First-Year Peer Academic Coaching

First-Year Peer Academic Coaches offer peer-to-peer support to help you navigate the transition to university. Our coaching team is made up of successful senior students that want to help you get off to a good start. Connect with a coach to help you build a study schedule, discuss note-taking methods, learn effective study strategies and more.

First-Year Peer Academic Coaches are assigned to each LOCUS and Residence community. 

Coaches are available for:

• One-on-one appointments booked through the Student Success Portal,
• Workshops on popular study topics
• Peer Academic Coaching Sessions (PACS) winter term only 

One-on-one Appointments

• First year students can meet one-on-one with a coach for a 25-minute check-in appointment
• Go to the Student Success Portal to book a First-Year Peer Academic Coaching appointment
• Topics to chat about may include how to: create a useful schedule, reduce procrastination, read digital text effectively, take meaningful notes, study for exams or whatever questions are on your mind! 

Connect with your coach when…

• You are feeling overwhelmed.
• You’re looking for study strategies and advice on how to succeed academically.
• You need some extra help managing your schedule.
• You want to chat with a senior student about life as a university student or to discover opportunities to get involved or volunteer in the Laurier community.

Workshops

The First-Four Workshop Series

Join us for the first four weeks of the semester to learn about the academic strategies needed to start strong and succeed in university. The First-Four series focuses on upgrading time management, note taking, exam preparation, and motivation strategies. Students who attend all four workshops are eligible to add this workshop series to their Laurier Experience Record. Registration in advance is required.

1. Building an Effective Schedule
   • Sept 12 from 2 to 3 p.m. on Zoom
   • Sept 14 from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Brantford Campus or Waterloo Campus
   • Sept 16 from 11 a.m. to noon on Zoom
2. University Note Taking 101
   • Sept 19 from 2 to 3 p.m on Zoom
   • Sept 21 from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Brantford Campus or Waterloo Campus
   • Sept 23 from 11 a.m. to noon on Zoom
     
     
3. Preparing for Midterms
   • Sept 26 from 2 to 3 p.m. on Zoom
   • Sept 28 from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Brantford Campus or Waterloo Campus
   • Sept 30 from 11 a.m. to noon on Zoom
     
     
4. Motivation, Burnout, and Avoiding Procrastination
   • Oct 3 from 2 to 3 p.m. on Zoom
   • Oct 5 from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Brantford Campus or Waterloo Campus -cancelled
   • Oct 7 from 11 a.m. to noon on Zoom

If you cannot attend the First-Four Workshop series, see the Academic Skills (ASk) Certificate for information on additional fall semester workshops. 

Peer Academic Coaching Session (PACS) Program

Winter term only

The PACS program is designed for first-year students to connect frequently with a senior peer academic coach and fellow first-year students to develop strong academic skills to succeed in university. Strategies and topics covered include time management, note taking, effective reading, test-taking, motivation, avoiding procrastination, and preparing for exams. PACS provides support through:

• Weekly, small-group peer academic coaching sessions (PACS)
• Connecting you to peers in your faculty and in the broader Laurier community
• Individual academic coaching appointments with a first-year peer academic coach
• Accountability and connecting frequently to discuss academic success 
• Laurier Experience Record eligibility 
• And much more!

Winter 2023 PACS registration will open in December! First-year, undergraduate students on the Brantford and Waterloo campuses are eligible to enrol in PACS. Students in the PACS program commit to attending weekly 80-minute sessions with their peer academic coach and small-group for the winter semester. Any questions can be directed to laurier101@wlu.ca.