CHELSEA POWRIE

Every student dreads facing the pressure and stress of exams, but services offered by the University of Saskatchewan mean that students don’t have to go it alone — or spend a dime.

If a student simply needs some relief time for their brain, the PAWS Your Stress program is a great option.

St. John’s Ambulance therapy dogs are available in Upper Place Riel room 323 to provide cuddles and smiles to any student who needs to have some fun. What’s Your Cap, a student group dedicated to a culture of moderating alcohol consumption at the U of S, provides the program free of charge every Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.

However, a student who needs more than just a pick-me-up can find help as well. Free tutoring is offered for writing, math and statistics classes through the University Learning Centre. Drop-in tutoring is available for help with writing assignments in room 142 of the Murray Building from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays, with extended hours until 6:30 p.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

For math and statistics, students can seek help in the Murray Building room 144 from Sunday to Friday and the varying daily hours of operation are available online at usask.ca/ulc/math. Both groups also have information on private tutors for hire.

Sometimes tutoring isn’t enough to salvage performance in a course. In that case, the U of S Students’ Union offers academic advising services. Extenuating circumstances can sometimes cause a student to need retroactive withdrawal from their classes and a meeting with an advisor can help with this process.

For arts and science students,  the Academic Advising office operates in room 248 in the Arts Building on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The office is especially busy this time of year, so phoning to make an appointment or dropping by the office as soon as possible is a good idea. Advisors can help alleviate the academic repercussions of poor course performance, and aid in withdrawal in the case of emergencies.

Mental health can have a seriously detrimental effect on students’ exam performance, so the Student Counselling Services are a valuable resource. Drop-in hours are available for first-time clients every weekday from 9 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. and 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. on the third floor of Place Riel.

After an initial visit, students can book ahead with a counsellor for follow-ups. The services are free for students enrolled in at least one course and are especially useful for anyone seeking academic concession. The counsellors are prepared to help students by continuing therapy, recommending another professional, advocating for academic standing or sending a referral to one of the doctors upstairs at Student Health Services.

Student Health Services do not offer drop-in appointments, but can be reached by phone for bookings and offers a few same-day appointments for urgent cases.

If a student is struggling with prolonged anxiety, stress or depression, which is more than just the usual end-of-term blues during the exam period, making an appointment with a professional may help ensure academic success in the future. However, as with Academic Advising, this is an extremely busy time of year so the sooner you make an appointment, the better.

In addition to these groups, the USSU Help Centre is an excellent resource to turn to. Their mission is to “provide information, referrals and personal support relating to both academic and non-academic needs” to U of S undergraduate students, so their office is a one-stop shop for information and aid. They are located in room 27 of the Arts Tunnel and have regular hours from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and until 4:30 p.m. on Fridays.

Finals season isn’t easy for anyone, but a student in despair shouldn’t give up. There are options for help with every problem under the sun and they can all be found right here on campus.