Students, we’re glad you’re here. To help you be as successful as possible, Iowa offers many free resources to help you study, stay healthy, and have a good time. Check out this list, and take advantage of the opportunities available on campus.
1. Free help studying for big courses at the Academic Resource Center
Tutor Evie Swink leads an SI session. Photo by Tim Schoon.
Iowa provides free Supplemental Instruction (SI) for a variety of high-enrollment courses like math, biology, and chemistry. SI sessions are informal group study sessions led by a fellow student who has previously excelled in the course. An SI leader facilitates activities related what students are learning in class to help them better understand the material.
Research shows that one 50-minute SI session is equivalent to two hours studying alone.
Students can attend any session during the semester, and all sessions are voluntary—drop in any time.
Learn more about SI and find the fall 2019 schedule here.
2. Trouble sleeping? Help is here.
Photo by Tim Schoon.
Sleep is critical for learning and succeeding in an academic setting. To help students get the rest they need, the UI offers Refresh, a free sleep program available via weekly emails or a smartphone app. The program gives Hawkeyes skills, strategies, and support to achieve more restful nights by designing a custom sleep-improvement plan.
Learn more about the resources provided by Student Wellness.
3. Free food and events
Time for s’mores! Photo by Justin Torner.
Find out when there are free bagels, study snacks, or therapy puppies at the Iowa Memorial Union. Homecoming, job fairs, bonfires and s’mores—lots of free events and free food offerings are posted to the After Class Calendar, the Campus Activities Board calendar, and the UI Events Calendar.
4. Free Microsoft Office, tech help, and more
Information Technology Services (ITS) offers students a variety of free services and software. Students having trouble with any and all tech devices can get free support from the ITS Help Desk with things like software, security, and networking.
In addition to getting Microsoft Office 365 for free on up to five devices, students also can get discounts when buying new technology. Protect your identity by downloading the free Duo Mobile app and enrolling in Two-Step Login. Two-Step Login protects you and your data by requiring you to finish logging onto online services through an app on your phone. This service will soon be required.
5. Free help with résumés, finding a job or internship, and even salary negotiations
Pomerantz Center
In the job market, what you don’t know definitely can hurt you. It’s no joke for students looking to start their careers and pay down debt. The Pomerantz Career Center can help students choose a major, start a career path, or search for a job, internship, or student employment if they’re not ready to graduate yet. Advisers also can help students with practice interviews and check salary information to make sure a job offer is fair.