If your student reaches out for advice about balancing their time and course requirements, the Center for Learning, Teaching, and Research (CLTR) offers new resource guides filled with practical tips and strategies.
Published earlier this semester, these materials are designed to be easily accessible reference points to help students find their footing as they navigate both academic demands and life outside the classroom.
Assistant Director for Student Success Jessica Murray developed the guides to address the complex daily schedule all students must learn to manage. “The transition to college is a significant one, and one of the toughest adjustments involves time management,” says Murray. “In high school, students become accustomed to a programmed, predictable schedule with constant outside input. In college, however, they face gaps in their schedules, varying routines, and a new level of freedom. Even students with the best intentions can struggle to adjust to these new parameters.”
The following guides offer a roadmap for navigating these responsibilities, from managing a daily calendar to deepening classroom engagement:
- Time Management: This guide helps students implement macro to micro time management tools by coordinating the use of a calendar, planner, and to-do list while explaining how they function independently and together.
- Metacognitive Learning Strategies: Focused on the art of ‘learning how to learn,’ this guide provides strategies for every stage of a course—before, during, and after class. It helps students move beyond simple memorization toward higher-level skills like application, synthesis, and creation.
- The Study Cycle: The Study Cycle provides a step-by-step procedure for active learning. By moving away from passive methods like simply re-reading notes, this guide encourages students to engage with the material and identify knowledge gaps well before they sit down for an exam.
Beyond the Guides
The Center for Learning, Teaching, and Research provides support for all students, whether they are struggling with a specific assignment or looking to implement long-term academic strategies. For those who feel they need more hands-on assistance, the CLTR offers a variety of personalized resources, including academic coaching, study groups, and peer tutoring.