Angela Salinas / The Collegian
Time management is one problem that can infringe on a college student’s academic success, but here are several organizations available on campus that can help students manage their time more wisely.
SupportNet is one organization on campus that strives to help students through the difficult times of their college career.
SupportNet falls under the same umbrella as the Learning Center, but its name is not as well known. The goal of SupportNet is to help students make the transition to a university. They focus mainly on incoming freshmen and transfer students, but all students are welcome.
SupportNet adviser Janene Avedisian describes SupportNet as an “early alert program” that helps students in developing healthy study habits that will stay with them the rest of their academic career.
“We start by assessing the [student’s] situation and go from there,” Avedisian said. “We want to help students study smarter, not harder.”
English major Casey MacDonald is always busy with one of her many commitments. She is vice president of both her Delta Zeta sorority and the Fine Arts Club on campus. She is also a member of Fresno State’s equestrian team.
“It feels like there isn’t enough time in the day for everything,” MacDonald said.
Students like MacDonald commit to too many things during the semester and it becomes difficult for them to manage their time wisely once their academics pick up.
“I’m constantly working on things for the organizations I am a part of, but I have to remember I am a student and my first commitment is my academics,” MacDonald said.
SupportNet also puts on presentations for students who are struggling with a specific problem. One themed presentation is time management, which Avedisian is in charge of.
Public health major Edith Diaz attended the time management presentation a few weeks ago.
“The presentation was extremely helpful and it broke things down in a realistic manner,” Diaz said. “If people used these strategies then there would be a lot less stress in their lives.”
Diaz is the academic chair for her Delta Zeta sorority and plans to share the useful tips with the rest of her sisters.
“This was the first time I have heard of SupportNet, but it’s good to know we have something like this on campus,” Diaz said.
SupportNet can be used as a referral program by professors for their students if they see that they’re struggling. There has been an increase in both self-referrals and in the number of students participating in the program this semester. Avedisian also said that they have seen students who seek help from programs like SupportNet end up with a higher GPA than those who don’t.
SupportNet is located downstairs in the Collection level of the Henry Madden Library. Students can go online at www.csufresno.edu/supportnet to view a full schedule of workshops or call SupportNet at (559) 278- 8370 for additional questions.