Academic Success Programs
Waterloo Programs
Athlete Academic Success Program
The Athlete Academic Success Program (AASP) provides Laurier’s varsity athletes with academic assistance regarding learning strategies and study skills in a manner that accommodates their training and competition schedule so that they can achieve their full academic potential.
This program includes study halls to assist student athletes with their studying, and workshops to assist student athletes with their learning strategies and study skills development.
Athlete academic coaches are your fellow varsity athletes who achieve success both in the classroom and on the field of play.
Workshop content, times and locations will be discussed in study hall.Academic Coaching for Athletes
- You can arrange academic coaching appointments with your academic coach during study halls.
- You can schedule appointments with a learning strategist through the Student Success Student Portal.
Note: You can track your attendance through the Student Success Student Portal.
BU121 Academic Success Program
Winter 2020 Workshops:
In this four-part workshop series, students will identify their academic strengths and challenges and develop a plan for success in BU121. Students will explore and implement study strategies to learn course material in a way that increases comprehension and decreases the need to cram for tests. Topics covered in the workshop series include time management, metacognition, reading and note taking strategies, avoiding procrastination, and how to prepare, study, and write midterm and final exams. Students who complete all four workshops in this series are eligible to add the opportunity to their Laurier Experience Record.
Please note: Registration for these workshops is mandatory and will close at 9:00 a.m. on the day of the respective workshop.
Managing Your Time Effectively
Date: Friday, January 17th from 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. | Room: SB106
In this workshop, you will learn more about your academic strengths and challenges and start developing a plan to mitigate these challenges and set yourself up for success in BU121. This workshop will focus on time management strategies and how to have a strong start to your semester. You will learn this through a combination of instruction, completing self-reflections and developing a long-term plan.
Reading and Note Taking Strategies
Date: Friday, January 24th from 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. | Room: SB106
In this workshop, you will learn how to engage in proper active learning techniques and higher order learning. This workshop will focus on reading and note taking strategies that will help you to learn course material in a way that increases comprehension and decreases the need to cram for tests. You will do this through a combination of instruction, self-reflections and developing a short-term plan.
Preparing and Studying for Midterms
Date: Friday, February 14th from 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. | Room: SB106
In this workshop, you will learn about different types of exam questions, how to study for them, and how to answer them. You will do this through a combination of instruction, self-reflections, and developing a study schedule for your reading week.
Avoiding Procrastination and Preparing for Final Exams
Date: Friday, March 27th from 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. | Room: SB106
In this workshop, you will learn how to reflect on previous tests and use that reflection to prepare for future tests by adapting your study strategies. This workshop will also focus on identifying procrastination triggers and how to keep focus while studying. You will do this through a combination of instruction, self-reflections, group work, and developing a study framework for your final exam.
Notes
- You will need: A computer, access to the Internet, access to MyLearningSpace.
- You can register and cancel your workshop registration through the Student Success Student Portal. Your eligibility to add the workshop series on your Laurier Experience Record will be determined at the end of the term.
- If you do not attend a workshop you have registered for, you will be un-registered from all other BU121 workshops.
uStart Academic Success Program for New Students
uStart Academic Success Program is for new students that have been admitted to Laurier with an average that is slightly below entrance requirements. The program provides support through workshops, individual academic coaching, and peer mentor groups to help you get off to a strong start at Laurier.
Our goal for you in the uStart program is to help you move out of the uStart program! All students who start in uStart will be able to move into their preferred program after first year as long as you have the high school requirements and meet the first-year progression requirements.
As a student in the uStart program you will be assigned an uStart advisor who you will meet with regularly to help with your course selection, discuss your program and career plans, and ensure that you are on track to meet your goals. You will also attend biweekly peer mentor sessions with other uStart students to help develop your study skills. Mentor sessions are led by senior students trained by the Student Success team and topics include time management, note-taking and test-taking strategies, critical-reading strategies, introductions to campus resources and more.
Outside of the academic coaching meetings and peer mentor sessions, you are just like every other student at Laurier! You can apply to live in residence, participate in extracurricular activities, use the athletic complex and participate in on-campus events. In fact, we encourage you to get involved in all aspects of campus life.
"Having one less class is very beneficial for my transition. Some of the strategies shared were of a lot of help and the academic advisor appointments were key!"
– uStart student, 2016/2017 cohort
"The uStart program has made my transition to university much more manageable and enjoyable. The program provides me with resources that not a lot of students know they have. It also allows me to share my struggles with other students and it teaches us new ways to approach things academically."
-uStart student, 2019/2020 cohort
Questions? Contact the uStart team at ustart@wlu.ca
Next Steps
After the deadline to accept your offer to uStart Laurier (June 1, 2020), you will be contacted by a uStart advisor to set up a time to discuss your course registration. You can choose to meet in person or by phone and you will complete your course registration during this meeting. You will also be asked to sign the uStart academic agreement (to make sure we are all on the same page) and fill out a uStart student profile so we can learn more about you (to help us prepare an individual study and resource plan). Course registration for first year students opens mid-June so we encourage students to book an appointment within weeks of registration opening.
All incoming uStart students must complete the uStart Student Profile Form prior to their registration appointment with their uStart advisor in June. Important uStart information and next steps will be emailed to all incoming September 2020 students on June 4th. Please check your email address that you applied to Laurier with.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why can I only take four courses a term?
A: uStart is designed to help ease you in to university-level studying and many first-year students find that five courses is a big change from high school. With four courses, you will have time to ensure you meet all of your course requirements and the lighter course load gives you time to develop your study skills. Many students choose to take one or two courses in the summer terms so that they don't get too far behind, but this is not a requirement of the program.
Q: Will I be able to apply for OSAP?
A: Yes, you are considered a full-time student while in the uStart program and are eligible for OSAP as well as Laurier bursaries. You should choose Honours Arts as your program on your OSAP application.
Q: Will I take the same courses as other first-year students?
A: Yes! All the courses that you register for are the same courses that are open to all first-year students and you will receive academic credit for all of the courses that you complete successfully. You are not able to take business or math courses in your first year, however you are able to take these courses after you move out of the uStart program and would be able to complete the Management Option in future years.
Q: Can I transfer into another Honours program after first year?
A: Yes, you are able to transfer into any open program after your first year as long as you have the high school prerequisites and meet the program’s first-year progression requirements. Students from past uStart cohorts have moved into Psychology, Sociology, Communication Studies, Biology, and Computer Science. Note that you will not be eligible to transfer in to Business Administration, Health Sciences or Kinesiology.
Q: What are the requirements to move out of uStart?
A: To move out of uStart after first year, you must participate fully in the program (attend mentor sessions and academic coaching appointments) and be in good academic standing. Decisions to 'graduate' from uStart are done on a case-by-case basis, but most students will have to meet a minimum 4.0 GPA (C-) after first year.
Brantford Programs
GPA Program for Students Struggling Academically
Goals, Plans, Achievement!
Have you recently had a difficult term and want to get back on track?
Are you on academic probation and need to raise your over GPA?
Learning Skills and Development offers a support program for students who are struggling academically, have been removed from their program of study, or are on academic probation. Our specialized GPA Program support is designed to assist students improve their academic performance. Students can join the GPA Program at any point in the term.
As part of the GPA Program, students work with our team of peer mentors and professional staff for on-going support throughout the term. We will help students understand their strengths and areas of challenge when studying and writing and help them develop the skills they need to succeed academically.
For more information about the GPA Program or to book an appointment, email lbwritelearn@wlu.ca.
STEP Program for Mature and Transfer Students
Strengthening Transitions through Educational Preparation (STEP) Program
You’re invited to register for a specialized support program developed for mature and transfer students. The STEP (Strengthening Transitions through Educational Preparation) Program is a free 6-part workshop series that runs once a month through the academic year. It is designed to help you prepare for the rigors of a university education, feel confident about your learning skills, and connect with other mature and transfer students. In a small group format, you will have the opportunity to discuss school-life balance, listening and note-taking, library research skills, reading strategies, preparing for exams, academic writing, personal goal-setting, and planning for year two. Pick and choose workshops of interest to you, or register for all six!
- September – Getting Ready for Success
- October – Reading & Research Skills in partnership with the Laurier Library
- November – Exam Extravaganza!
- January – Everything You Need to Know about Academic Writing
- February –Transferable Skills for Personal Success in partnership with the Career Centre
- March – Building on Success: Next Steps in partnership with the Transition and Orientation Coordinator
Log into the Student Success Portal for workshop descriptions, dates, and times.
Peer Language Support Program for Multilingual Learners
Multilingual learners who would like language support in one of their courses can request to be matched with a peer through the Peer Language Support Program. The purpose of this program is to connect multilingual learners with classmates in order to receive course-specific support. Students meet once per week to discuss lectures, readings, and assignments.
For more information about the Peer Language Support Program, email lbwritelearn@wlu.ca.