Supporting Student Success Through Innovative Workshop Series

Zach McDaniel is not the type of person to give up when fear and uncertainty set in. Instead, the San Diego State University adviser thinks back to the best advice he has received: “Lean into fear and uncertainty, as that usually means there’s an opportunity for you to learn something and grow from the experience.”

During this time of uncertainty associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, McDaniel is leaning in. Working in the College of Arts and Letters (CAL) Student Success Center, he supports students through a student success workshop series he developed, which teaches skills in such areas as note-taking, study habits, and time management. He recently hosted a workshop to help students prepare for finals. 
The SDSU News Team spoke with McDaniel about connecting with students and making a positive impact at SDSU.

What motivates you to do this kind of work with students?

I really value growth and learning, so it’s always a pleasure to help facilitate that in students. I feel that there are obstacles to learning that are often invisible to students, like poor time management or note-taking as students are expected to figure these things out. But ways of learning change, for instance what worked in high school could now be inhibiting you in college and you don’t even realize it. I feel these workshops can complement and enhance the learning that is going on in the classroom.

What was your process in making the pivot from in-class to virtual workshops?

The pivot to virtual workshops was faster than I thought. I’m a “make it happen” kind of person, so there wasn’t a question of not doing them anymore. I just had to shift the content to mirror the students’ shift to virtual learning. This is also only the fourth semester of doing these workshops, so I’m still very open to trying new things.

What does student success mean to you?

I view student success as the ability for students to set and meet goals to address the challenges of their lives and the world around them. There’s a lot of experimentation, self-reflection, and critical thinking that goes into that.

What do you like best about your job and working at SDSU?

I love my job because I get to do a little bit of everything, and every day is a little different. I greatly appreciate the passion I see on this campus from my colleagues to not only serve students, but to do it well and do it together.

A recording of Student Success Workshop titled "Procrastination Motivation" is available for viewing here.