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Section Four:  Success Strategies

Important Academic Policies

Learning the System

Attending college and managing your academic career can feel overwhelming and complicated. Most students find they grow more comfortable with time and experience. They learn to adapt to a new vocabulary and more responsibility.

The best ways to quick-start your abilities are to:

• take Counseling 100, Orientation to College
• read the Schedule of Classes carefully
• purchase the De Anza College Catalog for the year you start, especially the sections which describe college policies and regulations, and those about your own major
• read this Handbook thoroughly
• ask questions of your teachers and counselors whenever you don’t understand something
• review the Academic Integrity and Student Success Senate Policy of 5/20/02 located on the District and College Policies pages of the Disability Support Programs and Services web site, www.deanza.edu/dsps, or request a copy from your counselor or advisor

Importance of Dates and Deadlines

Little happens automatically in college. Most often actions that affect your academic career must be initiated by you. It is best to follow up for confirmation. Pay attention to deadlines which may apply. After deadlines pass, it may be more difficult or impossible to accomplish your objective.

Watch dates carefully. Registering, adding, paying for classes, filing forms, dropping, withdrawing, applying for credit/no credit, for graduation, etc. all have published deadlines and procedures.

• The most critical dates are always in the Class Schedule.
• You may also watch around campus for posts of essential dates or be sure to read the weekly campus newspaper.
• If you have provided an email address, you may receive email communications from the College or the DSS or EDC program.  Be sure to read them, and don't overlook them by having them in  your "spam" or "junk" folder. Don’t let the “snooze, you lose” happen to you.

"The Paper Chase"

Despite the advent of computers, a paper trail is still your best defense against misunderstandings and mistakes.

• Always keep copies of important documents, communications, receipts, and records.
• Check your grades in your courses and keep your graded work until after the quarter ends.
• Check your official grade /transcript after every quarter to ensure the grades are recorded correctly.
• Make a file labeled “Important De Anza Papers” and keep all college papers in permanent storage.

"Green Sheets" and the Class Syllabus

The “green sheet,” and/or a course syllabus will be handed out in each class at the beginning of the quarter. Always keep these for at least the quarter and become familiar with their contents, which will include at least:

1. the instructor’s purpose and description of the course
2. the required materials
3. the attendance policy
4. the grading policy
5. contact information for the instructor

They may also list specifics of the course requirements, including a schedule and details about assignments and exams.