Academic Success Centre

The St. Michael’s College Academic Success Centre is an integrated support hub designed to help students at St. Michael’s College to achieve their academic goals. Located in the John M. Kelly Library, the Centre brings together multiple academic support services in a single, visible, and student-friendly space. Available services are defined below.

Writing and Research Help

Get personalized support at any stage of your academic work. Trained writing instructors and Kelly Library’s academic liaison librarians can help you clarify assignments, organize ideas, strengthen your writing, locate and evaluate scholarly sources, use databases effectively, and manage citations. This service is designed to build your confidence and independence in both writing and research, providing the skills you need to succeed across disciplines.

Learn more about Writing and Research Help or book an appointment

Learning Strategy Support

Offered through St. Michael’s College’s Learning Strategist, this service focuses on helping students develop transferable academic skills, including time management, study techniques, goal setting, and strategies for preparing for exams and managing academic stress.

Appointments with a Learning Strategist are available in room 139 everyday during the regular academic year.

Learn more about Learning Strategy Support or book an appointment

Wellness Advising Drop-In Hours

Wellness Advising is a free, informal, and confidential one-on-one conversation to help connect and support you with your wellness. Wellness advising can also help you build useful skills, tools, and resources to navigate your emotional and mental wellness. If you are uncertain about where to go to get help, wellness advising can help you bridge those connections directly and support you in staying connected to resources at U of T or in the community.

Wellness Advising Drop-ins are available in room 137 on Tuesdays from 1pm to 4pm during the regular academic year.

Learn more about Heath & Wellness at SMC

Career Exploration & Education

St. Michael’s College students can meet one-on-one with Career Educators to explore career possibilities, consider what they can do with their degree, prepare for employment or further education, and connect with career-related programs, opportunities, and resources.

Learn more about Career Advising or book an appointment

On-site Career Educator appointments in the Academic Success Centre will be available beginning in October.

For additional career programs, services, and self-directed resources, visit U of T Career Start.

How to Book an Appointment

The Centre offers a mix of in-person and virtual drop-in hours and bookable appointments depending on the service. Check out each service for more information on how to book an appointment.

Hours and Location

The Academic Success Centre is located on the main floor of the John M. Kelly Library, near the computer stations, in a newly designated space that emphasizes flexibility, visibility, and approachability. The Centre is open during the academic year, including summer sessions. Schedules are posted online and updated regularly to reflect availability.

Why Visit the Academic Success Centre?

Whether you’re writing a university paper, preparing for midterms, or looking to improve your study habits, the Academic Success Centre is here to support you. We believe that academic success is not only about mastering content, but also about building skills, seeking help, and becoming a more confident and independent learner.

Get in Touch!

Offices

John M. Kelly Library, Rooms 132, 137, and 139 (ground floor)

Questions about the library or for research help

Telephone: +1 (416) 926-7114

Email: reference.kellylibrary@utoronto.ca

Issues with your appointment or our booking system

Telephone: +1 (416) 926-7114

Email: kelly.writingresearch@utoronto.ca

Frequently Asked Questions

The Centre is open to all undergraduate students registered at St. Michael’s College, regardless of program or year of study. Students enrolled in the Regis St. Michael’s Faculty of Theology are eligible to use the Writing and Research Help services.

Writing and Research Help services are all undergraduate students registered at St. Michael’s College and to all students enrolled in one of the St. Michael’s College sponsored undergraduate programs (SMC Ones, Celtic Studies, Medieval Studies, Book & Media Studies, Christianity and Culture).

This depends on the service you want to access! Some services offer drop-in hours, while others require appointments. Check the information for each service above to learn more about availability and how to book an appointment.

We are located on the main floor of the John M. Kelly Library at St. Michael’s College. Look for signage near the Loans & Information desk.

We can help you plan and structure assignments, clarify your arguments, cite sources properly, and find high-quality academic materials for your papers. Support is available for short assignments, full essays, personal statements, presentations, and major research projects.

Learn more about Writing and Research Help.

The Learning Strategist works with you to develop strong academic habits: managing your time, studying effectively, preparing for exams, and staying on top of deadlines. It’s not about tutoring in specific subject or academic advising; it’s about developing strategies for learning better.

Learn more about Learning Strategist Support.

All services at the Academic Success Centre are free for St. Michael’s College undergraduate students!

Absolutely. Students are encouraged to make use of as many supports as they find helpful. For example, you might meet with the Writing Help team for a paper and visit the Learning Strategist to build a better study plan. Note that some booking limits are in place to ensure we can serve as many students as possible.

Support is provided by professional writing instructors, librarians, the College’s Learning Strategist, Wellness Advising staff, and a dedicated Career Educator. Everyone is here to help you succeed in a welcoming, non-judgmental environment.

No. The Academic Success Centre is a collaborative support space. For quiet study, please use the main study areas of the Kelly Library.

Visit the Academic Success Centre webpage on the Kelly Library’s website for updates. You can also follow the library on social media for quick updates on new services, workshops, and other events!

These are all questions that can be addressed in an advising session with our College Registrar’s Office in Brennan Hall. More information is available at the St. Mike’s Office of the Registrar and Academic Support Services.

The Academic Success Centre is a collaboration between the John M. Kelly Library, the St. Michael’s College Office of the Principal, and the St. Michael’s College Registrar’s Office and reflects the College’s broader commitment to fostering student learning, confidence, and success across disciplines.

For more information about the Academic Success Center please email the John M. Kelly Library at kelly.library@utoronto.ca or the St. Michael’s College Office of the Principal at usmc.principal@utoronto.ca.