—by Jaime Smith, Office of the Bursar

Are you enrolling in fall ‘09 classes? Do you want to budget tuition expenses?

Sign up for the tuition payment plan! The payment plan offers the opportunity to budget tuition expenses with an interest-free, predictable monthly payment option. If you are enrolled in fall ‘09 classes, sign up for the tuition payment plan early, before August 1st, to ensure the lower service fee rate of $70.

If payment is not received by the payment due date or the request form to be enrolled in the tuition payment plan is not submitted by the payment due date, the university will place you in the payment plan automatically and the service fee will be $100. Students who are placed on the automatic payment plan are not eligible for the $30 savings.

If you enroll in fall ‘09 classes after August 1st, you must pay for classes the same day you enroll or submit the tuition payment plan enrollment form the same day you enroll in classes to avoid the $100 automatic payment plan service fee. For further details about your due dates, review the Student Center in LOUIE, and look under Finances > My Account > Account Inquiry > Charges Due.

Visit the Office of the Bursar for information and to sign up.

So, put down those chopsticks and open those textbooks. And before you freak about each final, take a look at this exam schedule and end of term policy to find out when your final will start.

Now we all want to do well, so I pulled some highlights from hubpages.com on preparing for even your toughest finals:

1. Get enough sleep! - It’s important to be rested especially before finals. Brains just do not function at their best when they are deprived of rest!

2. Eat Well - Especially breakfast. Refuel your body and brain and keep yourself energized and alert!

3. Actually Study - Yes, you actually need to review…and if it is a tough final, you may need to review a lot. But make sure that you are studying the right things.

4. Try Not To Worry - Yes, this may be the hardest tip to follow, but it may also be the most crucial. If you’ve done all you can to prepare, then worrying will just make things worse. Shut off your brain the night before, rest for a good 8 hours, and give it your all the next day. That is all you can do and if you are doing your best then don’t worry about the rest!

And for some fun, check out this humorous video to know what to do and what NOT to do when preparing for finals:

Academic Dishonesty is a form of misconduct and includes the following: cheating, fabrication, fraud, facilitating academic dishonesty, and plagiarism.

Cheating: any attempt to gain an unfair advantage over one’s fellow students

Fabrication: any attempt to present information that is not true when the author knows the information presented is false.

Fraud: any attempt to deceive an instructor or administrative officer of the university

Facilitating Academic Dishonesty: any attempt to assist an act of academic dishonesty by another individual

Plagiarism: any attempt to knowingly or deliberately pass off other’s work as your own

Now you know exactly what academic dishonesty is!

I’m Jessalyn and I’ve got you covered with anything Academic. Study tips, campus events, tutoring—you name it! If it has to do with academics you’ve come to the right place. Be sure you are keeping up with those studies and be sure to check out my beat every Thursday for all the latest academic excitement!

If you aren’t motivated to study just watch this video…it’ll motivate you in no time! Homework and Studying Tips Video:

Tips from the Video

How to make homework less work:

1. Pick a spot where you can do your homework everyday and clear it of distractions
2. Listen to music-this helps speed up homework and acts as white noise in the background to prevent distractions
3. Take notes while reading
4. Snacking on carbs while doing homework boosts serotonin and helps you stay calm and helps you focus
5. If you don’t feel like snacking chew gum - this activates certain chemicals in the brain
6. Take breaks!

Speaking of Step 2, I am personally a firm advocate of listening to music while studying. CLASSICAL ESPECIALLY. Classical music is proven to help students study more efficiently. Here are two interesting articles about classical music making kids smarter.

Also, one of my favorite artists to study to is ANDREW BIRD (actually I think he is just my favorite artist in GENERAL) The Chicago-based indie rock multi-instrumentalist, lyricist and whistler is very soothing and inspiring to do school work to. Now here is a talented musician who’s whistling is simply out of this world! He will have you producing “A” worthy papers and help you to study for those exams in no time!

Check out Andrew Bird’s music on MySpace.

THE LEARNING ASSISTANCE CENTER FIRST HAND

So we’ve all been told about The Learning Assistance Center and how it will help us academically and improve our grades or test taking anxieties. Yet after talking to many students I realized that not many of us take advantage of this wonderful resource. So I decided to check it out FIRST HAND (and I was also a little nervous about an upcoming midterm) so I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to see what the LAC had to offer us students. First, I called the North LAC at 928-523-5524 and scheduled an appointment.

Not only was I greeted by two friendly staff members when I arrived for my appointment but my tutor came over to me and introduced himself. Immediately I felt like a first priority student. My tutor was fantastic. He was extremely patient and I felt like I could finally ask the questions I may have been too intimidated to ask my professor in lecture. After our session I felt more prepared and comfortable with the material. And it was free! I am definitely going to be recommending the LAC to any friend and student searching for academic assistance.

North LAC
University Union
(Field House side)
blg 30 rm 254
928-523-5524

South LAC
Learning Resource Center
blg 61
928-523-7391