One key to success in the 4th Class System shifting from the first 10 days of learning how to be a cadet to achieving a balance between meeting the requirements of being a "knob" and succeeding in their academics. As with any issue we discuss in these articles, each cadet is different - some do it without much effort while others struggle. For many that struggle, we find that they like the military part more than studying because they receive quick feedback on their effort, which in most cases is positive. BUT as shiny as their shoes are, if they don't pass their courses, they won't have a very long career here. They have to find that balance. Part of the answer is understanding that college is different than high school. Another part is taking advantage of the services and support we provide.

Watch These Two Videos!

Preparation and Relationships

After each semester when final grades are published, I receive a number of calls from Parents and Family Members expressing concern about their cadet's academic performance. My advice in 99.9% of the calls is for their cadet to make an appointment right now to meet with our Assistant Provost for Academic Affairs COL Chris Fudge. Chris has a wealth of experience of working with cadets and a real knack for getting them back on track. It would be great if you would watch this with your cadet, but if not, you know who to send them to if they are struggling with their academics.

A few years ago I did the following video of Mark Bebensee who retired in 2019 after spending over 40 years here as member of the faculty and in his final position as the Provost of the College - in his early years he was my Faculty Advisor! In this video he provides a clear description of the challenges your cadet will face academically, pitfalls he's seen in his long career in higher education, and services available to help them succeed. I hope you and your cadet will take the time to view it together.

Building Relationships

I hope this video has sparked some conversations. One area I would like to point out is the building of relationships. We are an institution that prefers to meet in-person verses online - we like making that personal connection. Encourage your cadets to make those connections with their professors and academic advisors. This is good advice for all activities under the pillars found in our Leadership Model - from religious activities to the writing lab. Everyone here wants your cadet to succeed - we would not be here if we didn't. But as much as we try, it is up to them to pursue the relationship. We hope you will share your experiences and how building relationships helped you succeed.

So let's learn about some of those resources by clicking on the Next Button below