Prepping for academic life with FAS

Student Academic Support Services (SASS) , in collaboration with FAS, has created a unique resource to help prepare incoming students for the transition to university and academic life. Academics 101 is an engaging and interactive resource that introduces students to the key learning and writing skills they’ll need to succeed at Queen’s University.

The non-credit course includes opportunities to learn, test knowledge, reflect on plans/goals for Fall 2022, and receive feedback. Students will have the option to complete the entire mini-course or individual subsections, as desired.

“The modules are available for all students but within the Faculty of Arts and Science, every first-year student is automatically enrolled, and the course will appear in their onQ alongside their other academic courses,” explains Jenn Stephenson, Associate Dean (Academic). “We are partnering with SASS and FAS to have professors of first year courses embed Academics 101 modules into their course requirements. For some courses completion will be required. For some courses, they will be eligible for bonus marks.”

Dr. Stephenson adds Academics 101 will help first-year students start off on the right foot by giving them the opportunity to develop key academic skills in the first six weeks of the term. Students will gain skills in time management, organization and focus; reading and notetaking skills; preparing for tests and exams; and be aware of expectations regarding independent work vs. group work and academic integrity.

“My goal for this course is to meet students where they are and provide academic support when they need it – just in time and in the specific context of their studies in progress,” says Dr. Stephenson. “By providing these academic orientation modules linked to their Fall term courses, students will be better able to see how these skill sets apply to their own experience.”

Students will be automatically enroled in Academics 101 and can access the modules through onQ on Monday, August 8 and throughout the academic year.