EOF Program Support

Student Development Specialists assist students with developing educational plans that are compatible with their life goals; they advise students on how best to adjust to the academic and social demands likely to be countered while attending college.

• All of our Development Specialists hold advanced degrees in a variety of educational fields. Students can expect our advisors, as they are more commonly known, to be good listeners, able to establish rapport with them, and use an assortment of strategies to promote their personal growth and development. When working with students our EOF advisors engage the total person. They work with students on multiple goals tied to meeting their academic, career, financial, and personal/social needs. Their work involves both short-term and long range planning and identification of options for handling pressing issues needing immediate attention.

Career Development  

• Career Exploration
• Co-ops/Internships
• Mentoring Programs
• Graduate School
• Admission
• Job Search
• Career Advancement

Co-ops / Internships

"Co-op and internship programs can offer you the opportunity to learn how to:

• explore and clarify your major and career goals with professionals in the field, so you'll know if the field is right for you
• develop knowledge, competencies, and experience related to your major and career goals - you'll know you can do it and how to do it better
• gain practical employment experience that employers look for when hiring college graduates
• take responsibility for your own learning and create a more rewarding college experience
• establish a network of professional contacts, mentors, and references for life after graduation."

Students enrolled in our EOF Program, in developing their career development plans in consultation with EOF counselors and Cahill Center staff, are strongly advised to include co-op/ intern work experiences that will help them explore the practical application of their classroom learning and jump-start their careers.

Mentoring Program 

Much has been said about the importance of mentors and the positive influence they can have on people’s lives. Most people who get ahead in life don’t do it by themselves. There are people who have helped them get to where they are. There are people in their lives who have helped open some doors for them, and people who by example have been an inspiration to them. We in EOF, and through the involvement of the college’s Cahill Center and Alumni Affairs, provide students in their junior and senior years with such mentors.

Developmental Courses 

According to national studies, about 75% of our 4-year colleges and universities offer remedial or developmental courses in one or more subjects (National Center for Educational Statistics, 1996). At Ramapo, under the leadership of the Center for Academic Success, developmental courses are offered in reading, English, and math.
Developmental courses in general do count towards the grade point average. Students in trying to discern differences between the colleges they are applying to should note many other New Jersey colleges do not allow developmental courses to be weighed in determining a grade point average. Ramapo does. 

Our program for in-coming freshmen, provides students the opportunity to strengthen their reading, writing, math and communication skills prior to the start of their first semester at Ramapo. Further enrollment in developmental courses during the school year may be required based on summer course placement, the course performance, and the recommendation of faculty. All developmental courses are developed by the Center for Academic Success.

Instructional Support 

Supplemental Instruction Program: The Supplemental Instruction (SI) model involves the student looking to master content for a particularly difficult course, an SI leader or peer who facilitates the student’s learning within group study sessions and attends all class sessions, and the instructor for the course who chooses the SI leader and affirms and supports the SI leader’s importance to enhancing the l

earning experience. SI is attached to courses where 30% or more of the EOF students enrolled have not performed particularly well. First and second year students are placed in designated SI course sections.

General Tutorials 

One to one and small group tutoring are provided for additional highly difficult courses. In some cases, the tutors attend class sessions on a periodic basis; and all tutors are approved by faculty they are assigned to. First and second year students are assigned to designated faculty agreeing to work with the assigned tutor. Most courses are in the areas of math and science. Fall 2002 courses included Principles of Chemistry, Fundamentals of Biology, Anatomy and Physiology, Math Applications, Pre-Calculus, and Microeconomics. Thirty-five students participated and only 3/35 or 8% withdrew from these courses.

College Reading and Study Skills (CRSS): 

Are all students prepared to adjust to these differences? What do they need to know that can help them excel in their studies? Our college reading and study skills course is designed to introduce learning strategies that have been proven to promote academic success. The course was developed by faculty with an expertise in the area. Topics covered:

• reading for main ideas
• setting goals and managing one's study time
• building active reading strategies
• expanding and developing vocabulary
• understanding methods of organizing information
• taking lecture and text book notes
• preparing for exams
• preparing term/research papers