(Edmonton) It ain't over until it's over.
That old baseball adage about overcoming obstacles is one of the messages behind a new one-day conference entitled "Take Back the Term," which is designed as an orientation refresher targeting students who are struggling to stay on track this semester.
The conference, hosted by the Office of the Dean of Students on Saturday, Oct. 29, is intended for any student at the University of Alberta who is going through a tough time, either academically or personally.
"It gives students who may be facing personal or academic-related issues the chance to recapture some of the enthusiasm they had when they first arrived on campus and re-energize their sense of being part of the community," said Kristen Flath, student affairs officer in the Office of the Dean of Students. "The day includes sessions to address a whole gamut of things that may have gone wrong through the first semester."
Flath says the idea for Take Back the Term grew out of an idea from the New Student Experience Working Group, which was struck to look at ways that the university could continue orientation for new students beyond the first-week festivities. However, the conference grew into something that would appeal to any student, undergraduate or graduate, who struggle through their first round of midterms, assignments and term papers.
"We have nine sessions for undergraduates and three sessions for graduate students on a range of topics, from improving one's health and switching programs to tips for learning and writing to understanding your grades," said Flath. "It is meant to appeal to a general audience."
The free event includes lunch. For more information on Take Back the Term, go to www.bearsden.ualberta.ca/tbt.