LaunchPad: Your Guided Lift-Off into College Success!
Fall Blastoff and LaunchPad
Get organized and start strong this fall semester!
LaunchPad is a seven-week program designed to set UMW Eagles up for success, complete with tips on digging into syllabi, organizing college life, using Microsoft programs (free for all students!), getting connected with clubs & majors, and ways current students level-up into their first year. Held during the first months of the fall semester, LaunchPad offers practical, hands-on strategies to support students stay organized, manage their time, and get involved on campus. Each week features targeted programming offered in the CRUC 2nd floor over several days/times so students can drop in between their classes.
LaunchPad is a 7-week guided experience designed to help students launch into academic success at UMW, offering tips on organization, scheduling, note-taking, and other strategies current students use to thrive.
Week 1: Syllabi Printing & Calendaring kicks things off with the fundamentals — students print and review their course syllabi to look ahead, identify important deadlines, and start building effective calendar and organization systems, while exploring tools for time management.
Week 2: Study Skills moves into developing effective learning strategies like note-taking, active reading techniques, and test preparation. Students also learn how to adapt these techniques for different fields of study.
Week 3: Microsoft & Canvas Basics builds tech confidence by getting students familiar with essential platforms used at UMW. This includes exploring Microsoft Office applications and gaining comfort navigating Canvas. This allows for students to learn the essential skills of submitting assignments, communicating with faculty, and using digital tools effectively.
Week 4: Major Exploration & Accessorizing encourages students to explore their academic interests and consider “accessorizing” their degree with a minor, certificate, study abroad experience, internship, independent research, or co-curricular involvement.
Week 5: Managing Your College Life shifts focus to balance. Students start discussing strategies for juggling academics, involvement, wellness, and personal responsibilities, with an emphasis on stress management, healthy routines, and making use of campus resources.
Week 6: ASPIRE & Life After Mary Wash looks outward, exploring UMW’s ASPIRE community values and helping students connect their UMW experience to future employment goals through opportunities like the Career and Internship Fair and Pop-Up Boutique.
Week 7: Fine-Tuning for Success wraps up the program by preparing students for mid-semester progress reports, helping them identify how to re-align in classes that have been a challenge, and making final adjustments for academic success.
Together, these seven weeks take students from getting organized, to building skills and confidence, to exploring their path forward, and finally fine-tuning their approach. LaunchPad is a full arc of guided lift-off into college success.
Week 1: From your Syllabus to your Calendar
Click here for resources from LaunchPad Week 1!
Start the semester strong! Bring course syllabi (or let us print them for you) – we’ll help you break down your assignments and due dates to get them on your calendar. We will have a limited supply of planners to provide (or you can use your own), highlighters, pens and post-its, so you can set up a personalized roadmap for the semester that keeps you on track from day one.
- Sunday, August 23: 1-5 pm, CRUC 2nd floor, Gourley Living Room
- Monday, August 24: 11 am – 2:00 pm, CRUC 2nd floor, Gourley Living Room
- Tuesday, August 25: LateNight LauchPad – 9-11 pm, CRUC 2nd floor, Gourley Living Room
- Wednesday, August 26: 11 am – 2:00 pm, CRUC 2nd floor, Gourley Living Room
- Thursday, August 27: 12 pm – 3:00 pm, CRUC 2nd floor, Gourley Living Room
Week 2: Introduction to College Study Skills
Click here for resources from LaunchPad Week 2!
Studying in college can be a hard transition. Join Academic Services to learn strategic study habits to set yourself up for success! We will focus on developing effective learning strategies like note-taking, active reading techniques, and test preparation. We will also work on how techniques can be adapted for different fields of study.
- Monday, August 31: 11 am – 2:00 pm, CRUC 2nd floor, Gourley Living Room
- Tuesday, September 1: LateNight LauchPad – 9-11 pm, CRUC 2nd floor, Gourley Living Room
- Wednesday, September 2: 11 am – 2:00 pm, CRUC 2nd floor, Gourley Living Room
- Thursday, September 3: 12 pm – 3:00 pm, CRUC 2nd floor, Gourley Living Room
Week 3: Microsoft & Canvas Basics
Click here for resources from LaunchPad Week 3!
Learning how to navigate technology is a vital part of college and career success. Join the Digital Knowledge Center to build your tech confidence! We will familiarize you with the essential platforms used at UMW. This includes exploring Microsoft Office applications and gaining comfort navigating Canvas. This will help you understand how to submit assignments, communicate with faculty, and use UMW’s digital tools effectively.
- Tuesday, September 8: 11 am – 2:00 pm, CRUC 2nd floor, Gourley Living Room
- Wednesday, September 9: 11 am – 2:00 pm, CRUC 2nd floor, Gourley Living Room
- Thursday, September 10: 12 pm – 3:00 pm, CRUC 2nd floor, Gourley Living Room
Week 4: Major Exploration & Accessorizing
Click here for resources from LaunchPad Week 4!
This week we dive into the deep space of choosing and accessorizing your major! Join Academic Services and our various academic departments to explore your academic interests and start planning your major! Learn how to “accessorize” your degree with a minor, certificate, study abroad experience, internship, independent research, or co-curricular involvement.
- Monday, September 14: 11 am – 2:00 pm, CRUC 2nd floor, Gourley Living Room
- Tuesday, September 15: Grad School Fair, CRUC 2nd floor, Gourley & South Living Room
- Wednesday, September 16: 11 am – 2:00 pm, CRUC 2nd floor, Gourley Living Room
- Thursday, September 17: 12 pm – 3:00 pm, CRUC 2nd floor, Gourley Living Room
Week 5: Managing your College Life
Click here for resources from LaunchPad Week 5!
We have spent the last couple of weeks focusing on building your skills for your coursework. This week, we shift our focus to finding your balance. Join us to discuss strategies for juggling academics, involvement, wellness, and personal responsibilities during your UMW experience! We will explore stress management, healthy routines, and making use of campus resources.
- Monday, September 21: 11 am – 2:00 pm, CRUC 2nd floor, Gourley Living Room
- Tuesday, September 22: LateNight LauchPad – 9-11 pm, CRUC 2nd floor, Gourley Living Room
- Wednesday, September 23: 11 am – 2:00 pm, CRUC 2nd floor, Gourley Living Room
- Thursday, September 24: 12 pm – 3:00 pm, CRUC 2nd floor, Gourley Living Room
Week 6: ASPIRE & Life After Mary Wash
Click here for resources from LaunchPad Week 6!
Join us in exploring UMW’s ASPIRE community values and connect your UMW experience to future employment goals through the Pop-Up Boutique and Career and Internship Fair.
Click here to explore the Center for Career and Professional Development webpage!
Click here to learn more about our ASPIRE values!
Click here to learn more about UMW Study Abroad!
- Monday, September 28: 9 am – 2:00 pm, CRUC 2nd floor, Gourley Living Room
- Tuesday, September 29: 9 am – 2:00 pm, CRUC 2nd floor, Gourley Living Room
- Wednesday, September 30: 11 am – 2:00 pm, CRUC 2nd floor, Gourley Living Room
- Thursday, October 1: 10 am – 2:00 pm, CRUC 2nd floor, Chandler Ballroom
Week 7: Fine-tuning for Success
Click here for resources from LaunchPad Week 7!
Come learn about your resources that will help you interpret your mid-semester progress reports, identify steps to re-align your approach to classes that have been a challenge, and make final adjustments for academic success for the rest of the semester. This is a great way to recenter yourself for midterms!
- Monday, October 5: 11 am – 2:00 pm, CRUC 2nd floor, Gourley Living Room
- Tuesday, October 6: LateNight LauchPad – 9-11 pm, CRUC 2nd floor, Gourley Living Room
- Wednesday, October 7: 11 am – 2:00 pm, CRUC 2nd floor, Gourley Living Room
- Thursday, October 8: 12 pm – 3:00 pm, CRUC 2nd floor, Gourley Living Room