Student Success/Social Interaction

This lesson introduces social interaction. In this lesson you will learn about relationships, diversity, accessibility, and student life.

Student activities

Diversity is Beauty

Accessibility

Student life

Objectives and Skills

Objectives and skills for this lesson include:

• Describe benefits of social interaction in college
• Explore the positive effects of diversity in an educational setting
• Define accessibility, and identify implications of accessibility on campus and in communities
• Describe the variety of organized groups available on campus for both resident and nonresident students
• Describe the benefits of participating in student life

Readings

1. Lumen: College Success - Socializing
2. Lumen: College Success - Diversity and Accessibility
3. Lumen: College Success - Campus and Student Life

Multimedia

1. YouTube: The True Reasons College Students Use Social Media
2. YouTube: Empowering Conversations: Diversity and Inclusion at Juniata College
3. YouTube: Surface Level vs. Deep Level Diversity
4. YouTube: Experiences of Students with Disabilities
5. YouTube: Student Life at The University of Maryland
6. YouTube: Campus Activities

Activities

1. Explore student services.
   • Contact the Student Activities office to learn about student organizations and opportunities to participate.
   • Contact the Student Government Association to learn how students are involved in campus leadership and how students are represented in the governance process.
2. Identify your positive qualities and share your story.
   • Review Lumen: College Success - Assignment: Socializing.
   • Reflect on how these positive qualities will be an asset to your college experience.
   • Share your positive qualities with classmates.
3. Reflect on diversity.
   • Review Lumen: College Success - Assignment: Diversity and Accessibility.
   • Review The Critical Thinking Consortium: Finding Another Perspective and complete the three "How would they see it?" activities.
   • Consider how you want to embrace diversity during your college experience.
   • Share your perspective with classmates.
4. Participate in campus activities.
   • Review Lumen: College Success - Assignment: Campus and Student Life
   • Create a presentation describing your experience.
   • Share your presentation with classmates.
5. Blog / Journal / Wiki
   • Update your blog, journal, or wiki page summarizing your experience this week. Include a list of resources and links or contact information for each resource.

Lesson Summary

Socializing

Interdependent relationships are different from dependent and codependent relationships. In dependent relationships, some members are dependent while some are not (dependent people believe that they may not be able to achieve goals on their own). In codependent relationships, there is a sense that one must help others achieve their goals before pursuing one’s own. Contrast these relationships with interdependent relationships, in which the dependency, support, and gain is shared for the enrichment of all.

The potential benefits of social interaction in college include:

• Form deep and lasting relationships
• Develop good study habits
• Minimize stress
• Share interests
• Develop social skills

Effective interactions depend on successful communication strategies:

• Examine your reservations
• Engage with others
• Expand your social circle

Common situations resulting in social conflict include:

• Campus parties and hookups
• Academic problems
• Homesickness
• Too much social networking

Angle your social interests toward people and situations that are compatible with your values and preferences.

Diversity and Accessibility

Diversity generally refers to people around you who differ by race, culture, ethnicity, religion, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, abilities, opinions, political views, and in other ways.

Diversity brings richness to relationships on campus and off campus, and it further prepares college students to thrive and work in a multicultural world.

Accessibility is about making education accessible to all, and and it’s particularly focused on providing educational support to a diverse group of students, faculty, and staff with disabilities.

Students with disabilities have special legal rights to certain accommodations on campus, including:

• Academic accommodations
• Exam accommodations
• Financial support and assistance
• Priority access to housing
• Transportation and access

Campus and Student Life

Organized campus groups may include:

• Student organizations
• Fraternities and sororities
• Diversity and multiculturalism
• Civic engagement and leadership
• Service and volunteerism
• Student activities

Surveys show that student success is directly linked to student involvement in the institution. The higher the level of student involvement is, the higher student grades are and the more likely students are to reenroll the next semester.

Key Terms

interdependence

The mutual reliance, or mutual dependence, between two or more people or groups.

See Also

• University of Houston: Diversity Activities

References

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