The transition from high school to college comes with an overwhelming workload for some, but SMU offers academic help that can keep students on track. The Altshuler Learning Enhancement Center (A-LEC) provides a variety of services from tutoring to academic counseling. In these services, they also offer classes for those who are new to college education.
The A-LEC is located in the Loyd All-Sports Center, between Ford Stadium and Meadows Museum, and puts together a variety of learning strategy workshops throughout the year.
Workshop topics include anything from how to reduce test anxiety to taking and using notes. Students are asked to bring something relevant to the workshop’s topic of the day from any class they wish.
Chase Hardage, junior economics and markets and culture double major, was required to attend an A-LEC workshop for his wellness class in his first year of college.
“For the most part, I was indifferent to going,” Hardage said. “But since I was a freshman and has less than great study habits in high school, I figured the workshop could probably help out with college.”
After learning about ways to organize his time and stay on top of his work, Hardage was glad he went.
“I had a bad habit of never reading what was required of me in high school, and it was stressed that if I did not read, I would not succeed,” Hardage said.
“I took them at their word and come my first set of midterms, I was glad I did. Now I use some of the organizational tips for school and continue to stay on top of my reading.”
Vidush Talwar, senior advertising major and cultural anthropology minor, was in a similar situation.
“I attended a workshop my freshman year on the five day study program because I didn’t know how to approach studying ahead of time in high school,” Talwar said.
Although Talwar initially used the tips he learned in the workshop, he said once he got the hang of college, he found different ways to study that worked better for him. However, he still thought the workshop was beneficial.
“I would recommend this [workshop] for first year students because the transition from high school to college can be intimidating,” Talwar said. “These workshops help ease that transition.”
Patricia Feldman, the associate director of the A-LEC, believes that these workshops are particularly beneficial to students because they “allow students to quickly pick up new, more effective approaches to learning.”
Although many who attend the programs are first-year students, Feldman believes others can get a lot out of the workshops too.
“Upperclassmen and grad students can add new techniques to deal with challenging, advanced courses,” Feldman said.
Sofia Kouninis first-year CCPA and Spanish double major and forensic science minor, recently attended a workshop focusing on textbook study-reading.
“I’m a pre-law scholar, so I need to maintain a high GPA,” Kouninis said. “There’s no time for fooling around anymore.”
After attending the workshop, Kouninis was pleased with what she learned and the materials she walked away with.
“I would definitely recommend the workshop to other students,” Kouninis said.
Students interested in attending the workshops can visit www.smu.edu/alec/workshopsched.asp to see specific classes and times.
However, students who are unable to attend a scheduled workshop because of a conflict can call the A-LEC front desk at (214) 768-3648 [SMU-DO IT) to arrange an appointment with Debra Shapira or Patricia Feldman.
