#sluonline

How to manage your time in an online degree program

It can be tough when you are making the decision to come back to school.  As much as you want to go, it feels like there is so much standing in your way.  Even after you have made the decision to enroll in classes and get going on your degree, it can be overwhelming trying to figure out how to fit all of your coursework into your already overflowing life responsibility. 

Anytime you are feeling overwhelmed, the best thing you can do for yourself is break down those huge goals into smaller pieces.  As yourself, “What can I do today to help me reach my goal?” “What can I do in the next 20-30 minutes?” 

For some folks, one of the nerve-wracking things about an online degree is the lack of structure.  When there is no standing appointment each week to come to class and check in with your instructors in person, when it feels detached because you never see your classmate’s faces, sometimes you start to feel very detached from your program.  Suddenly, you’re not sure if you are missing something, and it feels like something will slip through the cracks at any moment.

We know the feeling.  

Below is a to-do list to help keep you on target toward pursuing your goals:

Before you start:

Add all assignment due dates to your personal schedule from the syllabus for each class from Blackboard

Bookmark the student portal, mySLU in your browser, and get familiar with the applications

Order your books for your classes

Daily:

Email: Check & respond to emails 

Blackboard: Review due dates for class assignments/tests/quizzes/projects & make sure your work is up to date in each class for the next few days

Weekly:

Blackboard: make sure your personal schedule is matched up with the class syllabus for each class 

Payment Suite: ensure that your bill payment is up to date

Future Terms (3-ish weeks before start date):

Banner Self-Service: update contact information, review your enrollment for upcoming term(s)

Apply for scholarships

Contact your academic adviser and confirm your enrollment

Order books for future classes

This weekend, thousands of students, alumni, staff, faculty, family and friends will gather at Saint Louis University’s campus for Homecoming Weekend 2019. The homecoming festivities will begin on Friday, September 27 and will go until Sunday, September 29.

As excited as we are to host such a great weekend, we also want all of our out-of-state students and alumni to feel just as much a part of this weekend’s festivities. We’ve come up with a list of ways to enjoy homecoming from afar:

1) Make sure to check our Facebook and Twitter pages all weekend for photos and updates of what’s going on. Don’t forget to check out SLU’s official Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for photos and updates as well.

2) Visit the Billiken Athletics website for stats and scores of the volleyball and soccer games, as well as links to the live-streams. Friday, September 27 5:00 PM - Women’s Volleyball vs. Dayton 7:30 PM - Billiken Madness Saturday, September 28 7:30 PM - Men’s Soccer vs. Rhode Island Sunday, September 29 1:00 PM - Women’s Soccer vs. Dayton

3) Share your photos with us in your SLU gear for a chance to be re-posted on our social media. Make sure to tag us and to use the hashtag #SLUOnline.

4) Participate in our #SLUOnline Homecoming giveaway. We will be giving away SLU’s official 2019 Homecoming and Family Weekend t-shirt to one lucky winner. All you have to do is follow the rules of this particular Twitter and/or Facebook post to enter. Winner will be announced on Monday, September 30th.

Congratulations! You’re more than halfway through the Fall 1 term. We know how challenging it can be to stay motivated and productive in the middle of a term, but keep going because you’re almost there!

It’s not easy having a full-time job and a family to take care of and STILL finding time to devote to school work. We realize that our students’ study habits, work schedules, and all-around educational experiences are going to be different from many other students in college. So, yesterday we asked our students to share with us their best study tricks, and we loved their answers! Check out what they had to say:

1.  “I like to study while my kids are asleep either early in the morning or after they’ve gone to bed. Keeps distractions to a minimum.” - Ssire J., SPS student.

2. “ I like to dedicate specific times to study or do homework. I will actually schedule it on my calendar.” -LaDonna U., SPS student.

3. “My study trick is to read aloud instead of just reading to myself. For me, reading out loud allows for me to read it, and then secondly, hear it. “ - Ryan B., SPS student.

4. “Download the Canvas app, get the notifications, and easily stay up on everyone’s discussion comments and the course work.” -Glenn C., SPS student.

All of these study tricks totally encompass what it means to be not just an online student, but an online student who might have a family, a full-time job, and a crazy, busy schedule. It’s all about balance and learning what works best for you.

Other study tricks and tips can include finding a classmate to go over study materials with, making flash cards (quizlet is a great online resource), and making sure to leave yourself enough time to study so that you won’t have to cram. There is no better feeling than being prepared for a big exam! 

As the new school year approaches, students are once again excited to get one step closer to earning their degree. At the School for Professional Studies (SPS), most of our students are working adults who have their own families, full-time careers, and other responsibilities. The online nature of SPS allows these students to earn their degree at their own pace.

Meet SPS student, Tim Major. Tim has been pursuing his degree at SPS for the past 13 years. 

When Tim first started taking classes at SPS, most of them were offered on campus, which he enjoyed. As SPS made the transition from on-campus classes to online classes, Tim was concerned it wouldn’t be the best fit for him. In addition to making that transition, he experienced some financial burdens along the way. He also took a step back from his education to concentrate on his family while his daughters were going through high school and college. 

“I was at a point where I was about to give up on my education, but Sharon Spicer (Academic Coach at SPS) listened to me and encouraged me. She let me express myself and my frustration and she was there to be a comfort to me. From that point on, I was determined to complete what I had started.”

In addition to the phenomenal support he received from his academic coach, Tim also acquired valuable experience from the courses he’s taken to apply at his job at Edward Jones. “I’m starting to implement what I’ve learned in my degree program at my job. As a result, the head of our department has witnessed my growth.”

Not only is Tim hoping to graduate with a Bachelor’s Degree in General Studies this December, but he will also become the first person in his family to have every member of his immediate family earn a college degree. 

Summer is in full swing. Well, not technically because the summer solstice doesn’t happen until June 21st this year, but if you live in St. Louis then you know that it’s already felt like summer for weeks now. One word: HUMIDITY. 

While many students are on summer break, deservedly so after a long school year, we’ve got our summer 1 term in session here at SLU Online. We are so proud of all of our summer students who are trading park days for homework days and game nights for study nights. 

We know it isn’t always easy to feel motivated to do school work when the whether outside is perfect, so here are a few tips to help you stay motivated this summer:

1) Create a School Schedule and You Schedule- It’s important to stay on top of your school work. But it’s equally important to spend time with your kids, enjoy the fresh air, watch a Blues game, or host your regular 4th of July BBQ. Set aside time each week for your homework and studying so that you can also make time to enjoy everything that summer brings. Pro tip: planners are awesome.

2) Regularly Check In- Your academic coaches are available all summer long to help you with questions about your courses, enrolling, graduation, etc. Your professors are happy to answer any course-specific questions you may have or help guide you through a lesson. If you need assistance, we are here for you. Email [email protected] or call (314) 977-2330 today. 

3) Get Outside- It’s not getting any cooler. Seriously. Whether you enjoy swimming, long walks in the park, cycling, playing Wiffle ball with your family, or just posting up somewhere with your hammock, get out there and soak up some Vitamin D (and don’t forget your SPF). Exercising and spending time outdoors is good for the soul. I know this from experience, but these guys have some real concrete proof. Check it out here. 

It’s day four of the SPS Billiken Bash and SLU Online students are taking advantage of this opportunity to plan an entire year’s course schedule.

We sat down with SPS Alum, Pamela Samuels (pictured above), to talk about why registering for an entire year in advanced helped her succeed. Samuels graduated in 2017 with a Bachelor’s in Organizational Studies. “I registered a year in advance so I could plan my schedule according to my life. I tried to make it less stressful during the summer and the fall 2 semester,” said Samuels. 

Not only does making your schedule in advance alleviate stress, it also ensures that you don’t have to be put on any wait lists, and that you can take the classes you want. 

During the Billiken Bash, SLU Online students meet with their coaches and set up a plan for the following academic year. In the meeting, students can plan what classes they want to take and when, making the registration for classes process efficient, simple and quick. “My academic coach, Deb Blanquart, was awesome in helping me and she made it so easy. I celebrated each semester because it helped to have a plan,” told Samuels.

Having a plan is one way that helps keep our students organized and motivated. “I definitely felt like registering for a year helped me to be prepared and it’s a great way to set goals,” exclaimed Samuels. So, register for this upcoming academic year, set goals, and let us help you do it! You’ve got this! 

The SPS Billiken Bash continues through Friday, April 12. SLU Online students are encouraged to make appointments with their academic coach.

If you’re an online student at the School for Professional Studies (SPS), you know that we have six eight-week terms. We do this so that our students, with most of them being working adults, can have flexibility in their schedules to leave room for other life happenings, like their jobs, their children, etc. 

BUT -- sometimes we want to encourage our students to register for a whole academic year. Why? Because “when students meet with their academic coach to plan for an entire year, it actually allows them to plan their lives better and plan according to their work, family, and vacation schedules,” says SPS academic coach, Sharon Spicer (pictured above). 

“Any time a student contemplates what they want to take and what they need to take versus just registering in the moment-- they can actually plan, which clues them in to being motivated and not procrastinating till the last minute,” says Spicer. Planning for an entire academic year puts you in control of your education and takes you one step closer to graduation.

So, in these truths lie the magic of Billiken Bash. Skip wait lists and participate in our annual Billiken Bash this year. Set up an appointment up with your academic coach today so that you can plan your entire schedule for the upcoming academic year. There is no better feeling than setting yourself up for success. 

In honor of #NonTradWeek coming to a close, we would like to highlight one of #SLUOnline’s very own students, Jason Wilson.

Jason is currently pursuing a B.S. in Security and Strategic Intelligence with the School for Professional Studies. He will be graduating in May of 2019, a milestone that he has been working incredibly hard to achieve over the last few years. Aside from being an honor roll student and excellent learner, Jason is also a father and has been working in law enforcement for 26 years. Talk about a well-rounded individual!

Jason is looking to pursue a career in the Intelligence community once he graduates and says that pursuing his degree will help him achieve that. When asked about what motivates him to keep working so hard, given all of the many responsibilities he has on his plate, his answer is “I like to lead by example. I’d like my kids to know how important education is. It motivates them to see that I come home from work and do homework. I go my hardest to get the highest grade on every assignment.” Well, he is definitely leading by example!