Student Success
At Saint Mary's University, we are invested your success. Student Affairs and Services in collaboration with various university departments presents Student Success Workshops and Resources to support your success. We understand that navigating university can be challenging, so it is always helpful to have resources! Reach out any time to learn more about Student Success Resources at studentsuccess@smu.ca.
Learning Skills and Strategies Coaching
Meet one-on-one with Learning Skills Strategist, Emma Sylvester, to discuss learning approaches that will work best for you and boost your academic performance. These sessions provide you with personalized advice and coaching for your specific academic needs. Emma can support you in a variety of topics, including general study skills, exam preparation, reading comprehension, time management, listening, notetaking, organization, procrastination, motivation, focus, and more.
1:1 appointments are currently offered online through Microsoft Teams and in-person.
Study Hall
Grab a study snack and get to work! Study Hall is an open, shared workspace for you to:
- work effectively
- meet and study with peers
- get support on your exams and assignments
- use provided tools and materials
- access resources to inform your learning plan.
Access support from a Learning Strategist, Writing Tutor, Research Librarian, and Peer Coach to boost your academic performance!
Join us every Thursday, 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m., starting January 26th in the Patrick Power Library classroom, LI135.
Workshops for Students
Student Success Workshops
Student Success Workshops are free virtual sessions available to all Saint Mary's students. These workshops cover topics that provide support and guidance to students in achieving their university, professional development and life goals during their time as a student.
Learning Skills and Strategies Workshops
Become a more effective learner, build your self-management skills, and develop new strategies to help optimize your academic performance. Each term, we offer free academic skills workshops designed to support your success in your university studies. Everyone is welcome! Workshop registration opens three weeks prior to the workshop date.
Learning Skills and Strategies Workshops can also be added to your Co-Curricular Record within Career360°.
Download the full Learning Skills Workshop Schedule Winter 2023 (.doc)
Workshop Topics
Get off to strong start this term! Join this workshop to learn our best tips for academic success. Learn and apply strategies in planning, prioritizing, staying organized, and improving healthy and productive habits to start your term on the right foot!
Does it feel like there isn’t enough time in the day to achieve everything you want to accomplish? As a student, you balance many commitments and tasks as a part of, and in addition to, your coursework. Time to level up! Join this workshop to learn effective time management strategies, ensure you are prioritizing efficiently, help you stay on top of your studies, and reduce stress!
Time to step up your study strategies! Develop methods to enhance your study sessions and apply new organizational and hands-on approaches. Learn to engage with course material in a way that will keep you energized, interested, and improve your performance in exams.
In this workshop, you will learn strategies to get 'unstuck' through planning and prioritizing, getting and staying motivated, and overcoming the barriers that may be keeping you from working and achieving to your full potential.
Taking great notes during your lectures is a key strategy for academic success and helps you process and retain new knowledge. How you approach taking notes will vary depending on the class and how you work best. In this session, we'll explore ways of notetaking that will take your course notes to the next level, help you improve your memory and develop helpful study resources.
Developing skills for effective and efficient reading not only helps you keep up in your courses, but allows for continued learning well beyond university. In this workshop, learn strategies to apply before, during, and after reading various texts. Make the most of your reading time!
Being able to focus on a specific task is imperative to accomplishing our academic goals. This skill can be developed with self-knowledge and by making small, practical changes to your learning and studying approach. Join this workshop to understand the factors that impact your ability to work effectively and strategies to help you improve your focus.
Ace your tests and exams! In this workshop we cover the ins and outs of exam writing. We'll discuss tips for answering multiple choice, short answer, and essay questions, approaches to ease anxiety, and strategies to use your time effectively.
Group work is an important aspect of learning and working within and beyond university. This workshop covers strategic approaches to communicate with group members, navigate group dynamics, plan projects, and work together towards a shared goal.
Join the Student Success Centre and Writing Centre to interpret feedback you've received this term and make a plan for moving forward. Whether it's assignments or exams, getting feedback provides an opportunity to learn and grow. Let's do it together!
Learning Skills Resources
Looking for some quick tips to boost your academic performance and enhance your learning experience? Check out these PDF handouts to improve your learning skills!
Time Management
Time Management: Build Your Schedule
Time Management: Identifying Priorities and Challenges
The Pomodoro Method
Weekly Planner (by day, with to-do list)
Weekly Planner (by hour)
Study Strategies
Effective Study Strategies
Mnemonic Devices
Study Log
Academic Mindset
Mindset Maintenance
Overcoming Procrastination
Notetaking
Notetaking Tips
Mind Mapping
Reading
Academic Reading
Writing Tests and Exams
Taking the Exam
Writing Exams: Question Types
Upcoming Student Success Events
Information for Faculty
Invite a Learning Skills Strategist to your class!
A Learning Skills Strategist is available for tailored in-class workshops on various topics related to academic performance including, but not limited to, general study skills, exam preparation, exam writing, time management, note-taking, listening, organization, procrastination, motivation, and concentration. We can also provide a brief overview of how the academic supports available through the Student Success Centre and across campus can help your students.
Workshops can be modified in length depending on the needs of your class and should be requested a minimum of 2-3 weeks in advance.
