Plan Your Time for Success

There are many factors in your life that affect your success as a student, including your responsibilities to your family, your employer and other activities.  To improve your success, be sure to consider all of your responsibilities before creating your schedule.

Time Commitments for School

Having enough time for your classes and homework is a big contributing factor to your success, especially as you learn how much time each class will take.  You complete the majority of your work for class outside of class.

Every course has a credit value.  The credits determine the cost of the course and the expectation of how much time you will spend on the course.

1 credit= approximately 1 hour in class each week
1 hour of class = 2 to 3 hours of preparation (homework, studying, writing papers)

Therefore, a 4-credit math or writing class would take:
4               hours a week in class
+ 8 to 12  additional hours a week for preparation
=12 to 16 total hours needed each week to successfully complete the class

Scheduling time into your life for homework is critical to success.  Students struggle when they become over ambitious and take too many credits.  Their health may even begin to suffer as they become more exhausted, sleep deprived, less motivated, and experience increased anxiety, stress and depression.  Strive to set realistic time commitments and you will be on track to graduate!

Four Secrets of Successful Students

Successful students:
1)  Are not victims. They view both positive and negative experiences as opportunities to learn and make choices to create their own future.
2)  Seek personal meaning and overall sense of purpose. 
3)  Practice looking ahead to set future goals.  They break goals into smaller steps and identify specific actions to reach their goals.  This helps them avoid procrastination and actively bring future goals into the present.
4) Create relationships with people who are supportive.

Bookstore Buyback - Get Paid

Would you like to earn money for your used books?  During finals week, the bookstore pays up to 50% of the original purchase price for books needed for the next quarter….   

Don’t forget to bring your textbooks to the bookstore during finals week for bookstore buyback.  This is where the bookstore may purchase your textbooks back from you to replenish store stock.

Do remember a receipt is required for all buybacks

Do check bookstore hours during finals week 

Do learn more at the COCC website:  Bookstore Buyback.

Miss your buyback or still have books to sell?  Sell books yourself on the Online Buyback

SPRING TERM FINALS: JUNE 9-13

Plan ahead! Check the dates and times for your final exams.

STRESS FREE FINALS

Monday, June 2: Free Chair Massages
10 a.m. - 2 p.m., Campus Center Foyer
Relax and enjoy an upper body chair massage performed by a COCC Massage Program alumni.

Tuesday, June 3: $1 lunch
11 a.m. - 2 p.m., Campus Center Dining Room
Enjoy chips, drink and a cookie with your choice of one of the following: hamburger, cheeseburger or grilled cheese, for lunch sponsored by ASCOCC!

Wednesday, June 4: Pet a Pup Therapy
12 - 2 p.m. and 7 - 8 p.m., Barber Library Side patio
Take a stress break to visit with Nationally Registered Therapy dogs and their handlers. Courtesy of Pet Partner Teams, Therapy Dogs International Teams and Therapy Dogs Incorporated Team. Please do not bring pets to this event.

Thursday, June 5: 19th Annual Storm the Stairs Race
5:30 - 7 p.m., COCC Track
A two-mile run/walk that takes participants all over campus including over 300 stairs. Free registration for students. Free barbecue and prize drawings following the race.

Library Extended Hours with Coffee and Snacks
Friday, June 6: 5 - 9 p.m.
Saturday, June 7: 10:30 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Sunday, June 8: 10:30 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Barber Library Foyer

Enjoy a free coffee and snacks to help you study and successfully prepare for finals in a quiet environment that is open late and all weekend long.

ACTIVITIES IN NORTH CAMPUSES:

Stress-Free Finals: Redmond
Wednesday, June 4: 11:30 a.m.
Enjoy a taco bar from Tres Hermanos for lunch sponsored by ASCOCC!

Stress-Free Finals: Prineville
Wednesday, June 4: 11:30 a.m.
Enjoy lunch from The Sandwich Factory, sponsored by ASCOCC!

Stress-Free Finals: Madras
Tuesday, June 3: 11:30 a.m.
Enjoy lunch from Pizza Hut, sponsored by ASCOCC!

Applying to Graduate - Deadline Extended

COMMENCEMENT APPLICATION DEADLINE EXTENDED
If you are graduating in the current academic year (Fall, Winter, Spring or Summer), now is the time to let us know. Please be sure to submit your Application for Certificate/Degree AND RSVP for Commencement via the link in your Bobcat Web Account now. Once you are on the list for Commencement, all communication regarding the ceremony will be sent to your COCC email account. The deadline to submit your application for certificate/degree and still have your name appear in the commencement program has been extended to Tuesday, May 13. That deadline is firm: Tuesday, May 13.

Getting Started at COCC

Are you interested in starting to take classes next term? Whether your goal is a degree with COCC or to just take a few classes, we're here to help you through the steps to enroll in classes! A COCC representative will guide you through time-sensitive steps for enrollment, including federal funding, placement testing, advising/registration, orientation and the use of academic support services. RSVP preferred.

• Bend Campus - Variety of Days/Times, Boyle Education Center, Room 156
  Call 541.383.7500 to RSVP
  May 21  -  5 p.m.
  June 4  -  5 p.m.
  June 6  - 10:30 a.m
  
• Madras Campus - Tuesdays, Room 105
  Call 541.550.4100 to RSVP
  May 13  -  5:30 p.m.
  May 27  -  5:30 p.m.
  
• Prineville Campus - Thursdays, Room 112
  Call 541.447.9233 to RSVP
  May 8  - 10 a.m
  May 22  - 10 a.m
  June 5  - 10 a.m
  
• Redmond Campus - Variety of Days/Times, Building 3, rm 306
  Call 541.504.2900 to RSVP
  May 14  -  5 p.m.
  June 4  -  5 p.m.

7 Success Questions - Before taking an Online Class

Are you ready for an online class?
To be successful, students planning a 3-4 credit online course, might consider the following questions before registering:

1. Do you have time to participate at least 2-3 times a week online as well as dedicate 9-12 hours per week for each course?
2. Are you self-disciplined and able to work independently?
3. Are you comfortable doing a lot of reading and writing on the computer?
4. Do you know that online courses are NOT self-paced?  (They have deadlines and time restrictions)
5. Have you completed at least one term in college?  (Fully online courses are not recommended for most first term students)
6. Are you able to create, save and attach word documents to emails?
7. Are you able to submit documents online, participate in an online forums, and communicate via email?

If you answered yes to the above questions, you may be ready for an online class.  If you answered no to one or more questions, talk with an advisor to select traditional classes to help you reach your goal of taking online classes in the future. 

Online Orientation Requirement at Central Oregon Community College:
You must complete the free Online Orientation before you can register into an online course.  You only have to complete the Online Orientation once; you do not need to repeat it every term.  To sign-up for this free mini course follow this link to the COCC website:  Online Orientation.