Prospective Students

FNTI is committed to student success and offers a wide range of Student Support services through each program.
We strive to provide a well-rounded support system to all learners. Our student support system provides academic and personal support to our learners during their relationship with FNTI. Most programs have counsellors and/or tutor-mentors in place to assist learners in their learning journey. In many cases, an Elder is associated with a program, and is often on-site during the entire delivery session.

TIME MANAGEMENT

The FNTI Public Admin Mentor's have compiled all the information that they gathered from the Mentor/Student meetings. We thought it would useful to share how FNTI Public Admin students manage their time.
We will also be adding more time management information to this site. Visit us frequently to see our development!

Here are some personal strategies on time management:

Timing

Choose the time of day that is best for YOU!
Early in the morning while your mind is fresh.
Late in the evening, after the kids have gone to bed and the house is quiet.
Stay late at the office, the phones stop ringing and it is really peaceful.
Use any spare time that is available, you can get a lot done with half an hour every other day.
Work on assignments at delivery sessions because being away from home really helps!

Self Discipline

Be committed to just sit down and do it.
Begin working RIGHT AWAY!! When you return from the delivery session, the material is still fresh in your mind.
On the weekend, leave the housework and the garden for one full day to work on assignments.
Do not go by due dates. Choose your own due dates and hand assignment in early.
Without a time regime and self-discipline, there is a tendency to procrastinate.
Do not over commit self; learn to say "NO!" to additional projects.
Again, take any available chance to get some work done.

Schedule

Block time off in your day-timer for homework.
Set a timer, only work for the time you schedule.
Break assignments down into smaller sections. As you complete a section, relax and pat yourself on the back!
When you pick away at it and then take a break, you always want to get back to it!

On the other hand, some FNTI Public Admin Learners feel:

What really works for me is doing the reading right away, that way the ideas are always on my mind, and that helps to develop my arguments in my head and then on paper.
Don't plan or else 'something' will happen and you will not be able to work on homework!

Seek support or assistance from:
Instructors
Tutor/Mentors
Fellow students
Your family - ask your spouse to take the kids for a day on the weekend while you plug away.
Manager/Boss - bring homework to office to do on lunch hour and during down time. Remember to ask first!

SELF-MOTIVATION STRATEGIES

Sometimes it is very hard to pick up your assignments and a little morale boost is necessary. FNTI students were asked to share their personal strategies for self-motivation.

To motivate myself:

First and foremost, I want to learn. Being able to apply this information to current position means that the community also benefits from our participation in the Public Admin program.

I think about how much I love politics! Sincere personal interest in the course work really helps!

I DO NOT TO GET BEHIND. I try to finish each course before starting new courses. Getting too far behind can be extremely overwhelming and stressful.

I do not like stress of being behind. For me, knowing that I am caught up gives me a sigh of relief and I am pleased with myself.

I know that procrastination really bothers me!

It's actually a matter of Survival!
I talk to myself for encouragement. I remind myself of my accomplishments so far in the program.
I think about the cost and wanting to ensure that the Band (or sponsor) receives value for the money that they have invested.
I want to be a role model for my grandchildren.
I rely on peer support. We can really lift each other.
I look to the Mentors for a boost!
I keep thinking about the 'ends' or the root reason that I applied. Of course, that is the degree.

Our devil's advocate was back, but there may be some solid reasoning behind his statement:

I don't feel that you can motivate yourself. If you have to be motivated than you do not really want it.

STRATEGIES FOR MANAGING WORK, SCHOOL & FAMILY

Achieving balance between work & family is one thing and when you add academic pursuits to the load, it can be extremely stressful!
FNTI Public Admin students use a variety of coping mechanisms to achieve balance. Here they are:

I am lucky because my wife also has academic work to complete, which allows me time to do my homework.

I never do homework when the family is around. That is their time. I use my time either early in the morning or when everyone is out of the house.

I try to keep everything separate. Keep work at work. Have school time and have family time.

My family is very supportive and I use my own space to do homework.

When I ask my family for time to myself, I give time to them in return.

Very thankful that my family is so supportive. My spouse will take the kids for one full day on the weekend.

Planning is key and support from my Manager because this does contribute to my work.

Manager support should go beyond time off (for delivery sessions) and allow time to complete assignments.

Being caught up makes balance easier for me.

Do not be fooled! It is a struggle to achieve balance between all of our obligations. Just remember that:

Putting off assignments or studying until the last minute causes more stress and anxiety that affects other areas of your life.

Study Habits and routines help to reduce stress by providing structure to your day.

DID YOU KNOW:

It only takes 16 days to change a habit.

That means:

If you were to take a calendar, plan the next 16 days and stick rigidly to the plan, imagine how much work you could accomplish.

In fact, using only a ½ hour per day between now (September 20th) and our November delivery session, everyone will have spent 30 hours on their assignments and readings. Technically, everyone could be catch up on his or her outstanding assignments.