Want to level up your studying habits? How Academic Support can get you there

When Brantley Newsome arrived at Auburn as a freshman two years ago, she immediately immersed herself in a demanding fall class schedule, including rigorous science courses with challenging lab components. As a biomedical sciences major from Birmingham, Alabama, Newsome quickly realized the need to change her study habits to survive her first semester.

“I came in a bit too confident in myself and was taking too many hours,” Newsome said with a laugh. “I had done well in high school, but as a freshman in college, I became overwhelmed quickly and soon realized that I wasn’t going to be able to do this by myself anymore.”

Eager to better manage her course load and reduce her stress levels, Newsome paid close attention when a fellow chemistry student mentioned the free resources available through Academic Support.

Located in 2234 Haley Center, Academic Support plays a crucial role in advancing student achievement by fostering self-directed learning strategies and promoting student success. The unit offers essential programs such as Academic Coaching, Study Partners and Supplemental Instruction (SI). Designed to help students develop productive habits, these programs help students adopt productive mindsets and build essential study skills early in their Auburn journey.

Jaime Miller, the center’s director and noted expert in student retention and success, recognizes the key benefits students have by taking advantage of these and other campus resources early in the semester.

“We know these services contribute to retention and degree completion for Auburn undergraduate students,” said Miller. “If students embrace and apply the habits, mindsets and skills they learn, we believe it will lead to a strong academic performance each semester.”

Put me in coach

Navigating the transition to college life can certainly be challenging, but with the right resources, it is certainly achievable. Academic Coaching provides a personalized approach to help students manage the complexities of demanding coursework and competing priorities. Students can create goal-oriented plans tailored to their unique habits, interests, skills and aspirations by working one-on-one with a graduate-level academic coach.

The coaches are skilled in guiding students to devise effective strategies and offering details about accessible resources, including time management, exam readiness and focus. Students work with their coach to develop a personalized study plan by mastering innovative techniques and methods. Coaching sessions are accessible throughout the year for students at all levels.

“Everyone in life can benefit from someone rooting for you,” said Miller. “And the coaching sessions are designed to do just that with a well-rounded approach.”

Learning from each other

While coaching sessions develop skills applicable in and beyond the classroom, the center’s tutoring sessions focus on supporting students with specific academic subjects. Each semester, thousands of students benefit from Study Partners, a program designed to enhance the knowledge gained in lecture-based core classes. By reinforcing the material, the sessions help students better understand the subject matter.

Students enrolled core courses – such as chemistry, statistics, mathematics and economics – can ask questions through in-person or online sessions. With the help of peers who have succeeded in specified courses, students develop the study skills necessary to help them thrive and become confident, self-directed learners.

“Students feel more empowered and less intimidated when they leave these sessions,” said Miller. “With one-on-one instruction, the tutor can focus on specific challenges of individual students, which is extremely effective.”

We're in this together

Students know they are not alone when they use Supplemental Instruction. Offered twice a week, the interactive study groups provide a review of class sessions for courses that are historically more challenging.

Led by undergraduates who have successfully completed the courses, students better understand the content covered in critical courses while connecting with peers. The study groups foster a sense of belonging and offer networking opportunities to meet people with similar interests and shared goals.

“The relationships students develop through the sessions are just as important as the academic material they are learning,” said Miller.

As a junior, Newsome has come full circle in her journey with the Office of Academic Support. She now serves as both a tutor and an SI leader, helping other students achieve classroom success while reflecting on her own experiences when she needed assistance.

“When I started, it took a while to adjust to college life,” she said. “Now, as an employee, many of the students I now tutor are first-semester freshmen. Having walked in their shoes, it feels good to be able to say, ‘Never be afraid to ask for help.’”

For more information about the services available in Academic Support, including student employment opportunities, visit their website.