Common Advice for

Uncommon Success
Top 40 Courses

Spring 2015

What is Top 40?

O A faculty initiative to increase student

success
O Defines behaviors that lead to success
O Addressed in the 40 most common
courses for Freshmen and transfers
O A set of five common items that will be
communicated to students at the
beginning of each semester
O You are expected to ACT on this
information

1. Syllabus
O READ THE SYLLABUS.
O The syllabus lays out the program of

study for the semester.

O It is your responsibility to be fully and
accurately informed of the provisions in the
syllabus and the relevant University policies.
O If something is unclear, please bring it to my
attention and suggest alternative wording.
O DO NOT ask me to read the syllabus

to you. Not today, not ever.

2. Attendance
O Attending class is essential to your

success.
O The opportunity cost you pay for each

75-minute class is approximately $250.

O Cutting class becomes a selfperpetuating mistake.
O Arrive on time and prepared for class.
O Attendance is expected. This is the

equivalent to showing up for work a

good start.
O Attendance is not required in this class.

3. Late Work
O There is no such thing as late work in

this course.
O The business world does not change
deadlines or award "do-overs." Get used
to delivering your best effort on time.
O This course is carefully scheduled.
There are no surprises.
O Put deadlines and exam dates on your
calendar and set alerts far enough in
advance to help you be prepared.

4. Mid-Term Grades
O Your grades are posted in Moodle.
O There are no grading surprises.
O The grading criteria are laid out on the

syllabus.
O I report mid-term grades of D or F as
required by the University.
O If you don't get a mid-term grade in
this class, you have at least a C at midterm.

5. Classroom Behavior
O You have a responsibility to
O Maximize your learning, and
O Minimize your negative impact on your

classmates.
O Specific behaviors are set out in the syllabus:
O Stay for the entire class time. Stay awake. No
O
O
O
O

side conversations.
Take notes by hand only.
NO ELECTRONIC DEVICES AT ANY TIME.
No tobacco products.
Miss a class? Get the notes from a classmate.