Academic Success Week begins today.

The week, sponsored by the Academic Success Center, focuses on the year’s theme of “Challenging students to become their best.”

Students can enter “The Challenge,” a competition in which they can win a chance to switch places with an administrator for a day.

“The general objective is to get students to challenge and set goals for themselves,” said Sharon McGuire, program coordinator for the dean of students office. “The events held throughout this week are meant to help them do that.”

The drawing for “The Challenge” will be Friday. Students may sign up all week for the drawing by filling out a form with a grade point average goal and ways the goal will be met. The forms are available in the Academic Success Center and must be turned in by Friday, McGuire said.

Trading places with faculty should be a motivation for students to get involved, said Nicole Nechanicky, senior in agricultural education.

“The experience will be interesting and beneficial to anyone,” said Nechanicky, who is involved with the center’s week of events.

Those who don’t join in the goal-setting can still get involved with the week.

Monday and Tuesday there will be a “tips tree” with study tips developed by students, and an academic fact walk, which features student academic success facts, McGuire said.

“This will allow students who are unable to participate in `The Challenge’ to benefit just while walking to class,” McGuire said.

Other events include the Student and Faculty Talking, where faculty and students can talk about academic issues of mutual interest, which will be Wednesday from noon to 1:30 p.m. in the Campanile room of the Memorial Union, and study skills workshops throughout the afternoon on Thursday in the Student Services Building.

Overall, the week will be beneficial for students, Nechanicky said.

“It will really help students get focused,” she said.

“They will be able to figure out what their goals are academically and hopefully achieve them.”

Both McGuire and Nechanicky encourage all students to take part in activities this week.

“Academics are obviously a major part of the students’ experience here,” McGuire said. “They should really get involved with the program to challenge themselves to do their best academically.”