Project Renaissance - Student Life Skills (SLS)

The Student Life Skills classes (SLS 0005 & SLS 1103) at Florida Community College provide the essential content needed for students to succeed for college and beyond.  These courses have shown to significantly increase the academic success and retention of college students.  The Florida Community College SLS courses focus on:

• Learning styles and academic skills
• Goals and priorities
• Using technology to succeed
• Teamwork and decision-making
• Long-term planning for career, education and wellness

A September 2005 report by the Florida Division of Community Colleges and Workforce Education shows a remarkable benefit of requiring SLS of college preparatory students.  The report indicates that college preparatory students increased in levels of awards earned, continued enrollment and academic success.  For students who are required to take two or more preparatory classes, the SLS course showed a significant increase (68%) in academic success (earned an award, transferred to the SUS or were still enrolled).  The full report is available for download and perusal here.

The Course Description for SLS 1103 – Strategies for Success in College, Career and Life

This survey course is designed to assist students in developing skills that will help them to succeed in college, career and life.  This course will emphasize how basic academic success skills can be applied in a knowledge-based economy.  Included in this course are problem solving, communication skills, work ethic, introduction to information literacy and other related topics. 

The Course Description for SLS 0005 – Foundations of College Success

This college preparatory course is a complete overview of the characteristics and skills necessary for students to succeed in college.  Course topics include personal skills, campus and community resources, technology, health and well-being, academic skills and relationships.  This college preparatory course does not apply toward the associate's degree.

SLS Requirement Policy

Starting in Fall 2005, students who are placed into two or more areas of college prep will be required to take an SLS course.  For more information, read the FAQ provided here.

The new policy helps the population of students who need the most assistance to become academically prepared to succeed in college.

We anticipate a strong increase in retention of students who have placed into two or more areas of remediation through the implementation and enforcement of the SLS policy.  Retention data at Florida Community College indicates that SLS 1103 can have a significant effect on student success.  Retention rates from term to term increased an average of 10% and the fall to fall retention rates increased 8% (QEP Cohort I Analysis).  

SLS1103 Requirement Policy: Analysis of the Impact on Cohort V

Need an SLS Instructor

Contact Toni Southerland in the Project Renaissance office at 632-3162. 

Want to teach SLS 1103 or SLS 0005? 

To be certified to teach SLS 1103 or SLS 0005, a faculty member must be certified to teach Credit courses within a specific discipline and then complete an eight (8) hour SLS training.  Training is offered on a regular basis through the Florida Community College University (FCCU).  The catalog of current FCCU offerings can be found at  FCCU Web site. To find out more about the SLS Instructor training and hiring process, please read this new FAQ.

SLS training sessions are available each semester. Please check the FCCU catalog for future training dates.

SLS Scholarships

Scholarships are available to pay for the tuition and textbook costs associated with SLS 1103 and SLS 0005.  Students who test and are placed into two or more college prep areas, apply for financial aid and are currently taking SLS 1103 or SLS 0005 may qualify for the scholarship.  More information is available by contacting a campus financial aid office or Rosemary James at 904.632.5021.

Download the SLS Scholarship Referral Form here. If you do not currently have direct deposit set up with Florida Community College, the Electronic Funds Transfer Enrollment Form must also be completed to be eligible to receive the SLS scholarship.

What Students Say about the SLS Courses

The following comments came from student surveys and SLS 1103 course evaluations:

• The important things that I learned during this course are that to be successful in career and college a person must be organized and dedicated. There are many things that have to be juggled to be able to be successful. The student can not let other obligations interfere with the time needed to complete their studies.
• By finding out what my personal learning style is I have found numerous different tips on how to study more effectively and what the best way is for me to take notes and listen to lectures in class.  This will certainly assist me in the coming semesters of my school career and also in the workforce as I graduate school.
• I realize that there is one most important thing that I will take away with me from this class. It will be the time management and organization of time management. I recall this chapter really struck me and I took more personal notes from this chapter than any of the others.  Now, I'm trying to apply these things to my personal life as well as preparing for the future classes.  I have truly taken a lot more from this class than just time management and organization, but these two things were the most important to me. I have had a great time doing this class. It’s been a lot of fun as well as very informative for the future classes.
• "This course taught me how to reach for my goals as high as I can, and expect much more for myself."
• "It helped me find direction in my life, which I think is hard to achieve."
• "This is the most beneficial class I have taken! When I started this semester, I felt lost. My first semester... I lost focus. This spring semester was my first time in class since then and I had a nagging fear that the same thing would happen again. On top of that, I felt discouraged because I still had no idea what career I wanted to go for. I really believe that without this class I would still be lost."
• "I think it should be a requirement for students to take."

Want a Closer Look

The course models are available to view and download.  Each model provides a list of learning outcomes, specific topics, course materials and assessment techniques.

• The SLS 1103 Course Model 
• The SLS 0005 Course Model

SLS 1931: A New Initiative in Project Renaissance! 

We are launching a new initiative in Project Renaissance - the development of one-credit, discipline-specific SLS courses for math, reading, and writing. Designated as SLS 1931, these variable topics courses are designed to help students cultivate effective study habits, strategies, and skills for the specific discipline(s) in which they require remediation. While a one-credit SLS 1931 course does not fulfill the mandatory SLS requirement for students who place into two or more developmental classes, it will help students enhance their ability to succeed in a particular college prep area.

Working in teams of three, faculty will collaborate to create SLS 1931 courses that contain

• A syllabus
• A brief set of guidelines for instructors teaching the courses
• Sets of exercises and activities
• Lists of discussion questions
• Lists of Web resources
• Use of Blackboard as a platform for storing course materials—e.g., the syllabus, instructor guidelines, exercises, activities, and Web links
• A CD-Rom with the course resources.

Beginning in the 2007-2008 academic year, these courses will be taught in tandem with college prep courses. For example, students who place into MAT 0024 might also choose to take SLS 1931 for math, thereby improving their chances for success.

For additional information about this initiative, please contact Toni Southerland .

Resources for Teaching SLS

• Florida Community College has developed a wonderful resource that provides virtually hundreds of activities and materials to help faculty who teach SLS.  The material has been organized into a Student Life Skills Resource CD-Rom which is available to FCCJ faculty members by contacting Toni Southerland by email or at 904.632.3162.
• A FACTing Up – The State of Florida provides a robust tool for creating an academic portfolio
• Q&A with Charles Shroeder on the FYE
• See what SLS students are up to - "An Etiquette Eye for the Sloppy Guy" by Mark Woods of the Florida Times Union
• "Becoming a Master Student" supplemental materials
• Credit Card Monster Movie
• Franklin Covey has released a new version of his famous text for college students.
• Information Literacy is part of the SLS curriculum and a new requirement for FCCJ students.
• National Resource Center for first-year experience and students in transition. This site has an active listserv for individuals to discuss issues related to first year experience courses (i.e. SLS 1103).
• On Course, Inc. – a great student success curriculum and professional development opportunity
• Talk with your student success staff who recently completed training related to this student evaluation tool.
• Brookhaven College keeps a page of free learning styles assessments available for students to access and use.
• Here's a site chocked full of great stuff for SLS classes on how to study.
• Study Guides and Strategies is a great site with lots of information for your students on great academic habits.