The Student Academic Success Sessions are supplemental education programs designed to impart the necessary academic skills to attendees through engaging conversation and discussion.
All virtual sessions can be found on Blackboard (https://bb.siue.edu). After you login to Blackboard, navigate to the Student Academic Success Sessions (SASS) organization by clicking mySIUE and then My Organizations.
Some videos may be repeated from previous semesters, please plan accordingly to watch five different videos if you are trying to receive credit. Also, please consult your advisor about needing to complete a health credit or not!
Data on who has watched the videos is pulled weekly. Please allow some time for our data analytics to upload that information.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to Dr. Kelly Atkins (kelatki@siue.edu), Associate Director of Student Success or Wyatt Bridger (wbridge@siue.edu), Student Success Coach.
Note:
SASS workshops are not required for all students and are not a graduation requirement for the general student population.
We apologize for any confusion this may have caused and appreciate your understanding.
Spring 2026 SASS Workshops
Date: January 5th-16th Location:Virtual (Blackboard)
Session Title:What is ACCESS
Presenter:Dr.Dominic Dorsey
Description:Join the Director of ACCESS, Dominic Dorsey II, as he explains all about ACCESS, the mission, vision, and campus goals as well as how students receive resources and support through our office!
Description: Suicide is an upsetting and scary topic for many college-aged people. At the same time, empowering young people by educating them on the topic is key to addressing the problem. This presentation is meant to raise awareness about suicide and educate college students on strategies for suicide prevention, including warning signs and steps for providing support to a peer struggling with suicidal thoughts.
Date:February 11th Location:Student Success Center 0200 Time: 5-6pm
Session Title: Sexual Health Education
Presenter:Cathy Passananti
Description: More details to come.
Date: February 26th Location:Student Success Center 0200 Time: 5-6pm
Session Title:Mental Health and Midterms
Presenter:Wyatt Bridger and Jay Finck
Description:Join us as the Offices of Academic Success and Counseling Services provide resources on how to maintain your sanity and overcome academic obstacles that come with midterms. Further details coming soon!!
Date: March 4th Location: Student Success Center 0200 Time:5-6pm
Session Title: Alcohol Awareness
Presenter: Cathy Passananti
Description: More details to come.
Date:March 17-28th Location:Virtual (Blackboard)
Session Title:It's giving... Unprepared
Presenter:Wyatt Bridger
Description:Are you someone who is struggling with Time Management or Procrastination? Have you filled out your calendar this semester for important due dates and deadlines? Hmmm, it’s giving… unprepared. Please join us as one of our Success Coaches helps you to battle procrastination, overcome time management issues, and charge towards success with a completed planner. All students will need to bring their preferred calendar (paper, phone, or computer) as well as their class syllabi.
Date: April 1st Location: Student Success Center 0200 Time:5-6pm
Session Title: Social Media is no joke
Presenter: Bridgette Hemberger
Description: More details to come.
Date:April 27th - May 1st Location:Virtual (Blackboard)
Session Title: Finals Prep
Presenters: Academic Success Team
Description:During this session, the Success Coach team will provide study strategies and tips to pass your final exams. If you have been stressing out and in need of academic assistance to finish the semester strong, we are here for you!
Fall 2025 SASS Workshops
Date: September 4th Location:Student Success Center 0200 Time: 5-6pm
Session Title: Why Am I Here?
Presenter: Dr. Letrice Young
Description: Being in a new space can be exciting and a little bit scary at the same time. The session about "Why Am I Here?" will help you answer that question as to "Why Are You Here?" at SIU-Edwardsville. We will use your current classification as a starting point and allow it to navigate your direction into the future. It is my personal goal to equip you with some tools you will need as you continue on this academic/personal/social journey.
Date:September 30th Location:Student Success Center 0200 Time:5-6pm
Session Title: It's Giving... Unprepared
Presenter: Wyatt Bridger
Description: Are you someone who is struggling with Time Management or Procrastination? Have you filled out your calendar this semester for important due dates and deadlines? Hmmm, it’s giving… unprepared. Please join us as one of our Success Coaches helps you to battle procrastination, overcome time management issues, and charge towards success with a completed planner. All students will need to bring their preferred calendar (paper, phone, or computer) as well as their class syllabi.
Date:October 6-17th Location:Virtual (Blackboard)
Session Title: When Life is Lif’ing Hard: Surviving and Thriving Amidst Adversity
Presenter:Leighann Fuller
Description: “When Life is Lifing Hard: Surviving and Thriving Amidst Adversity” is a presentation on how to build resilience and overcome difficulties life throws at you. None of us are exempt from difficulty and adversity in life, and all we can control is our reaction to what life throws our way. Come learn strategies to help you carry on with your goal of graduating when life gets hard.
Date: October 22nd Location:Student Success Center 0200 Time: 5-6pm
Session Title:Making Friends
Presenter:Kimmel Belonging and Engagement Hub
Description:Join the staff of the Kimmel Belonging and Engagement Hub for a night of fun friend making. Further details coming soon!!
Date: November 12th Location: Student Success Center 0200 Time:5-6pm
Session Title: College Etiquette
Presenter: Leslie Boudouris
Description: This session features tips, tricks, and examples what to do and what NOT to do as a college student naviagting communicating with faculty and staff, other students, and the world of college as a whole. Whether this is our first semester at SIUE or your last, there is always something to be learned to be better at navigating the campus community. Further details coming soon!!
Description: College life can feel overwhelming when you’re trying to balance classes, assignments, jobs, and everything in between. Executive functioning skills—like organizing, planning ahead, managing time, and staying focused—are key to making it all work. In this session, you’ll learn simple, practical strategies to take control of your schedule, reduce stress, and reach your goals. You’ll leave with tools you can start using right away to make college feel more manageable and set yourself up for success.
Date:Dec 1-12th Location:Virtual (Blackboard)
Session Title: Don't Panic- Just Plan It
Presenters: Wyatt Bridger and Leighann Fuller
Description:During this session, the Success Coach team will provide study strategies and tips to pass your final exams. If you have been stressing out and in need of academic assistance to finish the semester strong, the Success Coach team is here for you!
Summer 2025 SASS Workshops
Date: May 19th - 30th Location: Virtual (Blackboard)
Session Title: Something to Chew On
Presenter: Dr. Brenda Klostermann
Description:
Want to know how food, nutrition, health, and success in college go together? Watch this SASS session to learn how the food you eat can impact your effectiveness in school.
Date: June 2nd-20th Location: Virtual (Blackboard)
Session Title: College Students & Mental Health
Presenter: Laura Baker
Description:
College can be a challenging time. Please join us virtually to break the stigma around mental health and discuss how to navigate supporting your mental health as a college student.
Date: July 7th-25th Location: Virtual (Blackboard)
Session Title: Time Management
Presenter: Dawn Huckelberry
Description:
Do you struggle with balancing your school life with your personal life? Would you like to gain control and confidence in managing your time effectively? If so, this is the webinar for you. This workshop will feature tips and tricks from an Academic Advisor to help you build better time management skills.
Self-Care in a Virtual World - The world we live in today, we are surrounded by technology and all that comes with it. There is this feeling that it won't change anytime soon. Here are some tips and tricks to take care of yourself outside of the virtual world.
How To Learn - Need help on how to study and study efficiently? This session might just be for you!
Synchronizing Your Priorities - Do your priorities seem to be all over the place? Take the time to get them in order now!
Combating Zoom Fatigue - Too many Zoom meetings? We feel you! Here are some tips to make them a little better!
Social Anxiety in a Post-COVID World – If you’re feeling like your social skills have gotten a little rusty during the COVID-19 pandemic, you’re not alone. As social distancing restrictions loosen and more people become fully vaccinated, social anxiety is increasingly common – and totally normal.
Oct. 18th-29th: A Cougar’s Guide to Sexual Communication & Consent - When it comes to sex, consent should always be clear, knowing, and voluntary. People communicate about sex in different ways. If you are not sure if you have voluntary consent, please watch the following video.
Nov. 1st-12th: Mindfulness - Life is crazy. We work, go to school, may take care of family members, have a family of our own and just in general always have a lot going on. Learning how to be mindful might be worth your time!
Nov. 15th-26th: Sleep Hygiene - Sleep plays an integral role in health. A good night’s sleep empowers the body to recover and lets you wake up refreshed and ready to take on the day. Learn how to make healthy sleepy habits.
Nov. 29th-Dec. 10th: Accessible Campus Community and Equitable Student Support (ACCESS) – Come and learn what all our ACCESS office has to offer and provide to our SIUE students.
Spring 2022 SASS Archive
Jan. 24th- Feb. 4th: Laura Baker- College Students & Mental Health
Feb. 7th - Feb. 18th: Alpona Stamboldjiev & Mark Schoenherr- Utilizing good practice Univ. Systems
Feb. 21st-Mar. 4th: Dawn Huckelberry- Time Management
Mar. 7th- Mar. 18th: Amy Nusser -Culture Shock
Mar. 21st - Apr. 1st: Denise Petty & Nathan Brown- March Motivation
Apr. 4th - Apr. 15th: Public Health Seniors- Mental Health in Students in the COVID 19 Pandemic
Session Title: Should I visit Counseling Services?
Presenter: Adriana Givens-Keeper
Description: In this session, we'll explore SIUE Counseling Services office and the services they offer to our student body population. Students will gain a better understanding of when to seek assistance for mental health concerns and strategies to cope. This session will explain ways to connect with the office as well as supplemental materials to help during a mental health crisis. If you have ever experienced mental health concerns, you do not want to miss this session.
Date: February 4th Location: Student Success Center 0200 Time: 5-6pm
Session Title: Why Am I Here?
Presenter: Dr. Letrice Young
Description: Being in a new space can be exciting and a little bit scary at the same time. The session about "Why Am I Here?" will help you answer that question as to "Why Are You Here?" at SIU-Edwardsville. We will use your current classification as a starting point and allow it to navigate your direction into the future. It is my personal goal to equip you with some tools you will need as you continue on this academic/personal/social journey.
Date: February 19th Location: Student Success Center 0200 Time: 5-6pm
Session Title: It's not a matter of IF but WHEN
Presenter: Maddyline Ligon
Description: In this session, we'll explore how a lack of self-awareness and common communication pitfalls can spark avoidance and conflicts in our personal and professional relationships. Are you worried about emailing a professor? Stressed about addressing an issue with that friend or family member? Regretting a blow up you directed at someone you care about? We can think it through and explore practical tools to help you identify your emotions and approach tough conversations proactively. After all, feelings, miscommunication and conflict are inevitable—it's not a question ofif, butwhen. The key is being prepared to navigate them with confidence and understanding!
Date: March 5th- March 15th: Location: Virtual (Blackboard)
Session Title:How can ACCESS help me?
Presenter: Dominic Dorsey
Description: Join the Director of ACCESS, Dominic Dorsey II as he explains all about ACCESS, the mission, vision and campus goals as well as how students receive resources and support through our office!
Date: March 19th Location: MUC- International Room Time: 5-6pm
Session Title: Gen-Z guide to combatting the need for immediate gratification
Presenter: Wyatt Bridger
Description: Students now, more than ever, live in an era where information is available at their fingertips. Everything is readily accessible, and students want immediate gratification in everything they do, media they absorb, and choices they make. In this session, we will explore how to slow things down, take your time, and get comfortable with being uncomfortable.
Date: April 8th Location: Student Success Center 0200 Time: 5-6pm
Session Title: When Life is Lif'ing Hard: Surviving and Thriving Amidst Adversity
Presenter: Leighann Fuller
Description: Life happens to us all. We cannot control much of what life throws at us, but we can control our response. We can learn healthy coping mechanisms and strategies to not only survive difficulties, but we can thrive despite challenges life throws our way. If you need encouragement and strategies to persist through difficulties, please join me for an encouraging and informative session on how to handle challenges life brings your way!
Date: April 10th -20th Location: Virtual (Blackboard)
Session Title: Acknowledging Privilege
Presenter: Meagan Arnold
Description: What is Privilege? Do I have it? How would I know? Join academic advisor Meagan Arnold as she defines privilege and how to recognize and utilize the platform of privilege to assist marginalized and disenfranchised groups.
Date: April 23rd- May 7th Location: Virtual (Blackboard)
Session Title: Ready for Finals?
Presenters: Wyatt Bridger and Leighann Fuller
Description: During this session, the Success Coach team will provide study strategies and tips to pass your final exams. If you have been stressing out and in need of academic assistance to finish the semester strong, the Success Coach team is here for you!
All virtual sessions can be found on Blackboard ( https://bb.siue.edu). After you login to Blackboard, navigate to the Student Academic Success Sessions (SASS) organization by clicking mySIUE and then My Organizations.
Some videos may be repeated from previous semesters, please plan accordingly to watch five different videos if you are trying to receive credit. Also, please consult your advisor about needing to complete a health credit or not!
Data on who has watched the videos is pulled weekly. Please allow some time for our data analytics to upload that information.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to Dr. Kelly Atkins, Associate Director of Student Success.
