A Guide to Goal Setting
Whether you’re setting personal academic success goals or goals specific to completing your Academic Probation (AP) and/or Success Support Plan (SSP) requirements, it’s great to have somewhere to start. Check out this list of goals and action steps to use as a starting point to develop your own goals as you progress at CCA and beyond. Tips in this guide:
For further resources to support your success at CCA, explore Learning Resources
Anatomy of a Goal
Action word + Subject + How you will achieve the action
- Use the SMART Goal template as a reference point: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound
- Check out Bloom’s Taxonomy, a useful framework for determining what words to utilize in order to establish clear goals for yourself based on your intention
Examples of Goals
- Organization
- Create a regular, balanced weekly schedule
- Improve time management skills and study habits
- Keep a healthy mindset throughout the semester
- Academic Performance
- Improve academic performance and progress
- Improve course attendance, participation, and grades
- Be proactive in checking grades and academic progress
- Faculty Connection
- Communicate regularly and clearly with professors, asking follow-up questions as needed
- Begin communicating with professors early and establish good communication throughout the semester
- Resource Utilization
- Seek out support when I am facing difficulties with academic, health, or personal issues
- Career Development
- Find an internship or job related to my major to learn more about my field and get hands-on experience
Examples of Action Steps
- In order to: Improve time management skills and study habits
- Connect with an academic coach to establish a good study routine
- Use and try multiple organization tools like a physical planner for assignments and google calendar for courses
- Explore campus to find working spaces that fit my needs
- In order to: Begin communicating with professors early and establish good communication throughout the semester
- Review Student Success Guide: Questions to Ask Professors
- Work with my Advisor to brainstorm questions to ask and information to share with my professors including drafting some template emails for future use
- Email or talk to all my professors each week around class time or during office hours throughout the semester
- In order to: Improve academic performance and progress
- Build a communication plan to consistently communicate with my professors.
- Maintain good attendance and review the Attendance and Engagement Policy. Follow up with professors as needed on confirming unexcused versus excused absences.
- Participate in coaching / tutoring by scheduling appointments with Academic Strategy + Writing Coaches