For those who attended Faculty Development Day on August 26, you will have heard Dr. Melissa Granger, associate vice president of academic affairs & student success, discuss who our students are for our incoming fall 2026 undergraduate cohort, of which 45% are coming to SU with college-level credit, from 3 credits up to 73 credits. These students could be coming from high school dual enrollment, bridge programs, or transfers from other colleges and universities. Further, 41% of this incoming class are first-generation students, meaning that they do not have family members with higher education experience. What does this mean for you? - You may have a first-generation sophomore in your class who may not understand the timing, nomenclature, and processes in the higher education space.
- Avoid making assumptions not only in terms of their baseline understanding of the discipline but also of college life.
- Guide students on how to navigate the university, your course, and understand how to succeed as a student.
- Learning 101: Reflect on your teaching style and methods to support varied student learning experiences.
Inclusive teaching techniques such as Universal Design for Learning (UDL), normalizing asking for help, and providing explicit instructions about the course structure, for assignment and grading details, and how to use tools and technology in your course can help support student success. Review our Teaching and Pedagogy articles for more examples and strategies. |
