There are many reasons why students struggle in their courses. If you are currently struggling, ask yourself why.

 

Are you struggling with understanding the course materials? Are you having difficulty completing your assignments due to poor time management? Is there something going on personally that is making it hard for you to focus?

 

Once you've determined the reason(s) you're struggling, take the following steps:

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• Email your instructor and ask for help. Remember, your instructor is there to support you and clarify any questions or concerns you may have about your discussions/assignments. If you're struggling because of personal challenges, consider sharing appropriate details with your instructor so they understand what may be affecting your coursework. You will be surprised at how many instructors are willing to work with you and will help create a plan for you to successfully complete their course. Check the announcements section to view their contact information. If your instructor offers virtual office hours, it will be listed in the announcements. Book an appointment to facilitate the conversation. Sometimes, they will include their phone number in the announcements as well. Call them. When emailing your instructor, remember, they have 24 hours to respond to your email. If appropriate, please copy me on the email at advising@snhu.edu so that I can better support you.

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• Contact me ASAP. As your academic advisor, we can address your struggles together and discuss your options for attaining success. You don't have to figure it out on your own. Let's have a chat. Please email to schedule a call or book one on @AdvisingSupportWithBrenda. If you prefer email contact, shoot me an email.  

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• Utilize the late policy. If you're struggling, you may not be up for completing an assignment or maybe due to the circumstances, you miss a deadline. It's okay! Take a deep breath. There is a late policy in place for a reason. You have a week from the deadline to submit your assignment for a 10% penalty. For instance, if your assignment is due Sunday, February 8th, you have until the following Sunday to get the assignment submitted. It's always best to submit something than nothing at all. Get partial credit!

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• Connect with Academic Support. In Brightspace, through the academic support tab in your course homepage, you can access 24/7 Drop-In Tutoring, Learning Support Specialists (formerly known as peer tutors), Written Feedback, Workshops, and Academic Coaching. When looking for a Workshop that fits your needs, type in keywords such as APA, writing, or Statistics. If you're struggling with time management, task prioritization or organization, I recommend scheduling an appointment with an academic coach. 

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Academic Resource Center - Find helpful resources to complete your coursework, information

about available Workshops and AI usage as a student

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Academic Support Overview: Getting Help with Your Schoolwork (2025)

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Free 24/7 Tutoring for SNHU Students

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Getting Started at SNHU: How to Get Writing Help

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How to Get Good Grades at SNHU? The Rubric Will Help

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Shapiro Library

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SNHU Academic Support: How to Do Your Homework 

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Tricky Math or Statistics Problem? Contact SNHU Academic Support 24/7

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What Academic Resources Can Help Me in College?

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