Academic Development

Support your academic learning through certificates/workshop series that are offered by the Teaching and Learning departments.

Certificates/Workshop Series that appear on the Laurier Experience Record help you gain skills and expand your knowledge on a wide range of topics. Register and complete the certificate/workshop series directly with the host department. Completed programs will automatically appear on your Laurier Experience Record by April.

Academic Skills (ASk) Certificate

The Academic Skills (ASk) Certificate offers a variety of opportunities that will help you improve your study skills and achieve academic success. The workshops are activity-based and cover a variety of topics. To earn your ASk Certificate you must attend six ASk activities (workshops and study skills appointments) in one semester, with at least five being ASk workshops.

Available in Brantford and Waterloo.

Peer Academic Coaching Sessions (PACS) Program

Peer Academic Coaching Sessions (PACS) is a program designed specifically for first year students on the Waterloo campus and is an excellent opportunity to connect with a senior student academic coach and develop strong academic skills. Students will meet weekly for 80-minutes with their academic coach and will learn from their peers in small faculty-specific groups. Weekly PACS topics and activities will include: Time Management - creating semester, weekly, and daily schedules, Procrastination - learn how to avoid procrastination and prioritize tasks, Note Taking Strategies - making useful and meaningful notes, Reading Strategies - effective reading for online and text materials and Preparing for Midterms and Finals. Students must attend 8 out of 11 PACS to be eligible to add the experience on their Laurier Experience Record.

Available in Brantford and Waterloo during Winter term.

Undergraduate Thesis Writing Program

Writing Services is pleased to offer the undergraduate thesis writing program. The goal of this program is to provide upper-year undergraduate students enrolled in a thesis/capstone course with additional support through the writing process.

This program consists of three main components:

workshops on thesis-related writing topics
a one-on-one writing appointment with a writing professional at Writing Services (virtual or in person) to develop your work
a mini writing retreat (in person) with dedicated writing times to make progress on your project.

The program will be facilitated by Dr. James Southworth, Writing Consultant at Laurier's Writing Services. Email jsouthworth@wlu.ca for more details.

Participants in the program are expected to attend 2 of the 4 workshops, meet with a writing professional at Writing Services for at least one writing appointment, and attend both mornings of the writing retreat.

Available in Waterloo.

Writing Certificate

The Writing Certificate, run by Writing Services, has students participate in individual sessions to systematically develop effective skills in academic writing. You are eligible to receive the Writing Certificate if you have attended and completed at least two writing workshops and two writing appointments during your studies at Laurier.

If you would like to register for a writing workshop and/or book a writing appointment you can do so through the Student Success Portal.

If you have completed the requirements for the certificate, contact studentsuccess@wlu.ca with your student ID# to be verified and have the certificate added to your LER.