COUNS-150 - Student Success - Anthony Morris

Introduction

Welcome to Counseling 150 – Student Success! My name is Anthony Morris and I am a Faculty Counselor here at College of the Canyons. I am excited to guide you through an insightful course that will help you reach your academic, career, and personal goals. 

Course Description

Counseling 150 - Student Success is designed to integrate personal growth, critical thinking, creative thinking, problem solving and academic success. The course introduces the student to the benefits of higher education, educational planning, goal setting and career choices. The student is guided through the process of self-discovery, which emphasizes the importance of self-awareness, self-responsibility and self-empowerment.

After completing this course, you should be able to:

1. Develop stronger interdependence skills

2. Analyze motivation and create greater growth mindset skills

3. Create a plan of action to take charge of one’s life

4. Apply self-management techniques to become more effective and efficient in the accomplishment of goals

5. Identify self-defeating patterns of behavior and create a plan to overcome them

6. Develop emotional intelligence and decrease stress

7. Understand and examine time-management, procrastination, values, information processing, and goal setting

8. Apply critical thinking skills for effective decision making

9. Develop and employ effective study skills techniques

What to Expect in this Course

During this semester, students will be expected to complete the following activities:

1. Assigned Readings
2. Student-lead discussion posts: You will interact through online discussions with classmates each week related to the current unit being discussed.
3. Watch online video lectures.
4. Complete individual homework assignments covering course material, handouts, online research, and assessments.
5. Weekly quizzes based on material covered during the week or on a particular subject area.

As a reminder, this course is an 8-week, 100% online with class with no face-to-face meetings. You will be expected to be self-motivated, self-disciplined, an independent learner, and have the time required to complete the class. It will be expected that students will spend between 6 to 10 hours per week for this course.

Types of Assessments

Students can expect the following types of assessments:

• Weekly quizzes based on material covered during the week or on a particular subject area.
• Weekly online discussion boards.
• Individual homework assignments (to be submitted in Canvas).
• Culminating project

Textbook Information

Required Textbook:

We will be using Open Educational Resources (OER) materials for this course, which is a free digital textbook. A digital copy will be listed in Canvas along with a hard copy on reserve at the Valencia and Canyon Country Libraries. If you wish to purchase the Counseling 150 OER text, you will be able to do so in the bookstore for about $10.

Other Relevant Course Information

Canvas Information:

We will be using Canvas as our online classroom and you will be expected to log into Canvas various times each week in order to keep up with discussion boards and weekly assignments. I will be posting announcements, assignments, and discussion items that you will be expected to participate in, at the beginning of each week. Keep in mind that all assignments and discussions must be completed by the posted due dates.

First Day of Class:

You will be required to login AND complete a discussion board post by the end of the first day of the class (11:59 pm). Failure to login by this time and complete the discussion board post will result in being dropped from the course. 

**If you are on the “waitlist” and are still interested in adding the class, please email me for an add authorization (to register for the course) on the first day of the class. Add authorizations will be approved if virtual seats open. I will not add students after the add deadline/drop deadline, even if you were on the waitlist.

I highly recommend you take a look at the online tutorials provided on the COC Canvas site, to assist you in being a successful online student: https://www.canyons.edu/academics/onlineeducation/online/index.php

Final Thoughts

Are you ready for distance education? If you do not know, please take the following distance learning self-assessment from COC’s Online Education department: https://www.canyons.edu/academics/onlineeducation/studentsupport/readyforonline.php

• Canvas Student Guide: Canvas tutorials for navigating Canvas @ https://guides.instructure.com/m/4212

If you have any questions that need to be answered in advance, feel free to send me an email @ anthony.morris@canyons.edu. I will respond to you within 48 hours and please write COUNS 150 #77740 in the subject line.

I’m looking forward to working with you this semester! 

Anthony Morris

Additional Resources

Canvas

This course can be accessed on the first day of class via Canvas at https://coc.instructure.com. Log into Canvas using your CanyonsID single sign-on:

• CanyonsID Username is your COC student email address (Ex: username@my.canyons.edu)
• CanyonsID Password is your COC student email password

Please visit the Get to Know Your Online Classroom page for help logging into Canvas and for tips on using Canvas and Zoom. Canvas Chat Support is also available 24/7 for any Canvas related issues.

Online Education

Check out the Online Education website for more information on a variety of topics that can help you be a successful online student such as: exam proctoring, learning styles, computer skills, and tips for student success. If this is your first online course, feel free to take our online learning readiness assessment to assess your skills.

The Learning Center (TLC)

The TLC provides FREE online tutoring resources to COC students!

Academic Accommodation Center (AAC)

College of the Canyons AAC provides educational services and access for eligible students with documented disabilities who intend to pursue coursework at COC. A variety of programs and services are available which afford eligible students with disabilities the opportunity to participate fully in all aspects of the college programs and activities through appropriate and reasonable accommodations. For more information on their services visit the Academic Accomodation Center website.

Online Counseling

The Counseling Department offers appointments online. You can schedule an appointment by visiting the Online Counseling website. Counselors can help you map out a plan to reach your educational goals as well as advise you on course selection and registration.

Management of Stress and Mental Health

Often the pressure on our students is very strong, involving academic commitments, relationships, outside jobs and family pressure to name a few. The staff and faculty of College of the Canyons are here to see you succeed academically and care about your emotional and physical health. You can learn more about the broad range of confidential student services, including counseling and mental health services available on campus by visiting the Student Health & Wellness Center in the Student Services Building (across from the bookstore). The phone number is 661-362-3259 that you can call 24/7. You can also e mail for an appointment at StudentHealthCenter@canyons.edu. At the Canyon Country Campus the Health Center will be in the new Student Services Building.

Also, the National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline number is now 988. All students at COC are encouraged to enter that phone number in their cells. You can call it when you, or someone you know, is having thoughts of suicide or is in severe distress.

You can also now use the Crisis Text Line: Just text "Courage" to 741741. Someone will get back to you immediately. Its free, 24/7, and confidential.

Veterans Resource Center

The College of the Canyons Veterans Resource Center is a department within the Student Services Division at the college, created to help veterans and veteran dependents with applying to College of the Canyons, enrolling in classes, and requesting VA Education or Vocational Benefits. For more information please visit the Veterans Resource Center website, email veterans@canyons.edu or phone (661) 362-3469.

Library

The Library provides live online and in-person research help, access to a full range of e-resources and physical materials that support the curriculum, individual and group study areas, and much more!

Last updated: 08/15/2024 Sub#: 1805