Managing Time
What is Good Time Management?
Good time management starts with deciding what needs to get done, identifying specific goals, and listing steps to take to reach them. Below are some suggestions on how you might offer your student support in this area:
- Encourage your student to pick up a free calendar from the Tutoring Center and set up a time with one of the peer mentor study skills tutors, to begin the process of identifying specific goals and listing the steps you will take to reach them.
- Reassure your student that Time Management is a learned skill and there are trained study skills coaches in the Tutoring Center who are available by appointment to meet one-on-one.
- Set aside daily blocks of time for study and exam preparation that will prepare your student for the fast pace of an academic year on the quarter system at WWU. Instructors typically expect students to spend two hours working outside of class for each hour spent in class. The Academic Advising & Student Achievement Center recommends aiming for 14-16 credits per quarter in order to perform better, save money and graduate in a timely manner.
Take note of timelines for student support services around campus. Add them to your calendar ahead of time, as most will require research to obtain necessary documentation.
Registrar’s Office Important Dates and Deadlines which includes timelines for quarterly class registration, fees, and other notable dates for the academic year.
Housing
On Campus Housing Students should review:
- Housing Timeline for due dates assigned to action items required to secure and plan for room and board, due on the first day of classes each quarter, and paid through your student’s MyWestern portal.
- Payment plans for housing through the Student Business Office.
- Housing move-in and move out processes as well as break schedules.
- Term dates for each quarter at Western.
New or returning WWU students should review the Financial Aid Department's website to note the deadlines assigned to each action item. Additional financial aid deadlines to reference include:
- WASFA (Washington Application for State Financial Aid) and FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)
- October 1: Application opens
- January 31: Western’s priority deadline is January 31 of every year.
- Quarterly Deadlines are set based on your student’s first quarter of attendance for the academic year and are when all required documentation must be submitted by.
- Lock Date: Student financial aid offers are generally based on full-time enrollment. Students must notify the Financial Aid Department no later than quarterly lock date if they will be enrolled other than full time.
- Dates for receiving Financial Aid offers:
- Returning Students: receive notice to their WWU email to view offers in Web4U in mid-late summer after tuition and fee rates and state and federal grant amounts have been finalized.
- New Students: The aid offer will be sent by mail to the address on file with the Admissions Office and will be available in the student portal about 2-3 weeks following the student's admittance AND record of a valid FAFSA.
- Summer Financial Aid: Applications are available each spring when registration for summer quarter begins.
- Tuition Due Dates: Take note how long payments take to process, when they’re due and how to submit payment.
Student Business Office (SBO) has a Checklist 4 Success as well as important dates on their main home page. Note when, where and how to pay to avoid late fees by the dates they are assessed.
Each quarter, students need to activate their approved accommodations for each class. Students choose which of their approved accommodations they want to activate for each class.
Every quarter, after registering for classes, students need to complete their Certification Request Form.