GET TO KNOW YOU: ACADEMIC SUCCESS COACH BAYLEE KOENIG
By Daisy Cortes, Hixson-Lied Success Scholar
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The UNLV Academic Success Center (ASC) is a resource that provides students with the necessary tools to have a successful educational experience. One of the hidden resources that the Academic Success Center provides is academic success coaching that is designed to give students that extra push, drive, and motivation for their academics. Allow me to introduce to the UNLV family, the newest Academic Success Coach, Baylee Koenig.
Fall 2020 is Baylee’s first semester as an Academic Success Coach. She began taking appointments on September 8th and will be accessible to students throughout the entirety of the academic year. She has embraced her role on campus and is very appreciative of everyone being so nice and welcoming. Baylee is currently in a master’s program here at UNLV with the intent of becoming a school counselor. She is interested in helping youth pursue their educational goals, therefore she sees academic success coaching as a way for her to engage with students. She loves to provide support, especially those who are struggling with resources and who lack access to educational knowledge. She describes her role as a guide to help students navigate their college career with tools known as “soft skills,” which includes organization, studying, and test-taking skills. All of these skills aim to provide a successful college experience.
Baylee is quick to explain why she enjoys her role. “My favorite part would be meeting with students, and seeing everyone’s different goals and seeing their progress.” A piece of advice for undergraduate students that Baylee offered is “to make the most out of every semester especially with the current situation we are all going through. Invest in the learning process even in the classes that we don’t like.” Her favorite topic she likes to help students with is organization... a planner is a must!
Outside of UNLV, Baylee runs an Etsy shop where she sells digital artwork and hand lettering. She believes doing outside activities to where you don’t overwhelm yourself helps to serve as an outlet for destressing. For self-care, Baylee recommends having different options, whether it be treating yourself to a pedicure, going to a therapy session, or going on a hike. The goal is to stimulate care internally and externally.
To schedule an appointment with Baylee or another Academic Success Coach, students can visit the coaching website to complete the self-referral form, call 706-895-0975, or email asccoaching@unlv.edu. Also, it is highly encouraged to follow the Academic Success Center on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter at UNLV_ASC. Baylee is excited to meet everyone and looks forward to working with you all.
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MEET THE NEW HIXSON-LIED
GRADUATE ASSISTANT
By Brianna Hermann, Hixson-Lied Success Scholar
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Judyana (Judy) Hernandez, a former Hixson-Lied Success Scholar herself, is back and ready for the challenges her new position will bring her as the Graduate Assistant. Judy graduated UNLV just this past spring with a bachelor’s in Criminal Justice and Psychology. She is currently pursuing her Master’s Degree in Clinical and Mental Health Counselling in the hope to someday own her private practice.
She explained how she was born and raised here in Las Vegas, Nevada. Her family is from Cuba and Honduras. Her two older siblings were born in Honduras, Judy and her younger brother were born here in the United States of America. An interesting fact she mentioned was the annual trip her family takes to the coast of Honduras to swim in the crystal clear waters of the Bay Islands.
In her free time, Judy enjoys hiking in the spring and winter months and being outdoors in general, however, she also enjoys her fair share of horror movies and novels. She also mentioned how she likes to dance. Last semester, for example, she and a group of her Academic Success Center (ASC) friends got together to share memories by taking Latin Ballroom dancing classes through the Student Wellness and Recreation Center.
Judy has held many positions at UNLV and knows the campus all too well. From amazing resources to secret study spots, she has seen them all. She explained how she became a member of the ASC family and later a Hixson-Lied Graduate Assistant. As a first-generation college student herself, Judy understands the overwhelming nature of starting college. She was proud to be part of these resources on UNLV’s campus because they play such an important role in student success.
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One of the many resources Judy wished to highlight was UNLV Career Services. Not only do they help you prepare for a career once you graduate, but they can also help you find a job while in college, on or off-campus! Judy expressed how they also perform and prepare you for interviews in both a career setting as well as for graduate school interviews.
This semester is like no other, a tip Judy wishes to grant students through this time of online transition is to stay connected. The virtual college environment can feel very lonesome. She believes one of the biggest challenges some students may face is the lack of connection to not only other students but the campus as well. Maintaining a social structure with classmates when presented with the opportunity is so important. Judy also wanted to emphasize that the ASC, Career Services, and Academic Success Coaching are still open and ready to help students throughout the semester, so please feel free to reach out to them anytime!
Finally, when asked about what her favorite part about working with Hixson-Lied Scholars was she replied with “how much of a community we all shared as a group.” She explained how the program had grown so much since her experience with them and how much more connected we all were. Judy also mentioned how she always loved seeing the other students’ successes. As a proud graduate, her heart is filled with joy to be helping again, and is very excited about her new role. She looks forward to providing support and encouragement for all Scholars. Welcome to the team Judy, we are thrilled to have you!
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SURVIVING VIRTUAL LEARNING
By Lilly Shaw, Hixson-Lied Success Scholar
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As the school year begins through a virtual setting, students continue to adjust to new challenges and procedures amidst the ongoing COVID-19 protocols. Returning to a virtual setting has presented students with a multitude of new challenges and anxieties. In these trying times, students need to familiarize themselves with successful strategies and campus resources. With the middle of the semester fast approaching, the Academic Success Coaches want to assist students in achieving maximum proactivity.
In the 2020 Fall semester, approximately 80% of UNLV’s courses have transitioned to remote learning. One of the many adjustments that came with the transition was learning to work from home or any setting outside of the physical classroom. Time management within the new setting has presented itself as a major obstacle for most students. Though solutions to this issue may vary between students, creating personalized planners or to-do lists are excellent methods used to organize due dates, class schedules, personal activities, studying times, and more. In my own experience, I have found that digital planners, such as Google Calendar, are easy to use and exceptionally organized.
With the virtual setting, many students have found it difficult to focus or find motivation regarding their schoolwork. While a multitude of factors may contribute to the struggle, the problem often stems from the environment in which students are attending their classes. A common mistake found in the virtual setting is students attempting to complete work or listen to lectures as they sit in their beds. Sitting in a bed to complete work or participate in class activities makes it difficult for students to pay attention to the work as they may become tired or distracted. To keep alert and focused, it is recommended for students to sit in a quiet room at a table or desk, free from as many distractions as possible.
The Academic Success Center (ASC) and Academic Success Coaches have created a series of workshops to provide students with any tips and tricks that may be useful to students transitioning to a virtual setting. The Rising Towards Success workshop series includes three workshops per week that are free and open to all UNLV undergraduate students through a virtual platform. Throughout the semester, the series will cover topics such as learning to study, taking notes, testing, self-care, staying motivated, rebounding from failure, managing money, creating, presenting, and finishing strong. More information about the workshops and registration may be found on the ASC Coaching website.
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VIRTUAL BUT STILL SUCCEEDING:
VIRTUAL ACADEMIC SUCCESS WORKSHOP
By Cruz Luna, Hixson-Lied Success Scholar
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The Fall 2020 semester is unprecedented for UNLV because a majority of students are learning remotely and utilizing Zoom and WebEx virtual lectures instead of the traditional classroom. The COVID-19 pandemic has transformed the learning experience for students this semester. Although, students are still afforded campus resources virtually in an attempt for students to not miss a beat. I recently attended a virtual Academic Success workshop and was beyond pleased with the experience.
I accessed this virtual workshop by signing up and registering on the Academic Success Coaching website. It is an extremely easy process because the dates and times are shown and it is only a couple clicks away from being registered for a WebEx presentation. Specifically, the Academic Success Workshops offer times that are flexible for any student’s schedule: Mondays at 2:30 pm, Tuesdays at 11:30 am, and Wednesdays at 10:00 am. If for any reason these times are not doable, the ASC coaches recommend scheduling a virtual one-on-one meeting with an academic success coach to develop personal strategies for college success.
The virtual Academic Success workshop I attended focused on improving time management skills. In the workshop, two Academic Success Coaches presented tips for time management. This presentation was an immersive experience because the Coaches provided tips and advice from their self-reflection on what they would do if they were undergraduates again and participants were able to interact with the Coaches by asking questions and answering questions from the Coaches. Some of the helpful time management tips that were shared were: making a schedule, prioritizing tasks, avoiding procrastination, rewarding yourself, and using momentum to complete more school work. The best piece of advice was on momentum. The Academic Success Coach stated that starting assignments, even if it is only for ten minutes, produces momentum which in turn makes completing assignments easier. For example, if a large essay is due in a week, instead of procrastinating and doing the essay in one big chunk, it is recommended to start working on the essay even if it is only a little amount.
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This is extremely useful because it makes the next time you work on the essay even easier since the initial difficulty of just starting the assignment has been completed. Every student could benefit from this piece of advice.
These workshops provide effective tips and strategies that are applicable to help students succeed in classes. Plus, the advice given in the workshop is tailored for general academic success and how to succeed with online instruction. The only difference between in-person and virtual workshop sessions is that you are at your home watching the presentation, rather than in the Student Services Complex - Building A (SSC-A), Room 254 where the Academic Success workshops are typically held. The content is the same and the coaches are still there if you have a question. It could even be argued that the online format is better for students because of the greater accessibility of being online.
In conclusion, the virtual Academic Success workshop was a great experience. As a Hixson-Lied Scholar, I am a peer mentor to other students so I am expected to know time management skills and other academic tips. With this in mind, the Academic Success Coaches have so much to offer and can help students at every level in college. The Coaches are all graduate students and they provide so much insight for students that sometimes just need to hear about the Coach’s own experience as an undergraduate. Also, these workshops should be a stepping stone for students to become paired with an Academic Success Coach. The workshop is a general presentation that helps students more broadly. When paired with a coach, they will provide one-on-one guidance for academic success. This UNLV semester may have resorted to online or remote instruction, but resources like the Academic Success workshops are vital and extremely beneficial for all students.
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SUPPORT FOR ACADEMIC SUCCESS: TUTORING AND SUPPLEMENTAL INSTRUCTION
By Mae Catayong, Hixson-Lied Success Scholar
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Any student is sure to struggle at some point in their academic career. Especially with the current Fall 2020 semester being primarily online, it may be difficult for some to retain the information they need to learn for their courses. One struggle students might have is that they feel like they are on their own with class material, particularly if their classes don’t utilize virtual meetings. One may feel they can’t build relationships with their classmates or professors that are often beneficial to learning. If you’re struggling with a class for related reasons, you should think about reaching out for help. Every student should consider utilizing the Academic Success Center (ASC)’s tutoring and supplemental instruction (SI) resources for support toward academic success.
Some students may be hesitant to try tutoring or SI because they don’t know what to expect, but hopefully, I can shed some light. To those struggling with online or remote learning, it will be done remotely, but don’t fret. There are still collaborative benefits that you can get out of virtual tutoring or SI, as you’ll be able to work with peers directly. I had the opportunity to interview Michael Ramirez, the Senior Coordinator for Supplemental Instruction and Tutoring, and learn more about how tutoring and SI are run. He mentioned that both tutoring and SI are done on a peer-to-peer model. What that means is you’ll be tutored by a fellow UNLV undergraduate student who took the class you’re in and earned a grade of a B or higher. This allows you to work with someone who recognizes the challenges you may be having. Moreover, within this situation, you can make mistakes without having to feel judged, as the tutors and SI leaders have been in your shoes. I hope that knowing what to expect can help relieve some hesitancy you may be having.
To be prepared for a tutoring or SI session and to stay engaged, both you and your tutor or SI leader play a part. Mr. Ramirez advises students to have attended class meetings if applicable and to come to sessions with notes or required textbooks. Keep in mind that tutors and SI leaders are there to help guide you through the material and help you recognize or improve the way you’re trying to grasp concepts, rather than teach you from scratch. It’s also great to come with questions about a certain topic or concept you feel you don’t understand fully. However, it is okay to come to a session without specific questions in mind. Tutors and SI leaders are trained to assess what you do know and what gaps you may have and assist you in bridging them.
For those interested in attending a tutoring or SI session, here is how you can get there! Go to the ASC’s Tutoring or SI website. For tutoring, you will use Zoom, and for SI, you will use WebEx. Links are provided on the respective websites under the very first section. Additionally, just a bit further down the webpage, the announcements section for each website will provide either the tutoring schedule or the SI meeting ID number you will need to enter your session for your specific class. For tutoring, you will be asked for your NSHE ID number and the course you are there for. For more in-depth and visual instructions, scroll further down on either website for a video tutorial on how to access tutoring or SI.
Now, you may have looked at the tutoring schedule and noticed that the subject you wanted tutoring in is not available. In this case, Mr. Ramirez encourages you to keep checking in to see if the subject you want is something they can offer. You can contact the Lied Library Tutoring Lab at tutoring@unlv.edu or by phone at 702-895-3199, the Engineering Tutoring Center at engtutoring@unlv.edu or by phone at 702-895-2910. There is the program called Partners in Progression, which involves finding a current tutor who may be able to cover the subject you need and connecting you to them. However, if no tutor can help, the ASC will take note of that and will consider it for future scheduling. Furthermore, in that situation, the ASC would also attempt to connect you to other campus resources that may be able to help you.
Lastly, I would like to emphasize to those who are still hesitant about tutoring that you don’t have to be afraid to ask for academic help. Part of learning is not knowing everything right away. As Mr. Ramirez mentions, “Shakespeare didn’t necessarily start writing sonnets right away, he had to learn the alphabet!” Take your education step-by-step and remember that you don’t need to go through it by yourself. Ask for support and strive for success. The ASC is here to help. With the trained tutors and SI leaders, you can improve on any subject as long as you try and work hard.
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PROTECTING YOURSELF FROM YOUR SCHEDULE
By Sean Wadsworth, Hixson-Lied Success Scholar
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If you’re anything like me you start the semester with a careful plan that will allow you to handle your schoolwork without sacrificing time for yourself, and the whole plan goes out the window by day 3 of week 2. Finding a healthy school-life balance can be hard, but it gets even harder when we start neglecting our physical and mental health just to make a deadline. Fortunately, UNLV has lots of resources to help us take the time we need for ourselves.
One of these is the Student Recreation & Wellness Center (SRWC), which is free to access for all students enrolled in at least 4 credit hours. In an effort to help control the spread of COVID-19 the SRWC is reopening in increments, and areas like the basketball courts are still closed, but students do have access to weights and such other areas. Other fitness resources include the Rebel X Group Fitness Classes, which are great for people who find it easier to get motivated when they’re not exercising alone. These are also free to enrolled students taking 4 or more credits, and they offer classes online as well; Jiu-jitsu, Yoga, and Zumba are just some of the virtual classes that you can attend live on the UNLV Rec YouTube channel.
For mental health concerns, students can find assistance through UNLV’s Student Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS). Since students have access to free counseling sessions, they’re a resource that anyone going through a challenging time should consider using, but even if you aren’t quite ready to talk to someone, the CAPS webpage has plenty of resources to access individually. Mindfulness exercises, coping strategies, and guidance on managing mental health during the current pandemic are all available at any time of day.
In essence, we’ve all had to spend late nights scrambling to finish a project we neglected. The same thing can happen to our health, but it can’t be fixed with two energy drinks and an all-nighter. So, find the time to give yourself what you need, because you deserve it.
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UNLV WRITING CENTER: VIRTUAL WRITING CONSULTATIONS
By Gisela Molina, Hixson-Lied Success Scholar
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The UNLV Writing Center offers resources to support students, staff, and faculty and offers services such as writing consultations, online writing labs, workshops, and handouts. Since March 2020, UNLV has transitioned to online instruction, but it has come at a challenge and a decrease in students served due to technological availability. As it has become challenging to meet with consultants in person due to the transition of online instruction, it has affected students to not receive the same opportunities as those who have technology availability. Since this has occurred, UNLV has begun a laptop loan program so students may be able to take advantage of the services offered remotely. By doing so, UNLV has ensured to provide students resources needed so they may academically achieve online and gain assistance within their writing virtually.
As we are now in the Fall 2020 semester, the UNLV Writing Center has provided a way for students to meet virtually with a writing consultant either through asynchronous or synchronous, in which these two types of appointments will be later discussed in further detail. When speaking to the Assistant Director Sara Tajalli, we discussed the appointment process for a writing consultation, what a student should bring, and what will be discussed during the consultation between the consultant and student. Ms.Tajalli explained that there are two ways to make an appointment, either asynchronous or synchronous. On the UNLV Writing Center website, there is a section called the Online Writing Lab, which is an asynchronous consultation that allows students to submit a writing draft, and once you submit the draft, there is a 24- to 48-hour turn around until you may receive your writing draft from the consultant with feedback. Ms. Tajalli discussed how this way is ideal for people that have time or plan their schedules accordingly. The second way is through a section provided on their website called the Virtual Consultation, which allows you to meet with a consultant for 30 minutes. To prepare in advance for a writing consultation, Ms. Tajalli explains, for an asynchronous consultation, students must have a draft or outline to revise so the consultant and student may work together correspondingly. For a virtual consultation, there is nothing a student must bring because a consultant assists the student in any stage of the writing process. However, if a student were to need help with an assignment, the student must upload a copy of the assignment or information that may help the consultant for any feedback.
During a writing consultation, Ms. Tajalli explains how the goal is to encourage students to become sufficient writers. In the writing consultation, consultants are focused on what the student's needs are as well as how to assist the students to look towards the bigger picture within their writing, but, more importantly, so they may fulfill the requirements. The UNLV Writing Center has exceptionally provided as much assistance as possible for students so they may academically achieve online. The writing consultations provided on the UNLV Writing Center’s website, either through asynchronous or synchronous appointments, aids in assisting students, whether it may be to discuss their needs and wants for their writing or a few grammatical techniques. For further information, the Writing Center’s website provides more information to access the writing consultations.
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Ms. Christina M. Hixson graduated from high school in Clarinda, Iowa and moved to Omaha, Nebraska to attend business school. She later went to work for Mr. Ernst F. Lied , a car dealership owner in Omaha and in 1960 she joined Mr. Lied in Las Vegas, Nevada as his assistant. After Mr. Lied’s death in 1980, Ms. Hixson became the sole trustee of the Lied Foundation Trust and turned the Lied Foundation Trust into one of the largest foundations in the state of Nevada at that time. Ms. Hixson has a special understanding of young people who, like her, came from a challenging family background and are willing to work hard. |
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Mr. Ernst F. Lied was born in Columbus, Ohio and attended the University of Kansas for two years, where he played on the golf team. He ultimately graduated from the University of Nebraska in 1927. Mr. Lied became a Buick dealer in Omaha, Nebraska and later his dealership was ranked third in the country for the number of cars sold. Mr. Lied established his charitable foundation in 1972, and upon his death in 1980 at age 74 nearly his entire estate funded the Lied Foundation Trust. Lied Foundation Trust has enhanced the capabilities of many schools and enriched the quality of many lives! |
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*All photos used are original, can be found on unlv.edu, UNLV social media or have references indicated |
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