Academic Skills Center: Seminary Basics

Good communication is a key ingredient to a successful experience at Central, while poor communication can produce negative consequences. In addition to the specific considerations related to emails in the next box, here are some tips for creating good communication habits. 

• Be sure to check your CBTS email, Populi, and/or the syllabus regularly. If you have a question, check these resources before asking faculty or staff.
• Address faculty and staff using their titles unless specifically told otherwise (ex. Dr. Wells). If you are unsure how to address someone, ask them.
• Most professors are available for meetings outside of class, sometimes called office hours. Take advantage of this resource to ask questions about course material or an assignment.
• If you are struggling with any aspect of school (financial, academic, time management, etc.), don't be afraid to ask for help. The longer you wait, the options to intervene will be more limited. Central's faculty and staff want you to succeed, but we can only do that if you communicate with us!

Subject: Office Hours Request

Dear Dr. Wells, 

I hope you are having a good week. Are you available to meet for office hours this week on Thursday afternoon between 2-4 PM? I am having trouble understanding the instructions on our upcoming assignment.

Thank you, 

Your Name

Many students enrolled at Central are balancing their coursework with full-time jobs, families, and other responsibilities. It is important for your physical, mental, and emotional well-being to create habits that foster a healthy work-life balance. One of the best strategies is creating a weekly or monthly calendar and plan when certain tasks will be accomplished. Your Microsoft account provides access to blank calendar templates that you can customize to your preference. Start by blocking off time for all your non-negotiable responsibilities like work, class, or child care. Next, plan when you will accomplish readings or assignments for class. Although it may be stressful to see how limited your time is on paper, it is better than scrambling to finish an assignment or turning it in late because you did not budget your time well. Some weeks may be more hectic than others; by creating a calendar, you can work ahead in anticipation of those busier weeks.

Work-Life Balance

Blank Calendars

Most of Central's programs are entirely online, therefore email is the most frequent method of communication. See below for a few tips for expected email etiquette. 

• Check your CBTS email account regularly during the work week.
• Respond in a timely manner. If it will take longer than 2-3 work days to formulate a response to a request, send an email acknowledging the request has been received and your response will follow.
• Always put a phrase in the subject line. This helps track down emails if they are needed later. 
• If an email has multiple recepients, determine whether your response should "reply" only to the sender or if you should "reply all" so all recepients can see your response.
• This might seem self-evident, but be sure that your response addresses all the requests in the original email.

In most of your classes at Central, participation will factor in as part of your overall grade. Be sure to read the syllabus carefully to understand your professor's expectations for what counts as participation in their course. However, there are some general tips regarding how to participate in class.

• Come to class prepared. If you've done the reading and taken good notes (see the Reading Strategies page), you will likely have something to contribute to the conversation.
• Be respectful of your classmates and the professor, especially if you disagree. Seek to understand their viewpoint rather than proving them wrong.
• Ask good questions. Rather than asking something that can be answered with a simple internet search (e.g. When did Constantine become emperor?), ask a question that furthers the conversation (e.g. How did Constantine's conversion affect Christianity's development?).
• Avoid dominating the conversation. Be aware of how often/how much you are speaking, and be sure others have a chance to contribute to the conversation. You do not have to respond to every question.
• Embrace silence. Some students may need a minute to formulate a response to the question. 
• It's okay to be wrong. Most professors want to see that you are engaging with class materials and making connections. They don't expect that you already know all the answers. If you did, you wouldn't need to be in seminary!

Enrolling in seminary can sometimes feel overwhelming. Students often struggle with a fear of failure, which can lead to unhelpful habits like procrastination. But you're not alone. Reach out to the Student Success Center or fellow students—they're usually feeling the same way! And check out the resources below for combatting perfectionism and procrastination. 

Letting Go of Perfection

Perfect vs. Progress

Overcoming Procrastination

Strategies to Stop Procrastinating

Central also has a page dedicated to connecting students with counseling resources if additional assistance is needed.