As the nights get longer, daylight hours fade, and deadlines loom, November can be a stressful month for university students.

A number of UFV departments are joining together to combat the gloom and inspire academic action with the first Long Night Against Procrastination on Tues, Nov 8.

Students are invited to come to Building G on the Abbotsford campus to connect with other students and support services to help kick-start their term papers and other assignments.

Activities will include:

• Stress-management: De-stress Room 20-minute yoga, therapy dogs, walk and talk
• APA style “first aid tent” (also MLA, Chicago)
• Spaces designated for quiet work and for group work
• Prize for biggest group signed up together and attending
• Faculty offering office hours
• Research librarians on hand for consultation and workshops
• MakerSpace in the Library
• Math/Stats Centre open all night
• Academic Support Centre peer tutors, at drop-in locations and roaming
• “Small Change” Photo Booth staffed by Academic Fitness Mentors
• TVs in the hallway (for those who want to watch the US election)
• Healthy snacks
• Midnight breakfast.

The event will also feature draw prizes including:

• tuition for one 3-credit course, donated by the Office of the Provost and Vice-President Academic
• $50 gift cards for UFV Bookstore donated by Student Services.

“We want to showcase and promote the wide variety of student support services available for students throughout the semester and to encourage use after the Long Night Against Procrastination, including those that offer academic support like the ASC peer tutors, but also those that support the whole student, such as counselling, Student Life, Campus Rec, clubs, and librarians,” says Sandra Smith, head of the Academic Success Centre and one of the event organizers.

“We also want to promote healthy study habits, such as budgeting time and opportunity for breaks within a structured, work-focused, and productive schedule,” she notes. “Procrastination is a reality for a vast majority of students and we want to provide some support, community, and encouragement as we enter the last month of the semester before final exams.”

The Long Night Against Procrastination runs from 5 pm to midnight on Tues, Nov 8. Shuttle bus service to Chilliwack will be extended to run at 11:15 and 12:15 that night.

The event was initiated by the UFV Academic Success Centre and Library. Smith chairs the organizing committee, which also has representatives from Student Life, Student Services, SUS, Library, ASC, SLG, Residence, Facilities, Security, Campus Rec, International, and Math/Stats.

The event is based on one started in Europe several years ago and refined by institutions across Canada in the past year.