Welcome from the Director

Hello Students!

The staff and student leaders in Academic Support are glad you chose Auburn University. Our programs and services are designed to help you gain the skills to perform your best in the classroom and beyond. Recognizing that you will be both challenged and inspired by your academic pursuits, here are a couple of tips as you plan for success:

• Explore the Auburn University website and take time to review all the many opportunities available to you.
• Build relationships among the Auburn Family. There are so many people and resources at Auburn to help you navigate your path in college. My advice: create and maintain relationships with expert faculty, your assigned academic advisor, peer tutors, librarians, resident assistants, supplemental instruction (SI) leaders, academic coaches, etc.
• Proactively use resources! Academic Support resources and other resources at AU are here to support your success. These resources are not just for when you feel stuck or have you hit an obstacle. Seek help proactively so that when you get stuck (because it happens to all of us) you have the skills and disposition to navigate the challenge well. While it may be intimidating to ask for help, reaching out for assistance is the perfect way to start and stay on track.
• Pursue in-class and beyond-the-classroom opportunities that increase your knowledge and refine your skills. One immediate opportunity you have is learning about the technology you can use at AU via the Academic Coaching How-To Videos.
• Speaking of technology, be sure to check your AU Email consistently and regularly. Don’t miss important news, deadlines, and involvement opportunities at the University! AU Email is an official means of communication for campus offices, faculty and academic advisors, and other student services.

The services at Auburn University are not just for people who are seeking help. The programs in Academic Support are designed for all students; especially forward-thinking and ambitious students who wish to elevate their skills, increase their knowledge, and perform their best. We strive to help you earn better grades, gain confidence in your academic endeavors, and increase your own awareness of your strengths and skills.

You’ll find that the staff and student leaders in Academic Support work to build a positive, approachable, and cooperative learning environment. We desire to help all students feel valued, included, and empowered while earning their undergraduate degree at Auburn University. Through carefully designed programs we seek to normalize your help-seeking behaviors, encourage you to approach problems in new ways, and maximize your learning.

Are you ready to use the resources available to you at Auburn University? If so, I challenge you to:

• Meet with an Academic Coach to discuss your GPA goals for the semester, assess your current academic strengths, and improve your academic habits.
• Visit with a Study Partners peer tutor through scheduled and/or drop-in sessions to review course content and achieve curriculum-specific competencies.
• Join regularly scheduled active-review sessions led by a Supplemental Instruction (SI) leader to gain a deeper understanding of course material, discuss complex topics, and prepare for tests.

Finally, I encourage you to consider joining the Academic Support team as a Front Desk employee, Study Partners Peer Tutor, or a Supplemental Instruction (SI) Leader. Our student employees and professional and graduate staff are trained on implicit bias and cultural capital, listening and helping skills, and learning differences and equitable practice. This work supports student employees’ career readiness and cultural competency while also creating the best possible experience for all students who visit Academic Support.

We look forward to seeing you soon!

War Eagle!

Jaime S. Miller (she/her/hers)

Director, Student Academic Support

Academic Support