Tech Returns To Class; Admin Focused On New Additions

Tennessee Tech students returned to class Thursday.

Launchpad Student Success Center Director Angie Briggs said it can be challenging for new students to start in the spring because most other students are already familiar with the university. Briggs said the number one way for students to start strong is to make sure they are going to all their classes, even on the first day.

“It can be hard to catch up once you start behind,” Briggs said. “We see that in students who maybe have missed class for the first few days. For various reasons it’s hard for them to get back in the groove of things and then the work kind of starts to snowball on them and they’re behind on their homework and deadlines.”

Briggs said students should get involved in Tech’s Spring Kickoff, a series of events designed to help students get plugged into the university over the next couple weeks. Briggs said each student also has an academic advisor who is there to answer any questions and help them get even more connected with the Tech community.

“Being in contact with their instructors if they have any issues or if they have any questions, so just being really proactive on the front end, will set them up for success,” Briggs said.

Briggs said starting a spring semester is often easier for returning students because they know how to navigate campus and have a network in place. Briggs said some students report that the cold weather can be a factor making it challenging to start a new semester each January, but it has not been a big issue.

“We advise a lot of students, if they’re commuting from campus might have to part a little further away but we do have the shuttles available,” Briggs said. “So dress warm, take advantage of the shuttles, maybe get here a little bit earlier so that you have time to catch the shuttle.”