Beginning the 2021 Academic Year: How to Start Strong
Photo by Jeswin Thomas on Unsplash
After over a year of online learning, universities are starting to return to on campus classes and activities. This unprecedented transition means that returning to classes will require more preparation and may have more speed bumps than in previous years. With figuring out what supplies you will need, staying up to date on SMU’s COVID-19 guidelines, and returning to a more ‘scheduled’ routine, this article will help you identify how to start the 2021-2022 school year on a strong note that you can carry onwards throughout the year.
The first thing to do is stay up to date with SMU’s COVID-19 guidelines. All students are required to provide proof of full vaccination, and if you have not yet received both vaccines, you must get tested twice per week. All faculty, students and staff are expected to be fully vaccinated by October 15, 2021.
There are exceptions to this for students arriving from outside of Atlantic Canada who do not arrive in time to receive their second dose by October 15 (see: “What if I cannot arrive in time to get both doses before October 15?” in the FAQ linked above), or if you have received an approved exemption. For the former, you must prove the scheduling of your first dose that demonstrates that you cannot receive the second dose by October 15. For the latter, you need to submit the forms here to apply for an exemption.
In order to keep everyone safe and healthy at SMU, make sure to comply with these guidelines. If you haven't yet had your first or second dose of the vaccine (and are able to), receive them as soon as you can. Or, if you have received an approved exemption, make plans for frequent COVID testing.
As well, SMU will be requiring masking and physical distancing. When walking through shared/indoor spaces and when in classrooms, a mask must be worn if it is not possible to social distance (one metre between persons). Additionally, you must complete the daily COVID-19 check-in when arriving on campus. It’s super easy — you can just scan the QR code (that is conveniently placed at each entrance) with your phone to complete the form. To ensure that you are prepared to follow these guidelines, make sure to give the COVID-19 University Policy a read.
Next, take a look at the school supplies you currently have, and determine if you have everything you need. Do you have access to a functional computer for completing assignments and logging on to Brightspace? Do you have the right materials that you need for taking notes, whether that’s on a laptop or in a notebook? Do you have an academic planner, or will you be using Google Calendar as your planning system? Have you purchased all the textbooks for your classes? While you can always go out and get supplies whenever you need them, making sure you have everything you need at the beginning of the semester helps you feel more confident and less anxious about heading into a new school year.
Photo by J. Kelly Brito on Unsplash
Now, look at the syllabi for your classes. The syllabus is a university student’s key to success because it provides you with everything you need to know. This includes: the professor’s email and office hours, required texts, what topics the class will be covering, the class schedule, how you will be graded, etc. Having access to all this information, you can then prepare accordingly. Write down all of the due dates for your assignments in your planner, or input them in Google Calendar (if you’re feeling extra motivated you can even set reminders for yourself). Make sure you know the dates for your midterms and exams, and try to pinpoint when you will start studying for those. If something is missing from the syllabus, or it doesn't answer a question you have, reach out to the professor. Acquainting yourself with the syllabus at the beginning of the semester and referring back to it often will be so, so helpful, and save you so much stress in the long run!
Next ask yourself, how do you like your classes? Are you excited, or is one of them not quite what you were hoping it to be? Well, the beginning of the semester is the perfect time to switch your schedule around if you're having second thoughts about a class. Remember: this is your education, and you want to make the most of it. Of course, there will likely be classes that you have to take that you may not like, but making decisions on the classes you can control will be something your future self will thank you for. You have until September 14th to register for/change courses and until September 17th to drop a course. In order to withdraw from a course, you must do so through Self-Service Banner. The course withdrawal dates and deadlines can also be viewed here, and if you wish to speak with an academic advisor regarding your schedule and major requirements, view this link here.
How’s your daily/weekly schedule? Determining a rough schedule is the best way to help you accomplish everything you want to do. It’s also important to make time for friends, physical activity, and rest between all your university commitments, which scheduling can help you accomplish. Some things you may want to determine are:
What time would you like to go to bed/get up in the morning?
When will you clean your living space?
When and how will you plan on making time for physical activity?
What time will you allow yourself to rest and not do any schoolwork?
You may also want to figure out when during the day you feel the most energized and productive. Some people are the most productive in the morning and find they can't do anything in the evening, while others are the complete opposite. Determining this will help you identify the best time of day to study, write an essay, or complete an assignment, instead of working against your internal clock.
Scheduling your daily life commitments will help you stay more balanced, even when school gets extremely busy! Making sure we are looking after both our physical and mental health is essential to our wellbeing, which is why finding a balance between school and other aspects of daily life is so important.
Finally, make a list of fun things you would like to do over this semester. You can check out this SMU Journal article on fantastic and unique activities you can do in Halifax, and start planning what you want to do with your friends. The fall always has so many fun things happening in Nova Scotia, with Nocturne scheduled for October 12-16 this year, corn mazes, apple picking, and the Halifax Seaport Farmers’ Market as just a few things you can do to get excited for the autumn season. Planning out what you might want to do is a great way to make sure you don't miss out on fun opportunities. Of course, COVID-19 is still with us, so make sure you are following all the safety guidelines made by the government and follow the policies put in place by SMU.
Hopefully this article was helpful in providing some ways to start the 2021 academic year off right — stay tuned for more academic/university topics coming your way. And finally, good luck! You’ve got this.
If there are any university topics you would find useful and would like to see an article on, feel free to reach out to me at julia.yurchesyn@smu.ca. I would love to hear from you!
References
https://www.smu.ca/covidinfo/fall2021covid-19policyfaqs/
https://www.smu.ca/webfiles/12-004_COVID19VaccinationPolicy.pdf
https://www.smu.ca/vaccinationforms/
https://www.smu.ca/academics/academics-important-dates.html
https://www.smu.ca/academics/course-withdrawal-dates-and-deadlines.html
https://www.smu.ca/academics/academic-advising.html
https://www.thesmujournal.ca/lifestyle/unique-experiences-that-everyone-should-try-at-least-once
https://discoverhalifaxns.com/corn-mazes-near-halifax/
https://discoverhalifaxns.com/apple-picking-near-halifax/
https://www.halifaxfarmersmarket.com/
https://medium.com/writers-blokke/what-time-of-day-are-you-the-most-productive-9147e1da158c