MIDDLE TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY
SSS NEW STUDENT ORIENTATION
W e E n c o u r a g e .  W e E m p o w e r.  W e I n s p i r e .
SSS at MTSU
Melissa Towe, Director
Julia Johnson, Counselor
Madison Lowrance, Counselor
Sarah Broh, Secretary
SSS Mission Statement
We encourage YOU to achieve academic and personal success and to strive for
excellence.
We empower YOU to learn and succeed in college and life by offering a
multitude of free services including personal support, academic counseling,
tutoring, workshops and cultural events.
We inspire YOU to have faith in YOUR abilities and make YOUR dreams of a
bachelor’s degree a reality.
SSS Office Important Information
Office Hours 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
Monday through Friday
Julia advises A-L
Madison advises M-Z
Please schedule appointments
Make SSS visits a part of your regular monthly schedule
Computer lab with printer
Copier and fax available-see Sara
Find Us Online
Website: www.mtsu.edu/ssupport
Email: ssupport@mtsu.edu
Twitter: MTSU_SSS
Facebook: TRiO Student Support Services MTSU
Instagram: Coming Soon!
YOUR First Semester Responsibilities
Office Visits:
First visit
Complete your Needs Assessment
Complete the LASSI Inventory
Second visit
Sign your Plan of Action
Sign your Member Agreement
Mid-term reports October 19-30th
Visit after priority registration for Spring 2016
Attend any THREE success workshops
How We Help you
Provide a “home away from home”
Provide academic and career advising
Help you retain your HOPE Scholarship
Assist with time management and study habits
FREE Tutoring
TI-89 Calculator loan program
How We Help YOU
Free scantrons and blue books
Assist with unexpected situations
Provide referrals for campus resources
Discuss semester dates and deadlines
FAFSA assistance
Graduate school assistance
SSS Workshops & Events
See the 2015 Important Dates & Deadlines (yellow sheet)
2015 Workshops (pink sheet)
Meet & Greet Events - KUC 308 11:30 am -1:30 pm
Mid Term Madness Thursday, October 22nd
SSS Tutoring Information
Tutoring is FREE to all active SSS members
Tutoring sessions are one-on-one
Get tutoring when you have a “C” in a course
Must complete tutor request application
Tutoring has begun
Schedule tutoring in the SSS office
Welcome to SSS
Let us help you succeed!
Take advantage of all the FREE services
Take advantage of the knowledge SSS has to offer you.
We Encourage.  We Empower.  We Inspire.
Time Management
AND OTHER THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW!!!
Until we can manage time, we can manage
nothing else.
~Peter F. Drucker
Need to Know: Classroom
Show up on time
DO NOT sleep
Take necessary supplies
Do not TEXT in class
Sit close to the front
Turn cell phones to vibrate
Be prepared for class
Know whether drinks or food
are permitted
Make eye contact
Keep your eyes open
Keep your head up
Refrain from chatting to your
neighbor
Need To Know: Instructor
READ Your Syllabus
Complete assignments and readings each week (not just at the
beginning of the semester)
Develop a semester action plan
Know the attendance policy
Familiar with instructors office location, hours, email address, and
phone number
Build rapport with instructors
Need To Know: General
Know your TN Lottery (Hope), grant, loan, and scholarship requirements
Attendance may be reported and non-attendance may alter your
financial aid
How many hours equal full-time?
-Do not drop/withdraw below full-time without speaking to
your counselor
-May alter your financial aid
Stay on track for graduation -15 hour recommended course load
How Much Time Do I Have
Classes
24 hours in a day
168 hours in a week
2,184 hours in a 13 week semester!
Family
Work
8,736 hours in a year
Your College
Career
87,360 hours in a decade
34,944 hours
Personal Time
Family
Clubs &
Organizations
Prioritizing Your Time
Realize your personal values
Define what is important to you
Prioritize those important tasks
Clearly define the goals you want to accomplish
Create rewards for completing those goals within the time frame you set up
Effective Time Management Tools
Personalize your time management tools and use what works for you!
Daily To Do Lists
Semester Calendars
Daily Agendas
Planners
Cell Phones (not to be used in class!)
Effective Time Management Tools
Free Apps
Remember The Milk
Evernote
Timeful
Listastic
Finish
Super Notes
Google Keep
Scheduling: Planning
Look at your class syllabus for EACH class - Include class assignments, due dates, exam
dates, and paper/project deadlines. Also include:
Class times
Meetings and Workshops
Work Schedule
Family Responsibilities
Study Time
Personal Time
Scheduling: Things to Remember
Things to remember when planning your schedule:
1.
At what time do I study best?
2.
What fun activities do I want to do this week? Month?
3.
Plan to plan my next schedule?
4.
Is my schedule flexible enough to handle unexpected events or activities?
5.
Is my schedule realistic?
6.
Am I overscheduled?
Scheduling: The Benefits
Increased Motivation
Better professional and personal relationships
Increased free time to try new things
Improve Self-esteem and feelings of accomplishment
Reduces Stress
Increases Productivity
More time for things you want to do
Better grades
Procrastination: The Effects
Increased Stress & Frustration
Lower grades
Quality of work decreases
Less time to do things that are important to you
Possibly forgetting important tasks & assignments
Reduced feelings of accomplishment and self-esteem
One Last Thing…
Stay focused on YOUR education and YOUR experience at MTSU. Use
the tools you are given to make college work for you.
Get Planning!
Best of luck this year!
Melissa, Julia, Madison, & Sarah