The research is clear: soft skills are the key to college success, as much or more than academic skills. A student who applies himself or herself consistently is more likely to complete a college program than a brilliant student who lacks responsible habits.
All our students must learn and practice a number of soft skills in addition to the
academic skills needed for transition to college-level work. Soft skills are taught
in every WTMC class for the first 5 weeks of the first semester.
These are just a few of the skills that we teach to help students find success at the college level and beyond:
- time management
- attendance
- accepting responsibility
- proper methods of communication
- goal setting
- decision-making
- conflict resolution
- organization
Soft skills are reinforced during the second 5 weeks and evaluated during the final
5 weeks.
Soft skill grading scale:
R = recommended for college coursework. This student has demonstrated both effective self-management skills and academic proficiency in this subject area.
S = soft skill credentialed. This student has demonstrated effective self-management skills, but has not yet demonstrated academic proficiency in this subject area.
N = needs improvement. This student needs to improve in one or more soft skill areas before being ready to self-manage in a college class.
Students must receive soft skill credentials from all of their WTMC instructors in order to transition to WCC classes. Students failing to demonstrate adequate soft skills in college classes, which results in a failing grade, may be returned to WTMC classes.