Five-week Academic Support Courses: A Model for Student Success

The Academic Writing and Learning Center at University of Minnesota Duluth started offering three 5-week, 1-credit classes in the fall of 2018 (Reading Hacks for College; Managing Time and Stress; and Studying, Note & Test Taking). Since then, the number of sections, their content, and enrollment have significantly evolved. The courses presented challenges and offered benefits for students, faculty, and administration alike; however, the benefits to students are significant, including the scheduling flexibility and the courses being rooted in researched metacognitive strategies rather than "tricks and shortcuts."