The Psychology of Effective Learning - Past, Present, and the Future of CTX

Author’s note: This article is a part of a three-part series that ties the past, present, and future of Concordia University Texas together. Including excerpts from the 1980s-90s student-run school newspaper “The Clarion,” this series will highlight the connections between the past and present of Concordia and provide insights to be considered as we enter the next hundred years.

Addressing First-Year College Challenges

Freshmen and other young people are especially susceptible to struggle in their first year of college. No matter how much college students study, take notes, and prepare for exams, procrastination always seems to appear without fail. According to Tim Frahm from The Clarion, a student-led newspaper for Concordia University Texas in the 80s and 90s, Concordia Texas students from over forty years ago were able to take a course to address this exact problem.

This course, “Psychology of Effective Learning,” was introduced at Concordia in 1984. Particularly, Frahm explained that it was designed to target students who wanted to learn how to improve their “study habits and concentrate on reading.” Not only was this class catered to incoming freshmen, but it was heavily encouraged for all students who wanted to better their learning skills and avoid procrastination. The professor who taught this course, Thomas Mandeville, said that “the purpose of the course is ‘to take you from where you are to where you want to be.’”

Learning How to Succeed as a Freshman

As a psychology major who has personally battled procrastination countless times, I am greatly interested in this class from forty years ago. I would love to be in a class full of people who are also fighting against the current of textbooks, research, and essays. Unfortunately for me in 2026, the Psychology of Effective Learning course is no longer in the running, but there are definitely effective ways I have learned how to study successfully throughout my college experience.

On a panel in front of our Fall 2026 incoming freshman, I was asked by one young person to give advice about improving time management skills. After thinking for a bit, I responded with, “Sometimes you have to fail to succeed.” Although it may have sounded harsh, I meant exactly what Professor Mandeville said forty years ago: To improve my habits, I had to figure out where I was before learning how to get to where I wanted to be.

Tackling Time Management in College

Amidst my six classes and two jobs, my freshman year was more than difficult. It took me time to become familiar with a new lifestyle in a dorm. I had to find the time to balance work and school work. Even then, I still needed spare time for fun. At some point, it felt like I was doing so much for so little payoff. It became clear that in order to get where I wanted to be, I had to let go of some things to prioritize my health. At the time, it felt like failure, but when I look back as a sophomore, I am immensely grateful for what those experiences taught me.

Just like Professor Thomas Mandeville taught in his course, we individually and as a university must reflect on the values and circumstances that shape our identities. My past experiences have prepared me for success, and we at Concordia can look at our history to help shape our future. As a school, where are we now? Where do we want to be?

Recognizing Past, Present, and Future Success

Over the next hundred years, how will we in the present make a positive, lasting impact for the students of the future? For our incoming freshmen of Fall 2026 and those to come, I can assure you that Concordia is here to support you through this process just as you are supporting us.