The First Year at Landmark College
We are committed to supporting new students through a welcoming community and supportive academic environment. College students benefit from an intentional approach to education that acknowledges the differing needs and strengths of developing learners. Through curricular offerings, academic advising, and our network of support, we provide an intellectual framework that introduces students to the cognitive, physical, and affective dimensions of learning. Best practices and current research guide our approach to providing an exceptional collegiate environment.
Guiding Principles
- Assignments are relevant and meaningful.
- Course objectives and purpose of assignments are clearly explained.
- Feedback on assignments is frequent and guiding.
- Academic policies, course work, and expectations are explicit.
- Student progress in course objectives is assessed using a variety of methods.
- Study skills and learning strategies are integral to classroom instruction, assignments, and assessment.
- Self-reflection and metacognition are encouraged at every level of the curriculum.
- Academic support services are considered integral to success at Landmark College. These services are introduced in first-year courses and as part of academic advising.
Academic advisors can also provide coaching support for students ready to work on developing the skills and processes that facilitate getting things done. Whether it is managing time, planning and organizing, or regulating mental focus, coaching helps students gain greater control over their academic performance. Through a process of experimentation and practice, students develop skills and strategies that enable them to become increasingly independent and effective in creating satisfying lives at college.
Landmark College specializes in supporting students who have executive function challenges. Both academic support professionals and advisors can provide coaching to students who would like to set goals related to self-management, including:
- Planning and prioritizing
- Remembering to do intended tasks
- Getting started
- Sustaining motivation
- Managing long-term assignments
- Following through
- Balancing academics and social life.
Academic Advising
Landmark College advising takes a student-centered, developmental approach to academic success.
When students first come to Landmark College, they are assigned a core advisor who also can support the development of executive function skills. Core advisors work with students through their first two years, or until they have earned an associate degree.
Advisors help students practice self-reflection, self-awareness, and self-advocacy and work with them to develop the tools and strategies they will need to be successful in college and in life. Advisors serve as guides for students to help them navigate their Landmark College program and the academic and non-academic opportunities available to get the most out of their Landmark College experience.
Once students reach their junior year in a bachelor’s degree program, they transition to working with a faculty advisor who mentors students in discipline-related inquiry, research in the field, and planning for life after college. Coaching remains available through the Drake Center for Academic Support.
All advisors work with students to
- Plan and manage course schedules and degree plans
- Identify academic strengths and interests
- Set short- and long-range goals
- Support access and referrals to campus resources.
At the associate level, academic advisors provide instruction and support in areas of organization, study skills, personal and academic development, course registration and paths to graduation, and self-advocacy. Committed to supporting students in the transition to college, either directly from high school, or as transfer students, the core advising curriculum is especially designed to support students in developing their understanding of their learning strengths and challenges and examining their approach to academics. A hallmark of the advising program is a focus on metacognition and self-advocacy.
Bachelor’s degree students in their junior and senior years work with baccalaureate advisors, who are teaching faculty with credentials in the specific disciplines of interest to the student’s major. Baccalaureate advisors collaborate with core advisors to gain information and insights that will support students’ smooth transition to a model that emphasizes increased student independence, expectations for intellectual engagement, and the application and integration of foundational skills learned in the core advising curriculum. The primary focus of baccalaureate advising is to guide students in scholarship and intellectual inquiry in specific disciplines as well as working with students to connect them with our office of Career Connections for internships and future career goals. All advisors support students in identifying appropriate resources, registering for courses, and understanding academic policies.
Student Responsibilities in Advising
We offer a program designed to help students achieve their goals. To receive the full benefit of Landmark College’s advising program, students need to:
- Regularly attend meetings
- Actively engage in meetings
- Honestly communicate with their advisors about any academic, adjustment, or related concerns which may be interfering with academic progress
- Consistently arrive prepared for advising sessions, and ready to report progress on established goals.
Family Contact
Family support is an important part of the complete communication network that helps students to succeed. We encourage families to consider their students as their primary source of information for how things are going at Landmark College. We also encourage students to regularly communicate progress and concerns to their parents or guardians. We also understand that achieving complete reliance on the student for communicating information is a process.
Core advisors at the associate level serve as the primary source of contact for the families of students in our educational program. Parents or guardians included on a student’s approved contact list will be provided with contact information for advisors at the beginning of each semester. Parents or guardians can contact advisors with questions regarding their student’s academic program and progress.
At the baccalaureate level, it is expected that students will communicate their progress and goals to their parents directly. If families have concerns, they are encouraged to contact the Dean of the School that houses the student’s bachelor’s degree program.
In accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974, it is the policy of Landmark College to provide students with the right to limit the dissemination of their educational records. If a student has not signed a FERPA release, Landmark College cannot release any educational records for the student. Contact registrar@landmark.edu for questions about about FERPA status.
Landmark College provides various support services to help students work with their strengths and challenges to become more aware of themselves as learners. Academic advisors serve as guides through the Landmark College program, working with students to coordinate non-academic and academic resources to meet their goals. Advisors can help students develop a success plan that includes accessing specific resources to meet their goals. Progress throughout the semester is monitored using the campus communication tool “Student Central.” Members of the support network can post notes and recommendations that students and advisors can access to guide progress throughout the semester.
The academic outreach team is an administrative team focused on supporting students who encounter substantial academic challenges. The team routinely monitors students’ progress by reviewing class attendance, course grades, faculty notifications, and work completion. Students demonstrating academic challenges may be asked to create an academic success plan with their advisors. In addition, if needed, a team member may schedule a meeting with the student and members of the student’s support team to discuss the academic success plan and make revisions as needed or introduce new strategies. Students who are unable to make improvements may be scheduled to meet with the Assistant Vice President or Vice President for Academic Affairs.
Upper-division students (juniors and seniors) advised by baccalaureate advisors in their major are also reviewed by the Academic Outreach Team. If a student is struggling, the team alerts the dean with oversight for the major. The dean consults with the faculty and determines the next actions.
Any formal meetings are documented and communicated to the student, advisor, and families of students who have granted FERPA release.
The Drake Center for Academic Support offers individualized academic support to students daily. Trained faculty and staff support students in strengthening their academic skills across many disciplines. In addition to one-on-one and group sessions with Drake Center staff, students are welcome to work independently in the Drake Center to complete coursework. The Drake Center is dedicated to helping students develop skills and strategies so that they may become more confident, active, and independent learners. The Drake Center is in the Lewis Academic Building (Lewis 109).
Brief descriptions of some of our services are provided below. If you have questions or would like more information about our services, please contact the Drake Center for Academic Support: (802) 387-6839 or drakecenter@landmark.edu.
Writing, Reading, and Study Skills
Through individual appointments and group support sessions, students receive assistance with all aspects of college-level writing, from interpreting assignments to the final stages of essay revisions and copy editing. Drake Center staff support the entire writing process and work as guides to help students build confidence and refine their personal writing process.
Drake Center staff support students with active reading techniques to assist them in becoming more effective, critical, and efficient readers. Through individual support appointments, students can strengthen their critical thinking and comprehension of texts.
Drake Center staff work with students to help them develop skills and habits for success in their coursework. Students may access support for notetaking, test preparation/taking, and study strategies.
Academic Coaching
Through one-on-one appointments, Drake Center staff provide individualized support in the development of transferable skills and habits for success in college and beyond. Students receive support with activation, prioritization, planning, and execution of tasks and assignments. Coaching is part of the advising process and is typically supplemented through additional appointments in the Drake Center.
Group Academic Support
Group academic support offers a small-group setting where students can work quietly with the option of setting small goals for work completion with check-ins to help increase focus and production. Group Academic Support is guided by professional staff and is designed to provide students with structured support while they study and/or work on assignments.
Educational Technology Support
Students can work with staff to explore and use a variety of educational technology tools. Students are encouraged to make appointments to review, learn, or enhance their practical application of these technologies.
The Drake Center for Academic Support offers:
- Assistance with accessibility features in the Microsoft Office suite
- Support with Kurzweil text-to-speech
- One-on-one support with applications that support time management, active reading, research skills, and test preparation
- Assistance with applications in phone apps.
Math Support
Math support is provided to students by appointment. Students work with faculty and staff with expertise in math, and with student staff who have excelled in math courses, for assistance with specific courses. Students who use math support use these sessions to complete homework assignments, prepare for tests, and improve their math problem-solving skills.
Science Support
In addition to office hour appointments with individual faculty members, students are encouraged to participate in science support for assistance with coursework. Science support is staffed by Landmark College faculty and professional staff. Typically, students attend appointments for assistance with writing lab reports, understanding complex ideas, textbook study, vocabulary building techniques, and scientific writing.
Computer Science Support
Students can access peer-led, drop-in support sessions throughout each semester. Students may work in the computer science labs on projects while being guided by a peer who has excelled in their computer science coursework. Students may use the computer science labs when classes are not taking place. These labs and drop-in sessions are held in the MacFarlane Center. Hours and locations may vary and will be communicated to students at the beginning of each semester.
Independent Study Areas
Students are welcome to work independently at our designated low-distraction work stations in the Drake Center.
Landmark College uses an online, cloud-based, Learning Management System (LMS) called Canvas.
All courses use Canvas to post grades and other forms of feedback and to provide students with the syllabus for the course. The syllabus includes the goals and learning outcomes for the course, lists assessment tools that will be used, defines how the final grade will be calculated, describes what the engagement expectations are, and provides contact information and office hours for the faculty member teaching the course.
Courses offered 100 percent online will make use of both Canvas and other online tools such as Microsoft Teams. Online courses will include an online orientation. The syllabus for online courses will clearly define instructions for navigating and engaging with the course and how to receive academic support.
Landmark College Library
Located in the heart of the campus, the Library supports students’ intellectual and personal growth.
The Front Desk
This is the initial contact point for everyone who comes to the Library. Students may request research assistance, first-level help with computer software, circulation assistance, and general information at this location. As the sign above this desk invites, we want students to “Ask Us.” The staff member at the front desk also answers questions via live chat from the Library website.
Neurodiversity Collection
The Library offers a comprehensive, in-depth, and growing collection of books, periodicals, and audiovisual material emphasizing neurodiversity, with a focus on attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), specific learning disabilities such as dyslexia, and autism. This extensive collection supports the faculty and staff of Landmark College in providing an exemplary educational experience for our students. As part of the Landmark College curriculum, students may use the collection to learn more about their learning profiles and the evolving fields of learning disabilities, ADHD, and autism.
Online Resources
The Library subscribes to dozens of online article databases that provide access to thousands of full-text journals, magazines, newspapers, newsletters, and reference materials. Many of the Library’s print reference books are also available online, in addition to well over 200,000 e-books. Comprehensive academic streaming video collections allow 24/7 access to educational content from award-winning providers, and a streaming audiobook collection provides fiction and nonfiction titles. Students can use all these resources, as well as the Library’s subject-specific research guides, anywhere on campus through the Library’s website. By using their Landmark College network password, students can access these resources from off campus.
Digital Course Texts
In collaboration with Information Technology Services, the Library provides access to a digital collection of the primary course texts used in Landmark College courses. By adhering to stringent rules to protect copyright, the library can allow students who purchase or rent a print textbook to have additional access to a digital version of that textbook. This service allows students to use various text-to-speech technology tools to read and study textbooks, coursepacks, and other assigned text as needed.
Digital Text Services (DTS)
Digital Text Services, coordinated by Information Technology Services and the Library, provides scanning services and electronic copies of purchased textbooks and course materials. DTS:
- Provides more than 725 course texts formatted for Kurzweil text-to-speech and PDF
- Scans primary course texts (texts chosen by instructors)
- Grants student access to digital copies of course texts
- Helps students find digital copies of other books
- Helps faculty obtain clean hard copies for coursepacks.
General Collection
In addition to its specialized collections, the Library houses a growing physical collection of books, DVDs, periodicals, and other resources appropriate to Landmark College’s liberal arts curriculum. These materials are on the second floor of the Library. They are purchased for various reading levels to support students in their academic work and leisure time. Interlibrary loans are available for items not found in our collection. The general collection currently consists of approximately 28,700 print volumes, 2,100 audiovisual titles, and 120 print periodical titles.
Computers and Wireless Access
A computer lab classroom with 16 workstations is available in the basement of the Library. This lab is used for research instruction, class projects, special faculty and staff training, and as a space for work and study. This space is available to be reserved anytime during class periods, and for quiet study whenever it is not reserved. The entire Library is also set up for wireless access to the College’s network from students’ notebook computers. In addition, the Library has individual workstations with scanners and software for the purpose of incorporating text, audio, graphics, and video into presentations, course materials, classroom activities, and projects.
Help Desk/Technology Support Services
The Help Desk, operated by Information Technology Services, is the main contact point for the notebook computer program, hardware, and network questions on campus. It is located on the second floor of the Library.
Information Literacy and Research Instruction
Faculty and librarians partner in helping students to develop information literacy through small and large-scale research projects, research instruction for classes, and individualized assistance to students. Information literacy, which is the “ability to recognize when information is needed and have the ability to locate, evaluate and use effectively the needed information” (Association of College and Research Libraries), is supported throughout the curriculum as a general education goal.
Study Space
The air-conditioned Library is a popular place to read, study, and relax. Many tables for individual and small-group study are available throughout the Library. For relaxing, there are comfortable chairs and a well-lit atrium area. Next to the basement computer lab is a group study room that includes a large flat-screen monitor to project a student’s computer screen for small-group collaboration. Another group study room on the first floor provides further opportunity for student collaboration. The second floor offers four individual study rooms for use by students individually or in pairs. Study rooms are available on a first-come basis or by reservation.
The use of assistive/adaptive technology can be a necessary tool for accessing and engaging with class materials. In the first year of the Landmark College experience, faculty and staff introduce students to a variety of technology tools .
These tools (such as text readers, graphic organizers, and speech-to-text software) enable students to participate actively in the learning process without the obstacles caused by difficulties with decoding, comprehension, working memory, and inattention. These technology tools can help students improve reading and writing fluency, comprehension, organization, and retention of information.
Students are encouraged to make appointments with an Educational Technology specialist in the Drake Center to receive additional one-on-one instruction.
Career Connections helps students take the next step toward their career, whether securing an internship or job, discussing a transfer plan, or researching academic fields of study and future career paths that will maximize their strengths and skills. The team provides a welcoming space for self-exploration and the development of independent skills needed to pursue careers and other academic programs beyond Landmark College’s.
Career Connections works with students through individual appointments, workshops, campus events, and providing resources for students to work on their goals independently.
Career Connections can help students
- Explore interests and values and how they relate to college and career choices
- Identify career pathways, economic trends, and workforce needs
- Develop résumés and cover letters
- Initiate job searches and prepare for interviews
- Navigate disclosure issues within the employment setting
- Explore internship, volunteer, and related opportunities
- Develop a list of colleges and universities if transferring
- Strategize the components of college transfer applications and essay development
- Prepare for college visits and admissions interviews.
We recommend students begin working on career readiness skill development as soon as they arrive on campus. Students seeking internship placements, employment, or transfer should meet with a Career Connections team member at least two semesters before the intended goal. Landmark College maintains internships and employment partnerships with numerous businesses and organizations across the country, in addition to maintaining transfer partnerships with numerous colleges and universities.
Please see the Career Connections page on the Landmark College website or contact Jan Coplan, Senior Director of Career Connections, for more information.
Study Abroad/Study Away
Landmark College’s Study Abroad (international) and Study Away (domestic) travel programs are designed with our students’ diverse learning experiences in mind. Courses are taught or supervised by our own faculty, and credits earned while on Study Abroad/Study Away can fulfill Landmark College requirements. All StudyAbroad/Study Away trips include academic, social, and cultural support.
Our Study Abroad/Study Away programs help students gain confidence and independence-both academically and personally-while exploring a culture other than their own. Courses are offered at a variety of levels within the College, but a typical program requires successful completion of at least one semester. Some programs have specific course prerequisites. All participants in these programs must be in “good standing” and approved by the Co-Director of Online and Intersession Programs.
See the Study Abroad page on the Landmark College website for information about upcoming study abroad opportunities.
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