Academic Support Services

Academic Workshops

To ensure that there is space, students are encouraged to RSVP to Julie Maxfield, phone: 503/517-7722.  Students who RSVP will also get a reminder email and help ensure that we have enough snacks for everyone. Topics for workshops are student-driven.  If you have a suggestion for a new workshop, or if you missed one of last year's events and would like to see it repeated, please let us know!  All Academic Support Workshops are held in the conference room of the Dorothy Johansen House, unless otherwise noted.

Attention House Advisers:  Any (or all!) of these workshops can travel to your dorm or we can set up an alternative location just for your hall.  Email Julie for more information.

Spring 2012

Academic Goal Setting: Reflect on what went well (and perhaps not-so-well) last fall, and set some achievable goals for the spring.  Whether you have a brand new batch of classes or you're continuing in year-long courses or thesis projects, take this opportunity to orient yourself to the semester ahead and to plan for success.

  • Tuesday, January 17 from 2-3PM (during Paideia)
  • Thursday, January 26 from 4-5PM
  • Tuesday, January 31 from 5-6PM

Preventing Procrastination: Learn the pros (yes, pros!) and cons of procrastinating, explore why so many students do it, and develop strategies to help you overcome destructive procrastination.

  • Wednesday, February 15 from 4-5PM
  • Thursday, March 8 from 5-6PM
  • Monday, March 26 from 6-7PM

Time Management: Time management is more than calendars and daily schedules.  Learn how knowing your style and playing to your strengths can lead to a better personal form of time management.

  • Thursday, February 9 from 5-6PM
  • Wednesday, February 22 from 4-5PM
  • Tuesday, March 20 from 4-5PM
Reading Effectively: Develop strategies for reading more quickly and getting more out of what you read, even when you're pressed for time.
  • Wednesday, February 8 from 4-5PM
  • Tuesday, February 28 from 5-6PM
  • Thursday, April 5 from 6-7PM
Note Taking: Creating a useful record of what happened in class will make exams and papers easier.  Learn strategies for jotting down the right stuff.  (Note taking strategies for reading and research are covered in the Reading Effectively workshop.)
  • Monday, February 13 from 6-7PM
  • Tuesday, March 6 from 4-5PM
  • Wednesday, March 21 from 5-6PM

Survival Skills for Finals: Learn how to study effectively while staying both balanced and focused.  It can be done!

  • Wednesday, May 2 from 2-3PM (during reading week)

Senior Thesis Writing Group: Strategies for overcoming common obstacles in the thesis process.  Open to students from all majors. Facilitated by Laura Leibman (English) and Wally Englert (Classics).

  • Getting Started: Setting goals and deadlines. (Download a monthly planner.)
    • Wednesday, February 8 from 2-3PM 
  • Getting Prolific: Maintaining momentum and producing pages. 
    • Wednesday, March 7 from 2-3PM
  • Getting Perspective: Revising your draft.
    • Wednesday, March 28 from 2-3PM
  • Getting Ready: Orals. 
    • Monday, April 23 from 2-3PM

Past workshops have included:

  • Seeing the Forest AND the Trees: Increasing Reading Comprehension in Hum 110 and Beyond
  • Exponents, Dimensional Analysis, Metric System, Significant Figures
  • Logarithms, Graphs, Linear Equations
  • How To Use a Science Textbook 101
  • Writing in Hum 110 for International Students
  • Strategies for Learning a Second (or Third!) Language
  • Stress Management
  • Class Discussion

Future Topics Could Include: ???  Email your suggestions to Julie Maxfield.