2022ASKGuide

We hope that the kit helps you get through the end of this semester ‘supply-wise.’ This guide was developed to help you identify some of the academic challenges you faced this semester so that you can find solutions to overcome these challenges next semester.

Survey Results

Demographics of Participants

Campus Services

centralized, effective, and professional evaluation, preparation, and testing services in a caring, sensitive, and concerned environment. Click HERE to learn more.

The Henderson Library in Statesboro & Lane Library on the Armstrong campus provide information resources and top-notch research services to support the University's academic programs as well as the intellectual requirements of students, faculty, and staff.

In addition to being able to check out equipment, book study rooms, and ask for help finding appropriate sources for coursework, you can also request books or materials from the other campus’ library within one or two business days without charge (generally). Click HERE to learn more about the library’s services.

Writing Center

The Writing Center provides walk-in or scheduled sessions both in person and virtually. Their staff can provide you with a tailored critique on your essays, case studies, presentations, applications, and more. It is important to note that the Writing Center does not proofread papers (finding and correcting all thegrammar and/or punctuation errors), but they will make suggestions, help you organize and develop your thoughts, provide resources, and show you how to proofread effectively. Click on this link to register and make an appointment. Click HERE for detailed instructions about registering and holding online appointments.

Dean of Students Office

The Dean of Students office supports, develops, and guides students by connecting them to campus / community resources, helping them remain academically successful during times of stress, and providing services that ensure student success. Some of the services they offer include:

● Providing Faculty Notifications In the event of student illness, injury, or extenuating circumstances, the DOS office will notify professors at his or her request. However, a student notification is not an excuse for missing class. The University does not issue excuses to students for class absences. Click HERE to Learn More or Submit a Notification Request.

● Food Pantry Resources The Dean of Students Office has two resources based on-campus locations that are designed to help support students experiencing food and hygiene insecurity. Click HERE to learn more about requesting access to the Captains Cupboard (Savannah Campus) and Eagle Essentials (Statesboro Campus).

● Helping Students Withdraw From University

There are multiple reasons a student may need to withdraw from the university and there are various withdrawal types. Because there are a lot of logistics involved in this process, the Dean of Students office can counsel students on how to withdraw in a way that is best for students personally, academically, and financially. Click HERE to learn more about this service.

● Hearing and Following Up on Student Complaints

The Dean of Students

Office is committed to treating all members of the University community fairly in regard to their personal and professional concerns. The primary objective of the student complaint guidelines is to ensure that students voices can be heard and they receive a response from the appropriate person regarding concerns they raise through the student complaint procedures. Click HERE to learn more about the complaint process and how to officially file a complaint.

● Helping Students Appeal Grades

The Dean of Students office can walk through the appeals process with students should they feel their grade was not what it should have been based on student performance. Click HERE to learn more about the steps that must be taken to appeal a grade.

● RaisingFundsforStudentsthroughtheEaglesforEaglesprogram

The Eagles for Eagles fund is an initiative to raise money for Georgia Southern students in extreme financial hardships. Students may apply for a one-time financial award to help them during their crisis, which also helps themremain enrolled. Click HERE to learn more about contributing to the fund or applying for support.

Student Accessibility Resource Center

The Student Accessibility Resource Center (SARC) partners with students, faculty and staff to facilitate disability access essential to advancing an inclusive campus experience. Access and accommodations ensure equal opportunity for students with disabilities to participate in all of the programs, activities and services designed to transform our students into global citizens.

Some of the services SARC offers are providing students with accommodation letters, access to note taking services, test proctoring, access to alternative formats of texts, captioning services, sign language interpreters, early registration, equipment loans, building access solutions, and more. It is important to note that SARC does not test for disabilities and a student must apply for access to services prior to receiving accommodations. This includes providing SARC with required documentation and meeting with a staff member to determine the services each individual student needs. More information about requesting services can be found HERE.

Student Support Services

The Student Support Services (SSS) program provides comprehensive services to first-generation students, low-income students, and students with disabilities. The primary goal of SSS is to help transition, retain, and graduate students at Georgia Southern.

Through our services, we provide opportunities for academic development, assist with college requirements, and serve to motivate students toward the successful completion of their undergraduate degree program. The SSS program offers the below services and you can click HERE to learn more.

● Individualizedacademicadvising. Participants are paired with a SSS Advisor to assist with their academic, career, and personal growth throughout their college career.

● Priority tutoring. Participants have access to Mathematics and English tutoring facilitated by the SSS program. In addition, tutoring arrangements are made for students who need individualized or group help in various subjects taught on campus.

● Financial aid assistance. Our SSS staff works with participants to research and apply for financial aid and scholarship opportunities.

● Financialliteracycounseling. Through workshops, participants learn how to understand debt, budget their fiscal resources, and make informed financial decisions.

● Career exploration opportunities. Working with the partnering programs on campus, participants are provided with opportunities to better position themselves for a career after graduation.

● Graduate and professional school admission assistance. Participants are provided resources to prepare them for graduate school admission examinations, campus visits, interviews, etc.

● Cultural enrichment experiences. SSS sponsors one cultural event each semester. These events are designed to give students the opportunity to be exposed to, engage in, and/or embrace other cultures or culturally enriching experiences.

● Mentoring. Participants cultivate a one-on-one relationship with their assigned staff members. This aids in the facilitation of academic and personal support throughout their academic career.

High School vs College Academics

A lot of students who are academically successful in high school are surprised with how hard transitioning to college leve academics can be. Below are some of the common difficulties students face with this transition and things to keep in mind to overcome these challenges.

HIGHSCHOOL COLLEGE CONSIDERATIONS

Parents & Teachers are Your Advocates

You are Expected to be your OWN Advocate

You will need to find out what motivates you to succeed and not expect others to step in when things do not go as planned. You are responsible for your own success and the university is not typically required to provide information to parents / allow them to make decisions on your behalf.

The schedule is predetermined and aids in controlling how you use your time

You receive multiple progress reports for your overall grade throughout the year

You are expected to manage and control your own time with little structure

You receive grades once a semester and there may not be milestones along the way to help monitor your progress

You need to learn how to balance your time in new ways and hold yourself accountable. Don’t forget to schedule in things like sleep, studying, project time, and eating.

It can be a surprise at the end of the semester to find out you got a C- instead of the A you thought you were getting. This can be especially hard if you only have a couple of graded assignments. Find ways to track your own grades, talk with your professors about improving your grade, and don’t wait till the end to do either of these items!

Some time is required to receive your desired grades

For each hour in class, it is estimated that you must to complete 2 hours of studying to receive desired grade

The university determines how many hours of credit each class is by the number of hours spent in and out of the classroom. While in high school you may have only had to do some assignments on your own time, in college the course is designed with the assumption that you WILL do two hours of work each week for each class.

Knowing this, you can put weekly holds on your calendar for each class and use that time to do your studying and projects. Make sure to look at your syllabus to know when the big projects will be.

It’s a lot easier to stay motivated when you know there is someone who will know and want to talk to you about your grades on a regular basis. While you may still have those folks in college, it is a lot easier to skirt around the truth if you are not meeting their / your own expectations.

You’ll need to find the ways to motivate yourself and hold yourself accountable. This could be through use of time management tools, incentivizing yourself for a job well done, attending peer coaching at the ASC, joining study groups, etc. Just try multiple things to find what works for you and hold yourself to that method..

Here’s a big perk! You can choose more of the things you’d like to do. From classes, to what professor, class time, to extracurriculars - there are more choices. Some items still will be set (major requirements, available options, etc), but for the most part you can learn what works best for you and try to build a schedule off of those needs.

The cost of college is no joke. It’s a lot. Part of staying motivated is having an end goal for WHY you are getting this education. Knowing how the college experience will benefit you will help you stay motivated to continue and justify the cost in your mind when navigating challenges.

Keep in mind that there are plenty of people willing to help you navigate financial concerns - but ultimately you are responsible for applying for scholarships, reviewing your expenses, finding supplemental income, etc.

Your Learning Style

Identifying your learning style is an important tool to understanding how you study and work the most successfully. According to Ricardo Garza in his article “Individual Learning Styles and Learning to Code,” here are his suggestions on the best ways to study based on your learning style. While geared toward learning how to code, these tips work with all disciplines.

VERBALLEARNERS

CLICK HERE TO FIND YOUR LEARNING STYLE

Verbal learners, also known as linguistic learners, learn best through the written and spoken word. Users of this style enjoy language, reading, and writing. Chances are you love words. One of the keys to becoming a great programmer is reading documentation. Most courses and resources greatly emphasize this. Use this to your benefit. Re-reading documentation, rewriting your notes, using mnemonic devices, acronyms, diagrams, and other strategies will help improve your memory.

Verbal Study Strategies:

● Take the time to sit down and write, write and rewrite your words and notes.

● Try rewording main ideas and principles to gain a deeper understanding.

● A good idea is to try organize diagrams, charts, and graphic organizers into statements.

VISUALLEARNERS

Visual learners prefer the use of images, maps, and graphic organizers to access and understand new information. They tend to learn seeing information delivered through pictures or other types of graphic presentation. Chances are you love your text editor due to the colors it uses to refer to specific code. Mind maps, diagrams, and images are your best friend. Mind maps are visual representations of thoughts and ideas that demonstrate how they are related. Opt for coding resources that use diagrams or images. If you take notes, try incorporating colors in a similar fashion to the way text editors work. Or sketch out concepts or layout ideas to develop your projects.

Visual Study Strategies:

● Utilize graphic organizers such as charts, graphs, and diagrams.

● Redraw your pages from memory.

● Replace important words with symbols or initials.

● Highlight important key terms in corresponding colors.

Auditory learners best understand content through listening and speaking in situations such as lectures and group discussions. Think audio books, podcasts, lectures etc. Aural learners use repetition as a study technique and benefit from the use of mnemonic devices. There is so much vocabulary we need pick up as new coders. Auditory learners have the advantage of benefitting from hearing them being used.

Auditory Study Strategies:

● Record your summarized notes and listen to them on tape.

● Talk it out. Have a discussion with others to expand upon your understanding of a topic.

● Reread your notes and/or assignment out loud.

● Explain your notes to your peers/fellow “aural” learners.

PHYSICAL/KINESTHETICLEARNERS

Students who are kinesthetic learners best understand information through tactile representations of information. These students are hands-on learners and learn best through figuring out things by hand. (i.e. understand how something works by taking something apart and putting it back together.) Some of the characteristics of this group are movement, manipulation, and being hands on. This type of learner tend not mind broken code because they enjoy fixing it. They enjoy the transformation process of taking information and building it into a project.

Kinesthetic Study Strategies:

● Use real life examples, applications and case studies in your summary to help with abstract concepts.

● Redo lab experiments or projects.

● Utilize pictures and photographs that illustrate your idea.

LOGICAL/MATHEMATICALLEARNERS

Logical learners rely on logic and reasoning to make sense of the information they receive. If you are a logical learner you like working through problems, understanding cause and effects, and running simulation-type games. They tend to like to workflow applications, read documentation, and utilize libraries that utilize an understanding of hierarchy. Learning to code is all about problem solving so these learners really benefit from rolling up their sleeves and working on coding puzzles, challenges, and games.

Logical Study Strategies:

● Break large amounts of material down into segments and finding ways in which these segments relate.

● Look for patterns, associations and relationships between concepts in order to maximize understanding.

● Make the information personal to your own life, if possible. If you are able to see a pattern and compare it to personal experience in some way, you will begin to make sense of the information.

SOCIALLEARNERS

Social learners, or interpersonal learners enjoy working in groups. These type of learners thrive on sharing ideas and hearing the suggestions of others. A key to remembering information for this group is working together in social settings such as study groups. They should take advantage and connect with a study partner or two when possible and take turns going over material and testing each other. Chances are you’d enjoy participating in a local Hackathon, attending a coding meet-up, or any other kind of study group.

Social Study Strategies:

● Set a time and place to meet together with a study group. If you meeting with classmates in person is not possible, consider forming virtual study groups through Slack or Zoom.

● Take turns teaching each other. Each can can take a portion of the material and create a lesson to share with the others.

● Talk to a friend or family member about your educational pursuits. Explain what you’re learning or ask them to quiz you.

SOLITARYLEARNERS

On the opposite of the previous learning style we have solitary learners. Also known as intrapersonal learner, this type of learner needs quiet time alone in order to best process information and grasp concepts. Rather than thrive in a group, this type of learner may find themselves overwhelmed or distracted in a group setting. They will best benefit of reading on their own and taking the time to pause when needed to ensure comprehension. If you are a solitary learner there are an abundance of resources to research online and coding challenges you can attempt in your downtime.

Solitary Study Strategies:

● Setup a quiet and personal space at home or a space available to you. It will help you get in the right mindset to focus on academic work.

● During each study session make time to write down goals and set deadlines for completing them.

Organizing Your Time

HowToManageYourTimeEffectively

1. Break it down

Once you know the desired outcomes, work backwards and break it down into activities. Think about each step you need to make it happen.

2. Use your calendar

Block out chunks of time to dedicate to your project. This is non-negotiable focus time!

4. Prioritise your list

Look at your list for today - what’s the most urgent thing you need to get done? Make that number 1. What's the most important? Make that number 2.

5. Communicate with others

If your co-workers, employees, clients or even family do not understand what you need to accomplish, you’ll find yourself with minimal support. So, communicate!

7. Consider the time of day

Match your work patterns to when your mind is the sharpest to operate at peak productivity as you work on your project.

3. Set Up Reminders

From the moment you’re aware of the deadlines you’re working towards, put reminders in your diary. Prepare yourself ahead of time.

6. Reflect on Your Own Habits

Reflect on your habits and tendencies and create incentives so you don’t fall victim to the. Make sure it’s an incentive that will actually work for you!

The Academic Success Center has multiple printable resources you can use to help you stay organized. Below you’ll see a list of the resources they have and you can click HERE to access these documents.

Using Google Calendar to Organize Your Schedule

THIS website is great at showing you step by step how you can use your Google Calendar (Every GSU email has access to this service) to organize your schedule and academics. Here are some of the items the article covers: ● How to make a class schedule ● How to mark important dates ● Repeating Events ● Setting Up Notifications

Additionally, did you know that you can connect Folio to your Google Calendar automatically. Click HERE to see how!

Test Anxiety

What is test anxiety?

Test anxiety is a type of performance anxiety, similar to an athlete feeling extremely nervous before a big game, or an actor getting stage fright in front of a big crowd. When you have test anxiety, you might experience:

A little stress and nervousness before a test can improve your concentration and alertness. But if these feelings are so severe that they interfere with your ability to perform ontests,youmayhave test anxiety

Four Tips to Reduce Test Anxiety

Sufficient Sleep

According the the National Sleep Foundation of sleep and older students need 10 - 11 hours of good sleep to be at their best. Getting enough rest is important not just for your overall health, but it can also improve your ability to focus, learn, and retain facts.

Stress-Relief Yoga Poses

Relaxation Techniques

Calming exercises such as yoga, meditation, and deep breathing can be an effective way to reduce test anxiety and settle your nerves. Consider doing a couple minutes of stress-reducing yoga or a couple of breathing exercises prior to going into a test. Bonus, you can benefit from practicing these techniques on a regular basis, beyond exam day.

Content adapted from: https://blog.innerdrive.co.uk/overcome-test-anxiety

through. Junk food can cause your sugar to spike,

Growth Mindset

Stress and anxiety go hand-in-hand with negative thoughts and self-criticism. Work on keeping a growth mindset to overcome these feelings. Remember, this challenge is a snapshot in time and improvements can be made to improve performance in the future.

You can also think about foods that are known as “Brain Food.” Consider eating some of these

Speaking with professors

10TIPSFORCOMMUNICATINGWITHYOURPROFESSORS

Stay focused and ask questions:

Pay attention in class, to the syllabus, and to Canvas. Professors have different ways of managing their courses. Be as aware as possible of any expectations in advance. This will prepare you to interact with instructors in a clear, meaningful way

Plan your availability in advance:

After you have narrowed down what it is that you are wanting or needing to discuss, include the topic(s) and the days/times you are available in your request to the professor.

Introduce yourself:

This makes it more likely that you can develop a personal connection gradually (or proactively) versus waiting to correspond as a response to an extenuating circumstance.

Maintain professional interactions:

Even in a casual professor-student environment, be clear, direct, and sincere in all interactions. Introduce (or reintroduce) yourself, including the specific course and section you are enrolled in. Make eye contact during in-person meetings.

Express gratitude:

Most professors have a multitude of students and limited time. Let them know you value their time and appreciate the opportunity to connect.

Narrow down your reason:

Have a specific communication plan and/or purpose in place prior to opening up a conversation. Additionally, Prioritize scheduled Office Hours as the opportunity to connect whenever possible. Consider utilizing The Learning Center’s “Preparing for Office Hours” worksheet.

Check in regularly:

Take advantage of in-person opportunities to clarify course content or to receive indications of what will be on an exam or part of a future assignment. Consistent communication oftentimes improves your overall communication.

Be accountable:

Ultimately, your success in your course is up to you. The syllabus has likely outlined expectations and professors see you on a weekly basis to communicate key information. Approaching your professor with a sense of responsibility is important.

Listen before you respond:

Make sure to be an active listener and respond in an intentional way. This can improve your synthesis of information shared as well as the overall outcome.

Ask for help:

Course-specific assistance is provided by Peer Leaders (fellow students) through the resources provided through both your professors and the university. You might also consider reaching out to your Faculty Advisor through your major department,

Content adapted from: https://myusf.usfca.edu/sites/default/files/users/hrietman/Communicating% 20with%20Professors_%20Ten%20Practical%20Suggestions.pdf

Taking Poor Grades Home

Going home for the holidays can be a welcome break to a long semester, but it can also be a nerve wracking experience if you are dreading a conversation about grades. Below is some advice to help you break the news and move forward in a positive way with those who may be upsetwithnewsaboutpoorgrades.

PrepareYourselffortheConversation

PicktheRightMoment&GetintheRightMindset

Talking to your supporters at an already stressful time, while they are in the middle of something, when they are just coming home from work, or waiting till the end of break isn’t the time to break the news. Determinea time that everyone is free from major responsibilities and in a good mindset.

Before YOU go into the conversation, prepare a little. Think about what you are going to say and how you want to say it. Prepare yourself for some of the questions you might get and your honest answers to those questions.If needed, see if you have a friend who will let you practicewith them first.

Then find a way to clear your mind before. If you go into the conversation already stressed or defensive, it will be hard to have an positive result to the conversation. You can take a walk, listen to music, play a game, etc. Just make sure you are calm before starting the conversation.

Adapted from: “How to Show Your Parents a Bad Grade” by Hilya Tehrani and “How to Tell Your Parents You’re Failing a College Class” by Kelci Lynn Lucier

TimetoTalk

When it is a good time to talk and you are in a good headspace, ask your supporters to sit down and talk to you about a concern you have.

Don’tOver-Explain

Be direct when you are explaining the issue. Saying things like “I might get a bad grade,” “I’m not doing well in my class,” or “I’m pretty sure I’m getting an F - but you never know!” aren’t going to help you. You don’t want to have the conversation multiple times - so just rip off the bandaid and tell them directly what has happened and what you are going to do to bounce back from this challenge.

BeRespectfulandTakeResponsibility

It's easy to have a comeback ready to go in your head, but you don’t have to react from a place of defensiveness or blame. If you know what the issue was on your end, own that responsibility. If you go into the conversation blaming everyone else for the grade, your supporters might not take you as seriously. If you are respectful and calm with them, plus you admit your own mistakes - it shows a lot of maturity.

Being honest about what you could have done better and being mature about the situation will help your supporters react from a place of care, rather than anger. But prepare yourself that they could be disappointed, angry, worried, etc. Give them time to take in the situation, ask their questions (with honest answers from you), and be patient with them. Remember, they are imperfect people too.

FindSolutions

NOTE:

There is a difference between being angry or frustrated and being abusive. If you are afraid of being treated inappropriately, please reach out for help.

Some solutions may include using academic resources or changing your study habits. But it also could be changing your living habits. Did you have a hard time with just this class or all your classes? Were you not managing your time well enough or were you not dedicated to your studies enough? Did you utilize campus resources or planners to organize yourself or just use the same habits you used in high school? Do you need to cut back on activities, organizations, or work to give yourself more time to study? Can you take fewer classes? These are all questions that may help you make a plan to succeed in the spring.

Campus Directory

StudentAccessibilityResourceCenter(SARC)

Accommodation requests, note taking, technology help, early registration, alternative textbook formats, etc.

Savannah: Memorial College Center, 2nd Floor 912-344-2572

Statesboro: Cone Hall, 2nd Floor 912-478-1566

AcademicSuccessCenter

Academic workshops, tutoring, peer mentors, academic coaching, etc.

Savannah: Student Success Complex 912-344-2570

Statesboro: Henderson Library, Suite 1303 912-478-5371

StudentSupportServices

Individualized services for first generation, low-income and/or students with disabilities. Includes academic advising, mentoring, financial aid assistance, etc.

Savannah: Solms Hall, Room 212 912-344-3023

Statesboro: Rosenwald Building, Suite 1051 912-478-2387

UniversityLibraries

Accessibility services, interlibrary loan, study rooms, printing, research help, etc.

Savannah: Lane Library 912-344-3027

Statesboro: Henderson Library 912-478-5647

WritingCenter

Writing development, writing appointments, grammar and reference questions, etc.

Savannah: Lane Library, 1st Floor in back corner 912-344-3072

Statesboro: Henderson Library, 2nd Floor 912-478-1413

CounselingCenter

Individual and group counseling, support groups, emotional wisdom sessions, retreats, workshops, outreach, etc.

Savannah: 7000 Compass Point 912-344-2529

Statesboro: Forest Drive, Building 435 912-478-5541

TestingServices

Proctored testing, exam preparation, etc.

Savannah: Memorial College Center, Room 206 912-344-2582

Statesboro: Cone Hall, Room 2004 912-478-5415

Military&VeteranServices

Savannah: Victor Hall, Room 148 912-344-3600

Statesboro: Centennial Place, Building One 912-478-6872

DeanofStudents

Report an incident, conduct, grade appeals, faculty notification letters, withdrawals, student complaints, etc.

Savannah: Student Union D206 912-344-2514

Statesboro: Russell Union 2022 912-478-3326

HealthServices

Insurance, medical appointments, health promotions, immunizations, etc.

Savannah: 7000 Compass Point Building 912-961-5726

Statesboro: 984 Plant Drive 912-478-5641

CampusRecreation&Intramurals

Gym, fitness assessments, personal training, intramural teams, injury prevention/care, outdoor recreation services, etc.

Savannah: 11935 Abercorn Street 912-344-3136

Statesboro: RAC at 2687 Bunny Akins Boulevard 912-478-5436

Career&ProfessionalDevelopment

Career development courses, major & career exploration, resume & cover letter review, interview preparation, internship, co-op, and job fairs, etc

Savannah: Solms Hall, Room 104 912-344-2563

Statesboro:Forest Drive Classroom Building, Room 1200 912-478-5197

FinancialAid

Financial aid, FAFSA forms, scholarships, grants, financial literacy programs, etc.

Armstrong: Victor Hall, 2nd Floor 912-478-5413

Statesboro: Rosenwald Building, 2nd Floor 912-478-5413

OfficeoftheRegistrar

Academic standing, graduation information, transcripts, etc.

Armstrong: Victor Hall, 1st Floor 912-478-5152

Statesboro: Rosenwald Building, 3rd Floor 912-478-5152

Bursar’sOffice

Tuition & fees, student loan & financial aid refunds, cashier’s office, student accounts, etc.

Armstrong & Statesboro: Deal Hall, 1st Floor 912-478-1724

UniversityPoliceDepartment

Registering your bike, non-emergency medical issues, car issues, report a crime / weapon in the Halls, etc.

Armstrong: 11935 Abercorn Drive 912-344-3333

Statesboro: 1220 Forest Drive 912-478-5234

UniversityHousing

Change

Savannah: Compass Point, Room #7000, 2nd Floor 912-344-2940

Statesboro: Watson Hall, 1st Floor 912-478-5406