coursework that provides information on completed and outstanding requirements necessary to complete a degree or certificate.
It is highly recommended that you enable pop-up windows in your browser in order to access all features of this program.
- Get all the information you need by visiting the Degree Works Page
- Watch the “Log In to Degree Works” Video
- General Education Requirements
Microsoft 365 ProPlus/Teams
The Connecticut State Colleges and Universities system is offering free copies of Microsoft Office 365 ProPlus to all active Connecticut Community College (CCC) students, faculty and staff. Office 365 ProPlus is the complete Microsoft Office suite comprised of the most recent version of Access, Excel, OneNote, Outlook, PowerPoint, OneDrive, OneNote, Skype and Word. Enjoy a fully installed Office experience across PCs, Macs, iPad, Windows and Android tablets, and most mobile devices. Users can install Office on up to 5 PCs or Macs, 5 tablets (Windows, iPad, and Android), and 5 phones. Office 365 ProPlus is a subscription service licensed per user. The user license remains valid for as long you are an active member of the CCCs (current student or employee). Once your Office 365 license is deactivated, you will be prompted to purchase a private subscription. Check the User Guide and Installation
On-Campus Resources
Academic Advising at MxCC
Get to know your advisor! All MxCC students are assigned a faculty advisor who helps students make an “Academic Plan” of the best course selections for his or her degree. This is a huge resource for students!
Advisors help students develop a meaningful educational path, compatible with their goals, and support student learning and success. Consideration of each student as a unique individual with unique needs is recognized as the foundation of our advising program. We approach advising as a collaborative effort between the student and advisor.
Academic Success Center
The Academic Success Center offers online tutoring to MxCC students at no additional cost throughout the fall and spring semesters. Our goal is to guide and help you achieve success in your academic career. The ASC offers tutoring in a variety of subjects. Some popular subjects include: English, Math & Statistics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Engineering. Students may schedule an appointment or drop in for tutoring at https://mxcc.edu/asc/
Career Development and Counseling Center
The Career Development and Counseling Center (CDCC) at Middlesex Community College helps students and alumni in the areas of academic advising, transfer planning, career decision-making and job opportunities. Our goal is to provide you with appropriate assistance from the beginning of your academic career through graduation.
Disabilities Support Services
The mission of the Disability Support Services office is to provide services and supports that promote equal access in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. This is accomplished through the provision of accommodations, auxiliary aids and support services that are in compliance with Federal and State statues.
Financial Assistance
Work-Study may be awarded as part of a student’s financial aid package. The Federal and CAP Work program provides funds for students to be employed while enrolled, at least half-time per semester, in an eligible program of study. Students may gain part-time work experience through employment opportunities at the Middletown campus or through Community Service Program (off campus). For additional information please contact the Financial Aid Office at 860-343-5741 or visit them in Founders Hall, Room 132.
MxCC Foundation Scholarships are given out each spring. Eligible students must apply to be considered. To view the scholarships applications and get more information please visit the foundation’s website. The application form lists criteria and required materials that must accompany a completed application.
Jean Burr Smith Library
The Jean Burr Smith Library offers book loans (physical and ebooks), computer labs, study space, and support from librarians.
Military and Veterans Support
Since 2012, MxCC has been recognized as a Military Friendly School, which honors the top 15 percent of colleges, universities and trade schools in the country that are doing the most to embrace America’s military service members, veterans, and spouses as students and ensure their success on campus.For additional information please contact, Peter Galgano at 860-343-5797 or pgalgano@mxcc.edu.
Students interested in applying for veterans’ benefits should contact the Records Office at 860-343-5724.
Off-Campus Resources
MxCC is fortunate to be located in towns that provide exceptional community services. Please feel free to contact any service for support you may need. We are happy to make the first call for you, if necessary.
Success Tools
TIME MANAGEMENT
Making a study plan or a schedule help you to manage your time wisely. Without a study plan, it is easy to lose track of time and miss assignments. Make sure to share your schedule with your advisor, a mentor, or a classmate. It is recommended to have regular meetings with your advisor or mentor. Each meeting will provide you with the opportunity to follow-up and identify issues that need to be addressed.
One of the best ways to monitor your progress is to make a daily to-do list.
To make a to-do list first you need to identify what needs to be done.
Prioritize and rate your tasks as:
- A: Must do today, “or the world will burn.” (There are usually very few things in this category.)
- B: Should do today. (A lot of stuff often ends up here.)
- C: Would like to do, can wait.
Rewrite the list and put As on top of list, followed by the Bs, and the Cs.
At the end of the day cross-off accomplished tasks, move up the ones that need immediate attention. Rearrange the list for next day. Review and repeat!
There are techniques that can help you to accomplish daily goals such as the pomodoro technique.
The Pomodoro Technique
The Pomodoro Technique is a popular time management method invented by Italian Francesco Cirillo. The Pomodoro (tomato in Italian), encourages people to work with the time they have—rather than against it. Using this method, you break your workday into 25-minute chunks separated by five-minute breaks. These intervals are referred to as pomodoros. After about four pomodoros, you take a longer break of about 15 to 20 minutes. The Pomodoro Technique is useful if you get distracted while working on a project or want to understand how long a task takes.
To learn more about The Pomodoro Technique read The Pomodoro Technique Explained (Forbes)
Anyone can implement The Pomodoro Technique. You don’t need special tools, the timer in your cellphone will do. There are apps that can help you to keep on track. For Android users, you can try Pomodoro Timer Lite or Focus-To-Do
Check out this YouTube video The Pomodoro Technique-Study and Productivity Technique. If you try to “Pomodoro” send me your feedback at mx-RetentionServices@mxcc.edu
TIPS FOR CATCHING UP
HOW TO E-MAIL YOUR PROFESSOR
GOOD TO KNOW
WELLNESS/MATH ANXIETY
- Mindtools: A compendium of articles in the toolkit.
- William Cole Consultants. The Mental Game Coach.com offers the best source of Test Stress Management and School Success I can find. The techniques work!
- How to Overcome Math Anxiety Very detailed; excellent resource for math faculty
- How to Overcome Math Anxiety 2 Tons of math articles and resources
YOUR GPA AND GRADES
To keep a good GPA you need to devote a great amount of time to study and master the subject. Are you studying, learning, mastering, and rehearsing the majority of the days of the week?
Make sure to devote enough time to study and learn. According to Brad Bergeron, Southeastern Louisiana University, “The minimum study time (which doesn’t guarantee A’s and B’s), would be four hours a week for each three-credit-hour, non-science or non-math class, because students need to spend more time studying than their teacher spent lecturing in order to truly master the material. The minimum study time for math and science classes would be six hours a week.” Do the math and see if you are really investing enough time to understand class materials.
- Understanding Your GPA
The grade point average is a numeric representation of your cumulative performance at MxCC. To calculate your GPA, multiply the grade point for each course, add up all the resulting grade point totals and divide by the total number of credits. For example, in one semester you take five 3-credits courses and receive an A, B+, B, C+, and C. To calculate your semester GPA, multiply each grade point by the number of credits: (A) 4.0 x 3 = 12.0 (B+) 3.3 x 3 = 9.9 (B) 3.0 x 3 = 9.0 (C+) 2.3 x 3 = 6.9 (C) 2.0 x 3 = 6.0 Total = 43.8 Divide the total 43.8 by 15 credits (total credits for the semester) = 2.92 semester GPA.
https://www.collegesimply.com/gpa-calculator/college-gpa-calculatorEasy to use!!
- Making the Grade
- Tracking Your Grades: The Grade Tracker tool allows you to keep track of your grades so you know exactly how you are doing in your classes. It is also a way to help you be proactive and reach out for help when you receive a poor grade. There are many ways to reach out for help at MxCC a few would be setting up a meeting with your professor, using our free tutoring or meeting with our retention specialist.
Blank Grade Tracker
Sample Grade Tracker
Online Schedule Maker
YOUR SYLLABUS: LEARN TO LOVE IT
GOAL SETTING
- https://www.umassd.edu/fycm/goalsetting/resources/smartgoals/ Info and template for college students
- https://www.lifehack.org/ Subscribe for free. Make this site part of your daily routine. “Happiness and fulfillment in life doesn’t come automatically.” Real simple steps toward “personal prosperity.” It will speak to those facing setbacks, lacking motivation, feeling unfilled and having bad habits. Just do it.
Online Learning
There are things you need to know and do before you start an online course. Please visit “Getting Started with Online Classes” or download the Quick References for Online Students
MxCC provides various technology resources to keep students connected to the college and provide online support in academic capacities. Distance Learning/Educational Technology will provide virtual training to MxCC students: Blackboard basic features, Blackboard Collaborate Ultra web conferencing, and Microsoft Teams. Check out free available workshops for students at Tech Trail
Microsoft Office Office applications are available free of charge for registered students to download. Students who have a valid college email address can download on their personal PCs or Macs up to 5 computers, directly from Office 365. MS Office 365 ProPlus includes full versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Access, InfoPath, OneNote, and Publisher in both 32bit and 64bit. More instructions can be found at Office 365