Department of Educational Services
Students seeking assistance with learning strategies, including time management, study skills, test-taking skills, and reading comprehension, may contact the Department of Educational Services (DES) directly. Students may also be referred to DES by appropriate University personnel or groups.
DES supports academic success across all SGU schools and programs by providing evidence-informed academic support, peer-assisted learning, workshops, individual consultations, and specialized programs that promote learning, academic performance, and professional development.
DES comprises four major units:
1. Learning Strategies Unit
The Learning Strategies unit helps students develop effective approaches to learning that support academic success and self-directed and lifelong learning. Services are provided through individual consultations, workshops, and presentations on topics including:
- Time and task management
- Study strategies
- Test preparation and test-taking strategies
- Test anxiety management
- Self-testing and retrieval strategies
- Long-term memory development
2. Peer Learning and Academic Enhancement Unit
The Peer Learning and Academic Enhancement unit coordinates structured peer learning opportunities, including Peer Learning Groups and small-group tutorials facilitated by eligible upper-term students trained through a standardized framework.
The unit also oversees the Academic Enhancement Programs, which provide proactive, term-based academic support through monitoring, holistic advising, and targeted interventions. In addition, it oversees student worker timesheets, supports faculty use of the student advising portal, and leads continuous process improvement initiatives within DES.
3. Supplemental Learning Unit
The Supplemental Learning unit provides faculty-led small-group review sessions for selected undergraduate senior-level science courses, including anatomy, molecular and cell biology, physiology, microbiology, and genetics. Working closely with course directors, the unit integrates learning strategies with course-specific content.
Sessions reinforce material covered during the previous week through active learning techniques. Laboratory content is not included. Attendance is voluntary and sessions are open to all students enrolled in eligible pre-clinical courses.
4. Specialized English Language Program
The Specialized English Language Program provides English language and communication support for the SGU community. The English for Medicine Pathway integrates academic and medical English instruction into the pre-clinical curriculum, allowing students to develop English proficiency while progressing through the MD curriculum with only one additional semester.
The program also delivers Communication for the Health Professions courses for the pre-clinical sciences. These courses develop academic communication skills within a healthcare context. Additional services include the Medical Academic Communication Program, which provides individualized communication support, and the Professional Communication Program, which assists students in preparing curricula vitae and personal statements for residency applications.
DES Program Recognition
DES programs have been recognized by the National Academic Advising Association and the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators for excellence in academic advising and student success initiatives.