Program Design for Newcomers

Program Design for Newcomers a presentation byKen RosenblumTouro College Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law CenterCharlotte TaylorDePaul University College of LawDennis TonsingRoger Williams University Ralph R. Papitto School of LawCarole WastogLouis D. Brandeis School of Law at the University of Louisville

Identifying the goals of your program

Identifying the different ways to meet those goalsThis presentation willconsist of two parts:

What are theGoals of the Program?From the perspective of:The DeanThe Associate/Assistant DeanThe FacultyThe StudentsYou the ASP professional

What are theGoals of the Program?RetentionRecruitment toolsAccess to informationIncrease DiversityResource for StudentsPrevent isolation of minority studentsAppease studentsBar PrepTeach SkillsTeach Substance?Help the bottom of the classTarget at risk studentsMake your school look good

How do you implementthose Goals?Looking at four different case studiesTouro CollegeKen RosenblumRoger Williams UniversityDennis TonsingDePaul UniversityCharlotte Taylor Louis Brandies School of LawCarole Wastog

Program Design for Newcomers a presentation by Charlotte TaylorAssistant Dean for Multicultural AffairsDePaul University College of Lawco-author of Bridging the Gap Between College and Law School: Strategies for Success (Carolina Academic Press 2001)

How do you implementthose Goals?A Case Study DePaulGoals at DePaulTarget & retention of at risk studentsAssist students in jeopardyAccess to informationDePaul began as a program for minority students and has now become a program for all at risk students

Goal Target & Retention of at risk studentsSmall twice weekly classes for at risk studentsOther students can get in from wait list2 strikes and youre outClass focuses on skills and NOT substanceUse as text Bridging the Gap Between College and Law School: Strategies for Success by Stropus and Taylor

Goal Assist students in academic jeopardySmall classes and/or individualized help for students in academic jeopardyDepends on what students need and wantOffer counseling for personal and academic problemsSame focus is on teaching skills (outlining, exam prep, etc. again using Bridging the Gap by Stropus and Taylor)

Goal Access to InformationMonthly workshopsthat focus on skills for all 1st year studentsWebsitethat includes presentations from monthly workshops, tips on time mgmt, outlining, etc., links to websites with practice exams & moreASP library with various study aids for students to borrowMaterials on reserve in law library with videotapes from monthly workshops as well as handouts, study aids, etc.

Remember: two steps to creating or modifying a program:What are the goals of your program?How will you implement those goals?

Roger Williams UniversityRalph R. Papitto School of Law Academic Support ProgramSpring 2002

What well cover . . .Input, Buy-In, Idea GenerationASP Program ObjectivesASP Program Components

InputChrissy MannBruce KoganConferences with Law SchoolFaculty & Administration . . .Laurie BarronKathleen BurchLucinda Harrison-CoxKim BakerRobert KentJohn KunichDebra CohenJessica ElliottPeter MarguliesElizabeth ColtLinda VieiraDiana HasselAndrew HorwitzChristel ErtelCarl BogusKathy MassaLisa McElroyJohn MoffaColleen MurphyChelsie HorneHarvey RishikofDavid RiceEd EberleEmily SackEllen SaidemanDenise RousseauLarry RitchieLouise TeitzTony SimpsonJonathon GutoffGail WinsonRobert WebsterPaul VivierosNancy WaggnerMichael YelnoskyDavid Zlotnick

InputConferences & Luncheons with UniversityAdministration & Law School Student Groups . . .Academic DevelopmentDean Michael CunninghamMoot CourtSecurity Director Bruce BowieMulticultural Law Students AssociationLearning Specialist Laura ChoiniereThe Docket(School Newspaper)SBA Officers & Class RepsLaw ReviewStudent Affairs Dean Richard StegmanClass of 2003Class of 2004AlumniEvening Division StudentsClass of 2002

Academic Support Program Specific ObjectivesProvide a comprehensive network of presentations, activities, tutorials, and workshops designed to stimulate learning and amplify the classroom experience.

Supplement the curriculum with a variety of opportunities to enhance learning skills and develop more efficient, effective methods of studying, comprehending, and writing in the law school environment. Assist students with Bar Examination preparation.

Academic Support Program Overarching ObjectivesPrepare Students for Law PracticeDemystify Law SchoolAccommodate Disabled StudentsProvide SchemaDecrease IsolationMaximize Academic PotentialTeach Students to Teach ThemselvesEncourage Bar Exam PreparationHelp Students Achieve Fluency in the Language of the LawFamiliarize with Law School Exam Preparation

Helping Students Achieve Their Objectives

Achieve your triple objective: Personal best grades First time bar passage Deep, rich foundation for the professional practice of law

ASP Program Components. . . designed to help students develop fluency in comprehension and production, as well as specific classroom, examination, and practice-related skills.

Fall 2002 Program ComponentsOrientation 2002 Weekly writing sessionsEssential skills presentations Simulated examination sessions One-to-one mentoring

Orientation 2002

ObjectiveEmpower the students to learn, so they may begin their law school studies as informed, confident students from the first day of class.

Fall Semester Bridge to Exams

Weekly Writing Sessions(directed toward exam writing)Group instructionImmediate feedbackPrinciples of organizationAutomatization of processEmphasis on analysisThis is the students introduction to exam-answering

Essential Skills PresentationsHow to Brief CasesTaking Notes in Class (& What to Do with Them)Manage Your Life & Manage Your TimeCreating Super Course Summaries (Outlines)Study Environment, Study Tips, Study GroupsPowerful Exam Answering Flow Charts and Graphic Organizers

Your Academic Support Program announces

A lawyers time is her stock in trade.Your time your life is valuable.Learn hands-on management skills every law student should know and every lawyer must know!

You cant afford the time to miss this presentation. Ill show you how to make time for law and life!

Time ManagementA lawyers time is his stock-in-trade.Abraham Lincoln

Busy Lawyers Carefully Balance their Professional Practice with . . .FamilySocialSpiritualPhysicalNeeds & Obligations

How much do lawyers work?8:00 6:00 & 7:30 9:307:00 6:008:00 5:00 & 7:00 9:008:00 5:00 & 6:30 10:008:00 5:00Saturday 9:00 1:30(Example of a light work schedule)

So should busy law students.

That schedule allows for . . .Eight hours of sleep each nightDinner with family or friends each eveningOne night out or with family during the weekFriday nights out or with familyExercise five times during the weekSaturday afternoons and evenings to relaxSundays completely freeLight (or working) lunches each day

Sample One-Week Schedule

MondayTuesdayWed.ThursdayFridaySat.Sunday7:00 to9:009:00 to10:00TORTSCIVILPROC.TORTSCIVIL PROC.10:00 to11:00CRIM.PROC.11:00 toNoonCONT.CONT.LEGALMETH.Noon to2:00LEGALMETH.2:00 to3:00PROP.CRIM.PROC.CRIM.PROC.PROP.CIVILPROC.3:00 to 6:006:00 to 7:307:30 to9:009:00 to11:00

Sample One-Week ScheduleCLASSHOURS15STUDYHOURS40OTHER PARTS OF LIFEHOURS57SLEEPHOURS56

MondayTuesdayWed.ThursdayFridaySat.Sunday7:00 to9:009:00 to10:00TORTSCIVILPROC.TORTSCIVIL PROC.10:00 to11:00CRIM.PROC.11:00 toNoonCONT.CONT.LEGALMETH.Noon to2:00LEGALMETH.2:00 to3:00PROP.CRIM.PROC.CRIM.PROC.PROP.CIVILPROC.3:00 to 5:005:00 to6:006:00 to 7:307:30 to9:009:00 to11:00

Sample One-Week ScheduleCLASSHOURS15STUDYHOURS40OTHER PARTS OF LIFEHOURS57SLEEPHOURS56NOTICE THE

BALANCED

LIFE

Dont let law school overwhelm you!

We help students become lawyers.SPECIAL PRESENTATION ANNOUNCEMENTCreating the Exam-TargetedCourse Summary

Creating the Course SummaryIts like writing your own book!

How to Create Your Course SummaryThink of your outline as a completed jigsaw puzzle put all the pieces of what youve learned into one cohesive picture.

How to Create Your Course Summary (contd.)Break each rule into component parts (elements)Provide the standard, test, and any exceptions for each elementDefine each term(These standards, tests, exceptions, and definitions will eventually provide shape and structure for your examination answers)Important!

How to Create Your Course Summary (contd.)Identify the policy reasons behind each rule, element, standard, test and exceptionWHY?Professors lovepolicy!Summarizing without policy is like learningchess moves without learning whenor why to make the moves . . .

Study Tips

Study TipsRecognize (discover?) your most effective learning styles, and adjust accordingly

http://silcon.com/~scmiller/multiple/multiple_choice_questions.cgiVisual/VerbalVisual/NonverbalTactile/KinestheticAuditory/Verbal Try the Learning Style Survey

Study TipsSQ3R active reading method

Survey (pre-reading)QuestionReadReciteReview

Use of Graphic Organizers

Responding to HypotheticalsHow to answer law school essay exam questions

Exam answer analysisInterweaving begins . . .Ask: How do relevant facts relate to this law?Scrutinize the facts in relation to the lawAsk: Are any facts ambiguous as related to this law? If so

Address alternative interpretationsCongratulations! You have discovered a discussible issue . . .Hint: Usually, Plaintiffs and Defendants have different interpretations

Presentation AspectNever discuss what the professor expressly tells you not to discuss

Always discuss what the professor expressly tells you to discuss

Simulated Exam SessionsStudents who took practice exams in the fall session raised their GPAs by 1.5 points if they attended at least one workshop. Students who actually write out a dry-run test or two are less likely to be shocked into writers block when they face their first real exam.

Kristine KnaplundUCLA Law School

Simulated Exam SessionsThe best way to prepare for your law exams . . . is to take some law exams. If you want to develop a facility for clearly applying the law you have studied to new facts, the best way to do it is to practice at it.

Joseph GlannonSuffolk University Law School

Simulated Exam SessionsTwo-hour Torts sessionTwo-hour Contracts sessionEach repeated several timesThursday, Friday, SaturdayAnswer guides (not answers)Self-critiquing guidesPeer-critiquing encouraged

Bar Exam PreparationPanel of Experts

Conference with Dean of StudentsBar Mentoring Program

MBE Preview Sessions (Litvin)Essay Exam Writing Workshop

Practising (sic) Law Institute Multistate ReviewRWU Professors on R.I. topics

Program Design for NewcomersThursday June 20, 20022002 LSAC National Academic Assistance Training WorkshopCarole A. Wastog

Louis D. Brandeis School of Law at the University of LouisvilleLaw school is affiliated with the university.Total law school enrollment approximately 380 students.One academic support professional, Director Carole Wastog, half-time.

Brandeis Academic Support ProgramJustification of the ProgramSummer ProgramAdvisingTutoringResource LibraryWorkshopsProbation StudentsWeb Page

Justification of the ProgramLower Attrition = More MoneyPlus for RecruitmentHappier Alums = More Money

Summer ProgramMonday through Thursday, 6:00 8:30 pm for four weeksLegal Writing with a law professorFirst-year doctrinal course with a law professorIntroduction to law school, studying, exams, etc. with Academic Support Director.(See Linda Feldmans Summer Program Design on Friday at 1:30.)

AdvisingAssessment for all students (learning styles).Course selectionPersonal concerns affecting academic performance (with severe problems referred to professional counselor)Liaison between students and administration

TutoringOptional attendanceSelection of tutorsTutor trainingFirst-year classes only(See Kristine Knaplunds Using TA s Effectively on Friday at 1:30 pm)

Resource LibraryVarious study aids available for all students to sign out free of chargeMaterials donated by students or publishing companiesStudents help themselvesBenefits for students

WorkshopsTime/Stress ManagementTest-taking tips and study strategiesBar Exam (see Kamita and Nygrens Programs for Improving Bar Pass/Upper-Level Students) on Friday at 1:30pm

Probation StudentsStudents with a cumulative GPA of below 2.0 are required to meet with DirectorStudents responsibility to continue working with Director

Web PageResource library databaseTutoring scheduleWorkshop scheduleLink to other important sites(see ASP Outreach: Technology and Web Design on Friday at 1:30)

Questions?Carole A. [email protected]