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You did it. You thought about going to school, you enrolled and now you’re ready to hit the books. So, how do you stay with it all the way to the finish line?

When surveyed UOPX students look back on their experiences, one of the most common reflections is: “I didn’t think I could do it, but …”

The reason behind that statement may be that higher education is, by definition, challenging. Another reason may be the fact that many UOPX students share a common denominator: They persevere through unbelievable odds to earn their college degrees.

And UOPX does everything within its power to help them pursue that dream.

Here are six resources you can count on as you make your game plan for success at ���۴�ý.

Andrews encourages students to not be shy when it comes to reaching out to faculty for support or with questions. Whether you need help with an assignment or have a more general question about the field you would like to enter, faculty members are here for you.

“Our faculty are really eager to help,” Andrews says, noting that she discovered this firsthand as she works to complete the University’s MBA–CB program.

Faculty help in more ways than guiding you through a class. They bring real-world experience and insight to the classroom. In 2023, for example, UOPX faculty had an average of 29.2 years of professional experience and an average of 16 years of ���۴�ý teaching experience.

If the thought of college-level math gives you anxiety, you’re not alone. The concern is real and prevalent enough that UOPX offers the Center for Mathematics Excellence to help students develop skills and confidence.

In addition to the Building Math Confidence tool, which offers tips on relieving math anxiety and virtual mentorship in math concepts and vocabulary, the center provides live tutoring in select classes.

If it’s the thought of writing that weighs on you, writing resources and time-saving tools are available through the Center for Writing Excellence. Help is available on everything from how to cite sources faster and correct mistakes to guidance on how to avoid common ethical missteps, such as plagiarism.

Both centers are available to currently enrolled students at no additional cost.

Life happens. Jobs get complicated. Kids get sick. Pressure builds. But none of that should derail your educational goals. That’s where UOPX’s Life Resource Center enters the picture.

The center offers a wealth of resources, including life coaching, counseling and content like podcasts, webinars and articles that can help you navigate life’s challenges.

All resources are confidential and complimentary. Certain resources are available a limited number of times, but you can choose to extend the services for a nominal fee.

One of UOPX’s newer offerings is a virtual student space called Bravely Belong. The program lives up to its name, Andrews says, adding, “If I were a new student, this would be a good place to connect and feel included.”

The webinar-style Zoom session is a café of sorts, an online gathering that offers a safe space for students and alumni to practice self-advocacy with the guidance of subject matter experts. Together, participants explore topics on inclusivity, mindfulness, belonging, emotional intelligence and boundaries. The intention is productive discussion pertaining to their academic and career success. 

Another place to gather, trade study tips and build community with other students is UOPX’s tried-and-true Facebook Study Sessions.

Going strong since 2016, these monthly sessions allow the University’s adult learners to gather to ask questions about schoolwork, share their experiences of what they’ve learned, and get support from fellow students and alumni. Each month features a unique study session theme.

In the end, Andrews says, it’s important to find your pace and use the resources that work best for you.

“It can be overwhelming when you start school and hear about all that’s available to you. When you come in as a new student, you don’t have to jump into all these things,” she says. As someone who got her first master’s degree 20 years ago, Andrews notes that she knows firsthand how overwhelming going back to school can be.

The first and best step Andrews recommends is to devise a time management plan.

“When I think about steps for success, I think about just that: one step at a time. The beauty of our model is that it’s set up week by week,” she says. Breaking down a degree into courses and then weekly projects is a real-life example of the adage you eat an elephant one bite at a time.

“There’s a drumbeat for how our courses are set up,” Andrews adds. “So, for me personally, I looked at the syllabus and said, ‘Here’s what I need to do every week. It doesn’t mean I didn’t get off course, but because I had a plan, I knew where I would need to get back on track.”

Andrews also shares a time management hack that she personally found invaluable. At the start of each course, she identified the week she knew would be the hardest from a workload standpoint, and then she tried as much as possible to clear everything else off her schedule.

So, get into your new “drumbeat,” make your new routine familiar and lean on the University when you need support. When the time comes, we can’t wait to hear how you finish the sentence: “I didn’t think I could do it, but …”

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