Support for Learning

The Learning Center offers academic success coaching to graduate students in Arts, Sciences & Engineering (AS&E), the School of Medicine and Dentistry, the Simon Business School, and the Warner School of Education. Support areas include:

  • Exam preparation (including comprehensive and standardized exams)
  • Reading strategies (including reading for discussion)
  • Note-taking strategies
  • Time management, organization, and goal-setting
  • Adjustment strategies for academic life in graduate school

Graduate students who are taking AS&E undergraduate courses may benefit from the Learning Center's Study Groups and Tutoring services. All graduate students are welcome to use our Study Zone for a quiet, low distraction place to work.

Note: The Learning Center does not currently provide support services to medical residents.

One-On-One Academic Coaching

Our confidential academic coaching offers you individual discussions with a coach who will help you improve your academic performance and efficiency. Your coach will meet with you, discuss your concerns, and help you discover learning techniques that will enable you to enhance your overall academic performance.

Setting up an Appointment

All appointments with academic coaches are free, and you may meet with them for a one-time troubleshooting session or on a regular basis during the fall and spring semesters.

Appointments can be scheduled by using WC Online. However, students can also make an appointment by emailing learning@rochester.edu, calling us at (585) 275-9049, or by talking to the front desk in our office. See the WC Online Tutorial (pdf) for instructions on scheduling an appointment online.

Note: Academic coaching is in-person by default. If you prefer meeting virtually over Zoom, please contact your coach via email after you make your appointment.

Meet our Coaches

All of our academic coaches have experience working with a diverse group of students who seek to meet the demands of time management, organization, exam preparation and more.

Current Academic Coaches

Robin Frye

 Aurodeep Panda

Headshot of Robin Frye.

Robin Frye is an assistant director of the Learning Center and the lead for the Academic Success Coaching Program. She also teaches courses in the Peer-Led Team Learning (PLTL) workshop program. She has been coaching graduate and undergraduate students on study-related topics since 2011. Currently, she largely supports students at the School of Medicine and Dentistry. Robin received her PhD in developmental psychology from Clark University.

 

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Aurodeep Panda is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Chemistry where his research is focused on making cool metal complexes that catalyze different organic transformation reactions. He has a combined teaching and mentoring experience of 3 years prior to joining the Learning Center as an Academic Success Coach. Aurodeep is deeply committed to fostering an inclusive learning environment, where he can engage and empower students from diverse backgrounds with varying academic needs.

Arinze Amanekwe

dani garcia

Arinze Amanekwe is a PhD student in Warner School of Education and Human Development where he is studying Education Policy Analysis. He joined The Learning Center in March 2024 as an academic coach. His research is focused on providing more access to persons with learning disabilities, nexus between international and local education politics and policies, and student transition and access. He has a combined teaching, research and mentoring experience of 6 years working both in academia and non profit prior to his joining The Learning Center at the University of Rochester. He enjoys meeting and supporting students from diverse backgrounds..

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dani garcia is a PhD student in the Department of English at the University of Rochester. Before joining the Learning Center as an Academic Success Coach in Spring of 2024, dani taught for 10+ years at the high school, community college, and university levels in California, Michigan, New York, and abroad. Additionally, dani has served in numerous advisory and committee roles in higher education. dani is passionate about collaborating with students at all levels, safeguarding access to education, and promoting success for students with diverse backgrounds and needs.

Academic Success Coaching Resources

One-Time Workshops

Academic success coaches also offer one-time workshops on a number of topics. We will work with you to tailor the workshop to meet the needs of your student population. Common workshop topics for graduate students include:

  • Time management
  • Organization
  • Work-life balance
  • Academic support system development
  • Graduate school transition

To request a workshop, complete and submit the Coaching Workshop Request Form two weeks in advance of your requested workshop date.

Helpful Resources

These worksheets are a small sample of the many different resources we can provide you during an appointment. Please make an appointment to review these worksheets and learn how to use them most effectively.

Worksheets for graduate medical students of the School of Medicine and Denistry:

  • Tips tp Help Prepare for Step 1 (PDF)
  • Step 1 USMLE Sample Study Plan (Word Doc) (PDF)

Making an appointment:

General study resources:

Time management worksheets:

Recommended Resources:

Disclaimer: while we recommend these resources, we do not endorse or oppose the products advertised on these sites.

Academic Success Coaching FAQs

What is "Academic Success Coaching"?

Academic Success Coaching is a confidential service provided by the Learning Center. It involves individual discussion with a coach about ways to improve your academic performance and efficiency.

What topics does "coaching" include?

Lots! Your Academic Success Coach would be happy to talk to you about issues like:

  • Finding and maintaining motivation
  • Time management
  • Stress management
  • Taking better notes
  • Increasing reading comprehension
  • Handling multiple choice questions more successfully
Are my coaching appointments at the Learning Center confidential?

Absolutely. Our policy is to maintain the confidentiality of all our coaching consultations with students.

How long does each coaching appointment last?

Each individual appointment lasts about an hour. Occasionally, students meet with us for a single coaching appointment; more commonly, our work together takes place across a number of conversations.

What can I expect from a coaching appointment at the Learning Center?

We usually begin by just getting to know you! You may have a particular study problem that you would like help solving, or you may just wish to find out if there are more optimal ways to go about learning. Either way, we would be happy to talk with you.

How much do coaching appointments cost?

All coaching appointments are free of charge.

How often can I meet with an Academic Success Coach?

You may meet with an Academic Success Coach for a one-time trouble-shooting session or on a continuing basis. You will decide this together with your coach.

Is Academic Success Coaching only for people who are doing poorly?

No. We see students who are on the dean's list, as well as students who are on academic probation. The determining factor isn't whether or not you're doing well academically; it's whether you feel you could be getting more from your studies or using your time more effectively.

If you have a concern and wonder whether we can help, just give us a call at (585) 275-9049.

Who has access to Academic Success Coaching Services?

Academic Success Coaching is open to all undergraduate students at AS&E. This service is also available to all graduate students at Simon, Warner, SMD, and AS&E. The only schools we do not serve are Eastman and SON as they have their own programs.