Foundations of Academic Success: Words of Wisdom (FAS: WoW) introduces you to the various aspects of student and academic life on campus and prepares you to thrive as a successful college student (since there is a difference between a college student and a successful college student). Each section of FAS: WoW is framed by self-authored, true-to-life short stories from actual State University of New York (SUNY) students, employees, and alumni. The advice they share includes a variety of techniques to help you cope with the demands of college. The lessons learned are meant to enlarge your awareness of self with respect to your academic and personal goals and assist you to gain the necessary skills to succeed in college.

Table of Contents:

Part One: YOUR Solid Foundation

The Student Experience by Kristen Mruk

Practice, Practice, Practice by Dr. Kristine Duffy

Why So Many Questions? by Fatima Rodriguez Johnson

These Are the Best Years of Your Life by Sara Vacin

With a Little Help from My Friends by Paulo Fernandes

Part Two: YOU Are the President and CEO of YOU

Can You Listen to Yourself? by Yuki Sasao
Failure Is Not an Option by Nathan Wallace

Thinking Critically and Creatively by Dr. Andrew Robert Baker

Time Is on Your Side by Christopher L. Hockey

What Do You Enjoy Studying? by Dr. Patricia Munsch

Part Three: The Future YOU

Fighting for My Future Now by Amie Bernstein

Something Was Different by Jacqueline Tiermini

Transferrable by Vicki L. Brown

It’s Like Online Dating by Jackie Vetrano

Learn What You Don’t Want by Jamie Edwards

The Open Textbook Network (OTN) promotes access, affordability, and student success through the use of open textbooks.

We believe in the power of open education to transform higher education. Open textbooks not only contribute to student academic success, but also offer faculty the chance to reclaim their courses based on their expertise.

The leadership, actions, and results of our network members drive this transformation, and OTN connects these efforts to pool expertise and promote best practices. Be a part of our community of schools, universities, and institutions making a difference in higher education. Learn about the benefits of membership, get in touch to join, or visit the Open Textbook Library (OTL).

Are you about to undertake a PhD in science, technology or mathematics? If so, this unit will help you to examine your work processes. You will consider and develop the nature of postgraduate work and look at the planning of work needed at doctoral level.

This course is designed to equip the student with the basic academic, professional, and personal skills needed in college. Of course, some of the skills this course presents may take a lifetime to master! Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to: clarify and state your individual educational goals, and formulate specific plans to work towards the goals; design and implement a personal time management plan; identify your preferred learning style; describe and employ critical thinking and creative thinking skills; adequately describe effective listening, note taking, memory retention, and writing skills, and methods for improving these skills; identify and accurately judge the credibility of websites; describe and use different methods of exam preparation; explain test anxiety and list strategies for reducing it; describe the interview process and strategies for successful interviewing; create a resume and a cover letter. This free course may be completed online at any time. It has been developed through a partnership with the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges; the Saylor Foundation has modified some WSBCTC materials. (Try College 101)