H&A’s Academic Empowerment Workshops offer students practical tools for managing their courses and academic careers

academic empowerment workshop series

Time management is a skill many of my students struggle with. When I brought my freshman composition class to one of academic advisor Kay Bell’s Academic Empowerment Workshops this past fall,, I had hoped they might pick up a few strategies to keep up with course deadlines. What I didn’t anticipate was how much I would learn alongside them.

During the session, Bell guided students through practical exercises, from identifying their biggest time-wasters to mapping out due dates for the rest of the semester. She encouraged students to explore tools like the Eisenhower Matrix and even helped them evaluate how much time they spent on apps using their phones. It was eye-opening to see my students actively diagnosing their challenges and crafting actionable plans. Many of them walked away with specific changes they wanted to make. Through the final weeks of the semester, I noticed those same students engaging with me about future assignments and thinking ahead in ways they hadn’t before.

The Academic Empowerment Workshop series, led by Bell, is a program offered by the Dean’s Office of the Division of Humanities and the Arts. These workshops provide students with essential tools and strategies to overcome academic challenges and build confidence in their abilities. While open to all students, the program holds particular significance for those on academic probation, who are required to attend at least one session as part of their path to success. Students on academic probation often face unique challenges, and these workshops provide a structured support system to help them regain their footing. By focusing on skill-building and confidence, the program encourages students to view their struggles as opportunities for growth.

Each workshop in the series focuses on a critical area of academic and personal growth: growth mindsets, connecting with professors, time management, and financial aid literacy. In the time management workshop I attended, Bell’s practical approach resonated with students. She asked them to reflect on their daily tasks and identify problem areas, offering solutions like using planners and reminders to map out assignments. These hands-on strategies helped students feel more in control of their schedules and reduced their stress around deadlines.

Kay Bell’s Academic Empowerment Workshops reflect the Division of Humanities and the Arts’ commitment to helping students succeed both academically and personally. Students interested in attending can RSVP through the Humanities & Arts Workshops page.
 

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