Academic success is the norm

Click on the images below to learn strategies for achievement:

98% of students aim to earn an A or B in classes

Strategies:

• Go to class
• Schedule time to study and study breaks
• Complete readings and assignments before class
• Use Academic Success Center resources
• Reward yourself for good grades

96% of students believe asking for help with classes is a strength, not a weakness

Strategies:

• Remember that more than 9,000 students use the Academic Success Centers every year
• Know that most tutors and SI leaders have used tutoring or SI in the past
• Remember that taking advantage of academic support resources will get you a better grade

4 out of 5 students report that they attend a professor’s office hours at least once per semester

Strategies:

• If you cannot attend office hours, email the professor to schedule an appointment
• It is alright to admit you don’t understand something, your professor wants to help
• Attend office hours at the beginning of the semester to introduce yourself and ask questions about the course
• Attend office hours after an exam to go over missed questions

89% of NAU students are comfortable seeking help from faculty/staff

Strategies:

• Attend office hours
• Schedule a meeting with your professor if you have conflicts with their office hour times
• Ask questions and engage in discussions during class so your professor will remember you

98% of NAU students believe success comes from hard work

Strategies:

• Adopt a growth mindset
• Focus on your actions, not perceived ability
• Talk to tutors, SI leaders, and coaches about how much they study
• Stay motivated by keeping your career goals in mind

 9 out of 10 students report attending class at least 90% of the time

Strategies:

• Have a friend act as an accountability partner
• Make going to class a priority, even if it’s cold and snowy
• Make sure you don’t have conflicts like work or practice that will conflict with your class schedule
• Remember that faculty make important announcements and share information that you won’t find in your textbook, the PPT slides, or Canvas shell
• Stay on campus in between classes, rather than going home

99% of NAU students are committed to earning a four-year degree

Strategies:

• Don’t withdraw (drop) classes without asking for help from the professor or a tutor and/or talking to an advisor about how it will impact your degree progression
• Remember that 99% of NAU students feel it’s important to persevere through challenges that impact your academics
• Think about why you are working toward this degree and what goals it will help you accomplish
• Meet with your academic advisor each semester to ensure you are staying on track

Most NAU students use a planner, app, or digital calendar to manage academic work

Strategies:

• Pick up a free planner at the Academic Success Centers at the start of the semester
• Plan out the entire semester, including important dates and deadlines for projects and classes
• Set a weekly time to plan the upcoming week in planner; set a time each day to review planner
• Carry your planner with you each day in order to jot down notes or update due dates
• Create to-do lists that you can check off on a daily basis – this can help break big goals into small goals

99% of NAU students feel it is important to persevere through challenges that impact their academics

Strategies:

• Utilize free campus resources such as Student Life, Counseling, and mentors
• Communicate with your professors as soon as possible when challenges occur so they can work with you to make up assignments, etc
• Communicate with friends about your challenges, they are often facing the same problems
• Manage stress by practicing physical and mental self-care

4 out of 5 students check their Canvas daily

Strategies:

• Don’t just check for grades- check for important messages from your professors too
• Log on once in the morning and once in the evening, just to make sure you haven’t missed any important changes
• Review the online syllabus or calendar for each course on Canvas to double check due dates
• Save Canvas as a favorite on your computer or phone

93% of NAU students check their NAU email daily

Strategies:

• Set a time each day to check your NAU email
• Remember that your professors and university staff send important announcements through NAU email
• Link your NAU email to your phone

91% of NAU students are comfortable seeking help from peers

Strategies:

• Attend a tutoring or SI session with a friend
• Talk to other students who have used ASC services
• Form a study group to keep yourself accountable and motivated