About iStart Smart

What is the iStart Smart Program?
CGCC’s student success program, iStart Smart, is a program designed to help new students succeed through placement testing, personal advisement, new student orientation, and a student success class.

Interesting facts:
48% of students who begin taking courses at community college do not finish, first year students who take a college success course increase their retention rates by an average of 23%, and ASU requires all first-time incoming freshmen to take a college success course.

Who is required to participate?
While CGCC recommends that every first year student take a college success class, CGCC requires students take a college success course in the first semester if they are new to college, have placed into ENG071/081/091, RDG071/081/091, OR MAT082/091/092, and intend to register for 12 credits or more (full-time student status).

What are my student success course options?
AAA115 – Creating College Success
AAA115 helps students develop effective academic, self-awareness, and self-management strategies.  Course characteristics include:

• One (1) credit (Transferable to ASU, NAU & UofA)
• Five (5) weeks in length
• Stresses self-awareness and self-responsibility
• College transitions issues are covered
• Strategies introduced include time management, interpersonal/multicultural communication, and college resources and terminology
• Students clarify and develop educational goals
• Students create an educational action plan

CPD150/AAA115 -  Strategies for College Success
CPD150/AAA115 is known as the Master Student Course.  It is an in-depth college orientation course focused on student success through personal awareness, study skills development, and educational and career planning.  Course characteristics include:

• Three (3) credits (Transferable to ASU, NAU & UofA)
• Full semester in length (twice a week for 75 minutes)
• Introduces study skills in time management, test taking, note taking, test anxiety, organization, memory techniques and more.
• Students learn campus resources, personal and educational goal setting, communication skills, and career-decision making.