Frequently Asked Questions About Academic Skills

Am I dumb or smart?
Neither. To succeed the way you want, it's a question of goals & strategies, not smarts. And remember, the academic environment is an unnatural one: daily, you face many things you don't understand, and this burden would make anyone feel dumb or at least ignorant. But you're a student, and it's the lot of a student to be exposed to a barrage of new information. Whenever you feel overwhelmed by new information, remember, you're not stupid, you're a student.

What is an academic skill?
Some academic skills are just life-skills adapted to the learning-intensive environment of college.
An example: "Time Management," which isn't the management of time. (You can't manage time. You can only manage what you do and when you do it.) Time management is closely connected to monitoring goals and motivation , because you can only decide what you're doing at a given time if you know where you're headed. It's all connected. Part of motivation comes from knowing where you're headed. The other parts come from success at meaningful tasks and supportive people.

Other academic skills involve what some people call "metacognition," or thinking about thinking. Examples are the thinking strategy "concept mapping" and the reading strategy "SQ3R."

All of these skills can be learned, and learning them definitely enhances academic life and life beyond academics.

How can I learn them?
There are workshops offered on a fixed schedule at the beginning of each semester, and workshops are also offered by arrangement with faculty and with student organizations. You can also contact the Coordinator of Academic Achievement (call x5604 or email rgraham@stlawu.edu) to arrange individual consultations. Further, peer tutors also offer a way to help you apply academic skills to individual courses. You could even take a look at the skills, tips, and strategies section on this page!

Where is the office?
Whitman 160: Go in the main glass doors. Turn left. I am in the first office on the right.

When can I see the Academic Achievement Coordinator?
You can make an appointment between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday-Friday. Call me at x5604 or email me at rgraham@stlawu.edu. (An appointment is not necessary to get a tutor. Fill out our online form.)

I've been required by the Registrar and the Academic Standing Committee to meet with the Academic Achievement Coordinator. What does that mean?
It means you've got an easy opportunity to learn some interesting things about your own approach to academics and how to change it. The letter specifies a date by which you need to meet with the Coordinator, because you need to start developing good academic habits EARLY in the semester. If you don't meet with the Coordinator, you're passing up an opportunity to make life easier. If you don't satisfy the g.p.a. requirements in the letter, you'll be suspended for a year. It would be a good idea to check out the section about Academic Recovery.