APEX
Academic Program of Excellence at X

"The instructors use the 'start from where you are,
not where you should be' approach." (student comment)."

APEX is a mandatory program for students on probation who have chosen to return to StFX. This course is designed to support students as they improve their academic standing.

APEX helps students:

• Improve critical thinking
• Develop stronger ideas
• Write more clearly
• Document sources properly
• Manage your time more efficiently
• Acquire effective study strategies

Students have monthly one-to-one meetings with their APEX instructor for the entire academic year and one 75-minute class each week of the fall term.

The cost of APEX is $780, payable with tuition.

Print and sign the bottom portion of the form, and mail or fax it to the Writing Centre.

Please note: During the course registration period, choose your subject courses first, then find a section of APEX that fits your schedule.

APEX 2

This program is for students who completed the classroom portion of APEX but are still under academic penalty (remain on probation)

The program includes one-to-one meetings with an instructor every two weeks for the entire academic year

The cost of APEX 2 is $500, payable with tuition.

Print and sign the bottom portion of the form, and mail or fax it to the Writing Centre.

For more information contact the Writing Centre at 902-867-3897 or
writingc@stfx.ca

Comments from Students

"I feel like I know 'what not to do' when it comes to writing papers. This [APEX] makes 'what to do' much easier."

"I'm now able to better organize my thoughts onto paper and also I found it much easier to make my claims clear and concise."

"I have improved in every aspect of my assignments, especially in writing papers."

"I have been able to mark everything down only a calendar and by referencing the calendar, know at what times [and ] what subject I should be concentrating on.

"I found that my stress levels have dropped a lot. I find that my time is well spread out this year and I have better time management now. Using an organizer helps lay out what I have to do."

"It gives you a place where everyone is on the same level. We are struggling in some aspect and the school is willing and wanting to help us.

"Really enjoyed this course. Nice to know that someone (other than my
parents) is here to help me out. Really enjoyed the feedback."

The one-to-one have shown me that I am not alone in the struggle . . ., and it gave me the much needed support I had needed all along.

The APEX program offers an edge to students regardless of their academic
history. The skills and strategies offered in the APEX program just make sense!
Every student should take an APEX course!"

"I actually think that this course should be mandatory for anyone entering university. I find it gives you a better understanding of what the professors expect."

"The help is great. I definitely appreciated and benefitted from this class."

"It is a great course and the material in the coursepack is overwhelmingly valuable. Each university student should have one of these course packs right at the start of university."

"APEX has helped me budget my time more effectively, do more readings, and just overall work a lot harder in all of my classes."

"The small group environment and the one-on-one meetings were the best. These were beyond my expectations of the course."

Excerpts from the short-listed 2009, 2008, and 2007 Student Success Essays:

"When I first attended an APEX class back in September, I thought it would be a waste of time. I didn't think that I would be able to use anything from APEX to help me academically.
After a few classes, I realized I was wrong." Read more.....

"This year has been a stunning contrast to my last year here at X. I am not talking about friends and parties; I am talking about myself as a student." Read more .....

Everything that I have gone through in university has made me a stronger person, and I did not give up on my goals.  Easily I could have forgotten about university and went on to do something else..." Read more....

"My success this year isn't mine alone. It is shared with my family, my friends, and my instructors. It feels good to want to tell my parents how I am doing....." Read more....

“If I had been asked in August 'what is the APEX program all about,' I would have given an answer that reflected my disappointment..... When asked the same question today, I cannot speak highly enough of its curriculum, instructors, and results." Read more....

“Papers are no longer the torment they used to be. Gone are my days of waiting until the last minute to start an assignment because I don't know where to start. In following one of the many pieces of useful advice I received, I now start a long way ahead of time on papers and just write something down, even just a little bit every day. This has served me well. My stress level has been cut in half and my results are twice as good." Read more....

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The Writing Centre
PO Box 5000
Antigonish, Nova Scotia
B2G 2W5
T: 902-867-5221
F: 902-867-5380
E: writingc@stfx.ca