Academic Resources

Peer Academic Coaching is a free resource for students of any level or discipline who want to develop their academic success skills. Our friendly peer academic coaches (PACs) are highly trained undergraduate students who can help with time management, study skills, overcoming procrastination, and much more.

CommLab is a student-operated tutoring center that promotes success in Public Speaking. CommLab coaches can provide services for oral presentations in any discipline, regardless of course subject or context.

The CommLab is located on the second floor of Newman Library, Room 2034. To get to 2034 from the main entrance of Newman, go straight past the elevators and turn left. Walk straight and look for a door on your left, just past the Data Visualization Studio.

Hours: 11-6pm on Monday - Thursday, and 6-8pm on Sunday.

Our Math Tutoring webpage has information about the math tutoring lab, private tutoring, Student Success Center tutoring, and more.

The Student Success Center, located in Newman Library Room 419, is committed to providing holistic support services and programs that develop self-directed and lifelong learners within a diverse and inclusive environment.  They offer free academic support to students of all levels.

Services include:

• Individual peer tutoring
• Weekly drop-in tutoring, no appointment needed
• Individual peer coaching on time management, study skills, and more
• Student-presented seminars to build your academic skills

See the websites linked above for instructions on how to access each service.

Don’t wait for things to get bad! Enjoy a lower-stress semester by building good academic skills early.

The Virginia Tech Writing Center is a free service for all Virginia Tech students, faculty, and staff, at all levels, working with writing and reading assignments from any course. The Writing Center aims to support all writers within our community and foster an environment in which students’ learning differences are respected and addressed. We employ a diverse group of graduate and undergraduate writing coaches working in multiple disciplines across campus. We strive to uphold VT’s global land-grant values of discovery, learning, and outreach. In doing so, we are committed to:

• Supporting students in all stages of the writing process.
• Encouraging and facilitating collaboration among students.
• Celebrating language diversity and growth.
• Promoting interdisciplinary understandings of thinking and writing.
• Engaging in research-supported pedagogy and best practices.

We are also committed to keeping our staff and clients safe, so all of our services will be online until the threat of the coronavirus is gone.

Online Writing Center Services: Almost everybody agrees that writing is an important skill. But how does one get better at it? Through our individual writing consultations and multilingual services, we offer undergraduate and graduate students a range of resources for developing their communication skills.  All of our services are free and online only. There are two types of writing sessions available, as well as conversation support.  You can see all the schedules and make an appointment here.

Advising Ambassadors (students) are excited to assist you through online academic planning tools and provide information about advising resources. Academic Planning Workshops will entail creating a semester-by-semester plan using the HokieGPA tool in HokieSpa (formerly Pathways Planner) and planning your student experience including things like study abroad or any internship opportunities. Note that students should always work with their academic advisor(s) in addition to these student-led resources.

Students can sign up to attend an Academic Planning through Navigate. These sessions are scheduled for 1 hour, and assist the students through HokieGPS and DARS, and allow time for students to create at least 2 planned terms within HokieGPS. Once students attend a workshop, they are added to an academic planning Canvas site for follow up information and the opportunity to attend office hours with the Advising Ambassadors regarding HokieGPS.

Click here for information and registration.

The Student Success Center offers seminars on effective learning strategies, mastering online and technology-based courses, test-taking skills, time management, overcoming procrastination, and more! Click here for information.

Consult this Academic Standing Flowchart to determine steps needed to get back into Good Academic Standing.

UNIV 1004: College Success Strategies (3 credits, A-F): If your overall GPA is 2.5 or below, strongly consider taking this course. Course credit earned in UNIV 1004 cannot be applied toward graduation requirements. The credits earned will be used to determine full-time student status, for financial aid, and for other eligibility issues. The grade you earn will be computed in the semester in which you are enrolled in the class as well as your overall GPA. 

This course is designed to empower students with the skills and personal qualities for creating greater success in college and in life. Students will learn how to navigate Virginia Tech's campus, take charge of your academic courses by making wise choices, and staying on track to achieve their goals. The course is divided into three parts: academic, personal, and professional success.

LAHS 1014: Academic Success through Personal Investment and Responsibility - ASPIRE (1 credit, A-F): If you are on Academic Probation or returing from Academic Suspension, strongly consider taking this course. Course credit earned in LAHS 1014 cannot be applied toward graduation requirements. The grade you earn will be computed in the semester in which you are enrolled in the class as well as your overall GPA. This course helps students on academic probation and/or returning from academic suspension to develop academic skills, behaviors, and motivation towards success; focuses on the development and application of college-level study skills, personal success strategies, and the use of campus resources that enhance individual student achievement. This course will help connect students with their self-motivation, clarify your goals, and define their own success. Each student will engage in personalized academic coaching to increase their skills throughout the semester.