hmmm

[Rafat]

Assalamu 'alaykum,

Many students do not perform as well they they should in the first year of university. In part, this is due to their lack of ability to adopt to the university system, which can be quite different to what students have had experienced previously. There are a couple of options that come to mind which may prove beneficial to these students.

1. Duty tutors: are members of the academic staff appointed by some schools of the university (such as Schools of Physics and Mathematics) to provide assistance to students who need help beyond the lectures and tutorials. Two issues that come to mind that make this system less effective are (a) large number of students and hence a lack of one-on-one assistance, (b) some students view these sessions as designed for "dumb" students and feel embarrassed to attend. SUMSA can introduce "supplementary duty tutors" to assist first year brothers and sisters. SUMSA can call for volunteers to allocate one hour per week to tutor first year kiddies (free of costs of course). Each volunteer selects a time slot plus subject(s) they can tutor. A list is compiled and posted on Musalla notice boards for brother/sisters to see.

2. Information sessions on aspects of university life: time management, coping with stress, resources available to students, tips and tricks, etc.

I am not sure if any of the above are implemented. SUMSA, however, may consider these options (and work out the details) provided it has the resources.

[firdaus]

Wassalamu 'alaykum,

Jazakallah khair for the suggestions akhi. This is definitely something to consider for next semester insha'Allah.

I think there's also been a suggestion to have a SUMSA textbook exchange, where Muslim students can swap, donate, sell, and purchase textbooks from each other.

[Miriam]

Salams

A textbook exchange is easy... just a section on the site is all we need :D

Maybe Khanji can set it up this holz. I've got a book or two to sell

[Rafat]

Assalamu 'alaykum,

Textbook exchange/trade/give away sounds very good indeed. I have a few books that are polluting my shelves which I'd like to lend to br/sis who need them; although they may be one or two editions too old. I love my books so no selling them, even my organic chemistry text book :D

[Imran]

Lol if u look in the right places in the brothers' musallah u'll find all sorts of stuff from bygone ages. Yeah that's a good idea-also we should have a section with different subjects where each person doing the subject can upload notes etc-it certainly helped me-thanx to the senior bros (some may be frequenting this forum) for their advice over the years-u know who u are-may allah reward u. I got lecture notes for physiology for guys wanting to do it for next year(3rd). Also got notes-first sem physiology is open book but it's a killer subject-

Also rafat, people stuff up first year because 1) HSC finished so they relax more 2) first years have more 8 am starts than most people 3) first years aren't used to uni lecture system. Those that adapt the fastest survive-kinda like natural selection except without the flaws. My advice, if anyone wants it is go ahead during holidays-get notes textbooks early and go ahead-especially if it's maths

[Imran]

Assalamu 'alaykum,

Textbook exchange/trade/give away sounds very good indeed. I have a few books that are polluting my shelves which I'd like to lend to br/sis who need them; although they may be one or two editions too old. I love my books so no selling them, even my organic chemistry text book :D

Lol i kept my books for my sister who's doing first year pharmacy now-but i'm with u, love my books but anything that spends too much time around me gets pretty destroyed(material objects not people). Or we could open a SUMSA library in musallah-self serve style or something

[firdaus]

If there are brothers/sisters who can get a well organised system working for this, then by all means go for it. Subhanallah, all this prep for IAW has taken a lot of time from other things. Once IAW's over, the shura will hopefully have more time to move onto/help out with other projects.

[Imran]

IAW deserves time and I think mashallah from a markettign perspective and effort perspective this year's is the mst hectic-inshallah it'll be a success. I hope alot of us attend the lectures cos this is about us just as much as for dawah to non-muslims in my opinion as we could all benefit-the people organising this has put in a lot of effort may allah reward them and we should at least attend lectures if not help in any way.

[Miriam]

Lol i kept my books for my sister who's doing first year pharmacy now-but i'm with u, love my books but anything that spends too much time around me gets pretty destroyed(material objects not people). Or we could open a SUMSA library in musallah-self serve style or something

Who's your sister i might know her? :)

[Khanji]

SUMSA Textbook Library for sale/exchange is a MUST for next year. Especially since we will have the room, due to next years store room which we will be getting next to the musallah.

[Imran]

My sister's name is Fatiha-she's a bit quite so she might go incognito-

[Rafat]

Also rafat, people stuff up first year because 1) HSC finished so they relax more 2) first years have more 8 am starts than most people 3) first years aren't used to uni lecture system. Those that adapt the fastest survive-kinda like natural selection except without the flaws. My advice, if anyone wants it is go ahead during holidays-get notes textbooks early and go ahead-especially if it's maths
I agree brother that there a wide range of factors that lead to first year bugs...erm....kids not performing as well as they should.

Your item #2 just reminded me of 1.5 years of 8 am starts. I was kind of used to it by the end of first year. Unfortunately currently I am only half-awake around noon. No discipline: yes postgraduate does undo all the hard work people put into making you a disciplined person hehehe. This (the half-asleep bit) is specially a problem while walking in the narrow corridors blocked by the pesky first year bugs.:o

[Imran]

I agree brother that there a wide range of factors that lead to first year bugs...erm....kids not performing as well as they should.

Your item #2 just reminded me of 1.5 years of 8 am starts. I was kind of used to it by the end of first year. Unfortunately currently I am only half-awake around noon. No discipline: yes postgraduate does undo all the hard work people put into making you a disciplined person hehehe. This (the half-asleep bit) is specially a problem while walking in the narrow corridors blocked by the pesky first year bugs.:o

Lol at least at school the new bugs were small enough to step on-not necessarily the case at uni-what year r u in now brother?

[Rafat]

I am vertically challenged a bit - so no squishing for me :D

I have 4.5 years down and about 2.5 years to go. Then another 10 years or so and hopefully I'll be qualified enough to get job offers :mad:

[Imran]

7 years in total sounds like a very long time but time goes quickly-at least that's what ive noticed. Before when somone became 21 or something I thought man that guy is old, then I thought whoa imagine the guy in his 80s. Then it hits you-the biggest certainty of an event in life is in fact death. So if the 7, 10 years etc help some way in preparing for this event, it's worth it

[Miriam]

My sister's name is Fatiha-she's a bit quite so she might go incognito-

Wow i havent actually met her :D strange i know most of the first year pharmers...well if she ever needs any advice she knows where to come :D

[Imran]

I'll tell her to talk to cetain people for pharmacy help-but she's a bit shy and quite so don't know if she will

[Hajar]

I'll tell her to talk to cetain people for pharmacy help-but she's a bit shy and quite so don't know if she will

What does your sister look like? I dont do pharmacy...but I can help her with her shyness. Im gonna hunt her down and break her shell! That'll do the trick :D

[Imran]

Not sure that's a good idea lol, no hunting please cos it'll take time-be careful cos I tried and I've been close to getting whooped a few times. But yeah go for it slowly without the hunting part lol