How else should I prepare for classes and my academic journey at SNHU?​​​​​

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• Preview Your Course(s) in Brightspace. Two weeks prior to every term, your course(s) will be accessible to you in Brightspace. I strongly recommend previewing your course(s) once they become available and reviewing your course syllabus. If you want, you can work ahead on your discussion posts or assignments before the term starts. However, you will not be able to post/upload the discussion/assignments until the term starts.

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• Be prepared that MOST books are only available digitally. Many students prefer to  have physical, or looseleaf, copies of books. Believe me, I get it. There's something about being able to hold a book in your hands and turn the pages. Unfortunately, we are living in an increasingly digital world. When you visit the online bookstore, if a looseleaf copy of the book is available, you will notice that it is likely listed as an optional book to purchase and the required one is the digital book. Please make sure to purchase the required digital book, as it can contain activities for you to complete that will be graded.

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• Be mindful of assignment deadlines. All classes at SNHU have the same deadlines: Discussion posts are due by 11:59 PM on Thursdays and assignments (i.e., quizzes, journal assignments, papers, projects) are due by 11:59 PM on Sundays. In the first week of classes, discussion posts and assignments are due in the Eastern time zone. So, if you are in the Central, Mountain, Pacific or any other time zones, just be mindful that the discussion and assignment will be due in the Eastern time zone in the first week of classes. This is only the case for the first week of classes, and from Weeks 2 - 8 of the term, everything will be due by 11:59 PM in your local time zone. 

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• Understand the non-participation policy. The non-participation policy states that you must participate in at least one graded activity in the first week of classes to prevent being administratively withdrawn from your course(s) on Monday of Week 2 of the term. Please make sure to participate in a graded activity in your first week of classes. Hopefully, you will submit both your Thursday discussion and Sunday assignment. 

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• Understand the assignment late policy. The late policy can be utilized in all SNHU courses but it only applies to the Sunday assignments. Discussion posts cannot be submitted past the Thursday deadline, unless you have Online Accessibility Center (OAC) accommodations. Please prioritize the discussions and post them by 11:59 PM on Thursday. The late policy allows you to submit a Sunday assignment 7 days past the deadline for a 10% penalty. For example, if an assignment is due on Sunday, February 8th and you missed the deadline, you have until the following Sunday to submit it for a 10% penalty. 

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• Learn how to communicate with your instructors. SNHU courses are asynchronous, which means there is no real-time, live participation. You will not be logging into Zoom or Google classroom for a lecture from your instructor. There are also no pre-recorded sessions. Instead, you will have the flexibility to login to Brightspace when you want to complete your discussions and assignments. In this type of learning environment, interactions with your instructors will be mainly through email. Instructors are not required to have contact with students via phone or online chat. However, the university requires that instructors respond to student emails within 24 hours.​

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• Familiarize yourself with Academic Support. Do you struggle with writing or math? Are you struggling with doing APA citation? Do you have difficulty managing your time, prioritizing tasks, or staying organized? Southern New Hampshire University offers students a wide range of support resources, so make sure to learn what is available to you early on in your academic journey. Start by checking out the student support services and resources pages on this site. Keep in mind that through your course homepage (where you see your instructor's photo and email) you can access Academic Support. On the top navigation bar, click on Academic Support to access 24/7 Drop-In Tutoring, Workshops, Written Feedback, and Academic Coaching. Also, check out the resources available through the Academic Resource Center. 

Academic Resource Center - Find helpful resources to complete your coursework, information about available Workshops and AI usage as a student

 

• Know that mental health support is available if needed. Do you suffer from anxiety or depression? Are you worried about getting through school? Are you grieving the loss of a loved one? Know that there is help available to you. Connect with SNHU's Mantra Health Care Hub. This program is offered at no cost to all SNHU who have an active status. Mantra offers wellness resources, peer support, crisis support, and 6 free counseling sessions per year! 

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• Contact the Online Accessibility Center (OAC) if you have a diagnosed disability or illness. Whether you had an IEP in high school or were recently diagnosed with anxiety, depression Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or ADHD, please reach out to the OAC. You may be able to get accommodations that can help you be successful throughout your academic journey. 

Online Accessibility Center (OAC) 

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• Evaluate your "Why" for pursuing a college education. Obtaining your degree is going to take you time, a lot of energy, and money, so it's important to understand why you are pursuing it. What do you hope to accomplish with your degree? Where do you see yourself in 5 years after receiving your diploma? Understand your "Why" so that when you experience challenges along the way you can stay the course. It's easy to feel like giving up when things get tough, but if you understand your "why" you will continue to persist. Your "why" well help you navigate rough waters.

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• Reflect on whether the major you have chosen will help you accomplish your  long-term career goals. Choosing the right major is not always easy. Some students start their first term knowing exactly what they want to major in while others are unsure. As you try to identify which major will be the best fit for you, ask yourself, what's your passion? What did you dream of becoming when you were growing up? What kind of an impact would you like to have in this world? Think about what you're good at and the types of skills that you've acquired over the years that you'd like to develop through a college degree. It's also worthwhile reflecting on what job roles would be your ideal and research what degrees are required for those positions.  Finally, it's recommended to always contact the career services department to obtain further insight into what degree would help you achieve your goals. ​​​

Career Services 

Career 360

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• Take ownership of your education. Start your academic journey by taking ownership of your education. Before you start classes, review your Academic Evaluation. You can access your Academic Evaluation by clicking on View My Academic Evaluation under the Quick Links in your student portal (mySNHU) homepage. Use your Academic Evaluation to monitor your academic progress throughout your time at SNHU. If you're a transfer student or completed prior learning credits, make sure that your transfer credits have been applied to your degree program at SNHU. See what courses you're required to complete for your degree. Be proactive, and let me know what courses you're interested in completing. Course planning is a collaborative process. 

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• Speak to a financial counselor and be proactive in becoming financially literate. Going to college is a huge investment in your personal growth and one that will open many doors for you in the future. While investing in your college education is a worthwhile pursuit, it does not mean you should go into it blindly. Understand the cost, the FAFSA application process, and your financial aid breakdown. Will you be receiving a Pell grant and/or student loans? Connect with a financial counselor and ask questions about scholarships and alternatives for paying for your education. Ask them to explain your financial aid package and inquire if you will be receiving a book voucher to purchase your books. If you anticipate getting a financial aid refund, make sure you know the timeline for getting your refund and how it will be received. Learn when you will be entering the loan repayment period. In essence, ask as many questions as possible so that you can make informed decisions about your education. 

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• Read the Student Handbook 2025-2026 Academic Year carefully. As a member of the SNHU community, it is critical that you understand your student rights and responsibilities as well as the university's rules, policies, and procedures. You can access the Student Handbook HERE.​​

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• Invest in a laptop/desktop that is compatible with Windows 11 Home or Pro if you don't already have one. While you may be able to complete some coursework using a phone, tablet, or Chromebook, these devices often do not provide the functionality needed for many assignments. A Windows 11 Home or Pro laptop or desktop is strongly recommended. You will need the right software to be able to create Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, and PowerPoint presentations. You will need Microsoft Office 365 to complete your coursework. If you don’t have a computer yet, make sure to check out our Technical Requirements and Support to ensure that you purchase the right computer. Until you purchase your computer, check to see if there is a local library near you where you could do your coursework or ask a family member or friend if you can borrow their computer. If these are not options for you, you may want to push your start date until you have a computer.

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• Find a dedicated space in your home. Many of us don't have a home office. However, a dedicated space doesn't have to be a home office. It can be a desk or a quiet area in your household where you can complete your weekly readings and assignments without distractions. Completing your coursework in a dedicated workspace will help you stay focused and productive.

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• Get a notepad(s), pens, planner, physical calendar or whiteboard. Although your classes are online, some students benefit from old-fashioned note-taking to help them retain information and to keep track of their assignment deadlines. Discover what works best for you.​​  

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• Understand what it means to have academic integrity. If you have academic integrity you are committed to the values of honesty, trust, fairness, respect and responsibility in your academic work. Without academic integrity, you will not get very far in college, so it is essential for you to have a good understanding of what academic integrity entails and what constitutes as violations. Review page 53-55 of your Student Handbook 2025-2026. 

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• Learn how to cite your sources correctly from Day 1 to avoid plagiarism. When completing your assignments, you must use your own words. You want to be proud of the work you submit, so make sure it's truly yours! It's okay to use someone else's words, but when you do, you need to give them credit, otherwise it's plagiarism. If you want to use someone else's words in your paper, you will need to include an in-text citation and a references section to show where you obtained the information you've cited. Plagiarism can get you into big trouble and may lead to academic dismissal. Just don't do it! 

APA Academic Writer Tool

APA Citation for College: A Brief Overview

​APA In-Text Citation Examples 

​APA Style: Basics

Citing Your Sources Guide

SNHU Academic Support: How to Format Papers in APA (7th Edition)

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• Learn how to use AI responsibly. It seems like everyone is using Artificial Intelligence (AI) these days, right? If you're going to use Generative AI tools such as Grammarly, Chat GPT or Google Gemini, you must learn how to use them responsibly and how to properly cite information obtained from AI tools. There are many resources available for you to learn. Start with reviewing the resources available through the SNHU Academic Resource Center. 

 

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