ACADEMIC COACHING

LSS provides academic support for all undergraduate and graduate students. Students of all abilities, including successful students who want to enhance their academic skills and students who are struggling, will benefit from academic coaching with an LSS staff member. During these one-on-one weekly sessions, we can help students with time management, organization, study techniques, test-taking strategies, test anxiety and more.

To set up an academic coaching appointment, email or call 610-519-5176.

   

Strategies and Resources for Academic Success

LSS provides support for students who want to develop their skills in time management and organizational techniques, study and test-taking strategies and stress management. Review our study tools videos, workshops, handouts, and other resources for academic success to find tips about how to develop these skills.

Tips for Staying Motivated and Managing Your Time

   

How to Communicate with Professors

Effective and professional communication between students and professors is essential.

Chances are, professors will explain their preferred method of communication in the syllabus. Adhering to communication policies is key to success in the course. You should pay particular attention to:

Your professor will likely give you their email address, but occasionally may provide an office phone or cell phone number. In the college setting, email is generally the preferred method of communication, but sometimes phone calls are a more efficient way of asking or answering questions. Think about the best ways to use each contact. For example, suppose you have a question about the course material you are studying for a test the next day, and you send an email at 1 a.m. to your professor. In that case, it is unlikely that they will answer this question until the next morning, or they may not be able to answer before the test. Let’s say you are a distance student and your professor provides you with their cell number. If you are working on a paper at 7 p.m. in California, remember it is 10 p.m. on the East Coast, so think before you pick up the phone.

The professor will let you know when tests are taking place and when papers are due. It is then your responsibility to plan ahead. For example, if you have a paper due on Saturday at midnight, make sure you begin earlier in the week. The professor is more likely to respond to an email on Friday morning rather than just a few hours before the essay is due. Think of this popular saying: “Poor planning on your part is not an emergency on my part.”

How to Write Effective Emails

When you are communicating with your professors via email or other online communication, it can sometimes be tricky because you cannot read a person’s facial expression or hear their tone of voice, but you should endeavor to make each communication professional and meaningful. This is especially important for students in distance classes, as you may never “meet” the professor or your classmates face to face, but still want to interact professionally and effectively with others. Here are some tips:

If you are writing an email to a professor about something potentially uncomfortable, such as a grade challenge or extension, read your email aloud to yourself or a friend before sending it. This way, you can pick up some of the nuances in your writing and ensure that the correct message and tone are getting across to the recipient.

When writing an email, start with a greeting (Dear Professor Smith, Good afternoon, Hello Dr. Jones, etc.) and do a quick spell check before sending it.

Professors encourage their students to ask questions, but when the answer is clearly written in the syllabus or on the course site, there is a chance your professor will become frustrated. Check the course site first before reaching out. Then, try to ask your questions clearly and concisely.

Email Templates You Can Use When Communicating with Professors

Below are a few examples students can use to email their professors when they are feeling overwhelmed and aren't sure how to communicate with their professors. Professors want to help you! It's okay to reach out and be transparent that you're struggling or don't understand something. (These are general templates, not related to accommodation needs.)

Dear Professor,

I am sorry that I have not been able to turn in the last two assignments. Recently, I have been struggling to focus on my work. I have been overwhelmed by my classes and other things that are going on. I am currently working with ______ in LSS to help me better manage my time and balance the work I have.

I would also greatly appreciate the opportunity to work with you to create a plan for how I can make up these assignments.

Thank you,

Student

Dear Professor,

I am sorry that I have missed the last couple of classes. Recently, I have been struggling and overwhelmed and unable to get to class. I am currently working with ______ in LSS to get some support around these concerns and have also connected with the Counseling Center.

I would greatly appreciate the opportunity to work with you to create a plan for how I can make up the work I missed for these classes.

Thank you,

Student

Dear Professor,

I wanted to reach out about _____ assignment that we have coming up. I’ve been reading over the instructions on the syllabus/Blackboard, but I still don’t understand how I’m supposed to approach this assignment or organize my thoughts. I’m feeling a bit lost and overwhelmed, and was wondering if we could find a time to talk this through more, so I could get on track.

This is what I currently understand:

Here are some specific questions I have about this assignment:

Thank you,

Student

 

Dear Professor,

I wanted to reach out about the quiz/test that we have coming up. I’ve been looking over my notes and the study guide on Blackboard, but I still don’t understand how I’m supposed to approach studying for this quiz/test. I’m feeling a bit lost and overwhelmed. I’ve scheduled a time to connect with a tutor and talked to LSS about some study strategies, but I'm not sure if this will be enough.

Would it be possible for us to find a time to talk this through more, so I could get on track? I’m really concerned about the following topics ______ and am not sure how to organize myself to study effectively.

Thank you,

Student

   

How to Contribute to Online Discussion Boards

The discussion board on Blackboard is an important element in many courses, and especially for most online courses. Having a place to write about course material as the class progresses often takes the place of or supplements real-time class discussions. Because discussion boards can be an essential component of the course, it is critical to understand how to contribute effectively.

Most professors will clearly tell students how often they are expected to post. This makes it easy for students to build time into their schedules specifically for this purpose. For example, if a professor requires posting to the discussion board twice a week on different days, schedule times to write posts.

The audience for your posts contains both your professor and your classmates. More often than not, professors require students not only to respond to specific questions or topics, but also to comment on other students’ posts as well.

First, you need to be certain your “original” posts are well thought out, grammatically correct, and on point. Write your original post before reading the thoughts of your classmates, unless the professor requires otherwise. To help you write a concise and engaged post, read the professor’s prompt before delving into the week’s material; then, take notes about what you might want to write about as you read.

When responding to classmates’ posts, be respectful and be certain to agree with or criticize the idea, not the person. They Say, I Say: The Moves That Matter in Academic Writing by Gerald Graff and Cathy Birkenstein has some great templates for engaging in academic discussion. Here are a couple of examples:

  • For disagreeing: “I disagree with X’s view that ­­­­­­­­­­­____________________ because in the reading we learned ­­___________________________.”
  • Agreeing with explanation: “I agree that __________________, a point that needs to be emphasized because so many people believe _____________________.”
  • For agreeing and disagreeing at the same time: “My feelings on the issue are mixed. I support X’s position that ____________, but I also think _____________.”

It is crucial to listen to your professor’s feedback to continue to improve the quality of your work. It is also important to read what your classmates are saying as well, even if you do not agree with them.

   

Student Resources for Taking Online Classes

LSS has developed resources for students to help them be successful while taking online classes. Students should also check out the resources that UTS has put together about Learning Remotely. 

Follow LSS on Instagram @VillanovaLSS for additional study tips and techniques on how to manage your time and stay organized and strategies for managing stress.

TextHelp has created several tools to increase the accessibility of the materials and resources that you need to be a successful student. 

Read&Write

Read&Write is a literacy support tool that has a text-to-speech function and other helpful tools for navigating websites or Blackboard. Check out Read&Write to learn more, download the Read&Write Toolbar to your desktop, or add the extension to your Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge browser. 

 

OrbitNote

You can use OrbitNote to make your PDFs accessible and read PDFs using a text-to-speech function. OrbitNote also provides multiple tools to annotate and interact with your PDFs more effectively. Check out OrbitNote to learn more and add the OrbitNote extension to your Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge browser. 

Important Note

After installing or adding the extension for Read&Write and/or OrbitNote, you will be prompted to sign in. You must use your Villanova credentials. Faculty, Staff, and Students should sign in with Microsoft.

Email LSS to learn more or to get help downloading these tools.

Meditation

Check out these meditation apps, Calm, Headspace, and Insight Timer, to better manage your stress, anxiety, depression, or difficulty sleeping.

Exercise

Going to a gym, yoga or dance studio is a great way to work out your stress. You can also find many online exercise videos and apps to do an in-home workout. You may also enjoy taking a nice walk around your neighborhood.

Mental Health Support

The Counseling Center

The Counseling Center is open and available to help you with personal and emotional concerns. All services are free of charge to current students. 

To get started:

  • Appointments may be scheduled by phoning the Counseling Center.
  • Call 610-519-4050 weekdays between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
  • You will be offered an appointment time that works with your class schedule.
  • Appointments are usually available within a week of your request.
  • The Counseling Center has partnered with Uwill to offer 24/7 telehealth counseling.

Other Mental Health Support Resources

If you find that you are struggling and need someone to talk to, you should also consider reaching out to a Warmline. "Unlike a hotline for those in immediate crisis, warmlines provide early intervention with emotional support that can prevent a crisis - and a more costly 911 call or ER visit. The lines are typically free, confidential peer-support services staffed by volunteers or paid employees who have experienced mental health conditions themselves." If you live in Philadelphia or the Greater Philadelphia area you can call these Warmline numbers. To find a Warmline near you, you can search for Warmlines in your city or county. 

Before taking an online test or exam, it’s important to be prepared for any issues that may arise during the test. Below are tips to help you get ready.

  • Choose a distraction-free space and turn off your phone and other devices.
  • Have the following materials ready:
    • Your computer and power cable 
    • Access to reliable internet  
    • Textbook and notes (if allowed)
    • Writing utensils and scratch paper
  • Follow the rules of academic integrity.
    • Write in your own words; do not plagiarize.
    • Do not contact classmates or share your answers.
    • Do not copy or distribute the exam when you’re finished.
  • Stay on the exam’s website. Use another browser window if you need to look up information (if allowed).
  • Check your work.
  • Save backup information in case you have technical difficulties. For example, write your answers in a document that you can cut and paste onto the online exam.
  • Be sure to click “Submit.” Take a screenshot as a record of completing the exam.
  • Report any technical issues to your professor as soon as possible.

Open-note tests take a lot of preparation. While they are often designed so that the answers are from the material used in class, unless you know WHERE that material can be found, you may not have enough time to look for it. Here are some tips on how to best prepare for these types of exams.

  1. Create study and reference notes using charts, graphic organizers and reference guides to organize main topics, themes, and information. 
  2. Use color-coded tabs in your textbooks or notebooks with separate colors for themes. Put keywords on the tabs.
  3. Brainstorm possible subjects and come up with examples.
  4. For essays: develop an idea and plan an outline by finding the required information and references.
  5. Create an “aid” sheet to help you find and apply your information quickly.
  6. Have extra paper on hand to write down ideas.

Strategies for Taking Online Classes

Falvey Library
Learning Commons
Suite 212

Phone: 610-519-5176
Office Hours: Monday through Friday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.