Can I Get Help If I Need It?

Oh, wise one. You knew this day would come. You knew that there would come a day, oh midway through the semester when your professor would hand you your midterm grade, and you would need to know the answer to this question:

Can I Get Help If I Need It?

Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. and Yes. We want to help. We want to see you succeed in our classes and at UTC in general. We know it is hard. So, here's what your options are.

1. Go talk to your professor. Don't just drop an email. Go to the syllabus and find where it lists his/her office hours, and then GO TO THE OFFICE and tell him or her what's going on. Ask for help. See what can be done. Usually, a lot can be done. You just have to take the initiative.
2. Go to the Center for Advisement and Student Success (CASS). The tutoring office is in the Collins Street Annex Building, Room 104. You'll need to fill out a form, but their tutoring is free and fantastic. Go here for more information and to get the form. Here's a list of the classes they cover:

   • Biology 1110, 1120, 1130, 2060, 2080, 2100, and 3250
   • Chemistry 1110, 1120, 3010, and 3020
   • Economics 1010, 1020
   • Engineering 1030 and 1040
   • Math 1000-2000 levels 
   • Nursing 2260
   • Physics 1030 and 1040

3. Go to one of these additional resources if what you need help in isn't listed above.
4. Go to the library. Those people are amazing, and they have workshops on research and citations and google and Microsoft Office and so much more. Plus, they're smart.
5. Go talk to your professor. Yes, I know I already put this one. But it is so important, and it is possible (nay, likely) that one meeting won't get the job done. Use those office hours. Go back until you understand. Go back until you feel like this person has done everything he or she can do to help (within reason, of course). Go back.

We want to help. And we know, perhaps better than you, that a midterm grade is just that. It doesn't have to be the end of the world. It does NOT mean you should just stop going to that class and take your F. It really, truly, I promise you, completely DOES NOT have to mean whatever horror story you have imagined in your head. You're on the right track by asking. Now, just make it happen!

Cheers,

Dr. Y

What Should I Bring the First Day of Class?

Apparently, we have competition. UTC Student Success has your best interests at heart, I'm sure. Howevah, in the interest of providing you with the best possible information (i.e. WINNING), here is our answer to

What should I bring the first day of class?

Pay no attention to the points granted our answer. It rocks way more than 1 measly point. Here's the list:

• Your Brain - That's right. We want you to think right from the very start. We want your to ask good questions and to engage with whatever we're doing (even if it is a boring lecture - boooooo).

• Your Voice - Have an opinion. Speak up. Raise it (respectfully), and your professors will always remember you. In a good way. Not in a walked-in-late-and-had-to-sit-on-the-front-row-of-a-huge-auditorium-way.

•  Your Energy - Yeah, sure, it's great to get a good night's sleep, but even if you don't, and even if it is an 8 am class and you're dying, grab you some Red Bull or whatever dangerous substance you prefer and get UP for class. I don't just mean get up for class although getting out of bed and not skipping the first day is highly recommended. I mean GET UP for class, so you actually can feel yourself investing in what a great semester it's going to be. I've got no research to support this claim, and even if I did, I wouldn't read it, but I'm pretty sure your energy level on day one has some sort of curving direct correlation to your success in December. Just sayin'.

• Your Pet Squirrel - He wants to learn too. Just make sure you bring him some coffee. 
  

Cheers,
Dr. Y

PS: If you've got questions you want answered, send them to utcdoctorwhy@gmail.com.