Supporting Students' Time Management Through Deadline Flexibility and Responsive Instructor Support

This paper introduces and examines the efficacy of the notion of Grace Period (GP), as a time management strategy in fostering time management skills and alleviating stress levels for students. Previous studies have highlighted the significance of implementing supportive strategies for student wellbeing in higher education institutions. Additionally, research has underscored the importance of time management as a critical skill for engineering professionals, correlating it with improved academic performance and decreased anxiety levels. Conducted as part of the Wellbeing in Learning Environments initiative at Simon Fraser University, this study involved multiple courses in the School of Engineering Science. Three inquiries are considered: assessing students' stress levels and common stressors, examining their utilization of GP, and evaluating the impact of GP on their stress levels. Data were collected through surveys, student evaluations, and gradebooks to analyze these inquiries. The findings reveal that students encounter heightened stress levels predominantly due to the presence of multiple assignments and exams with proximate due dates. The implementation of GP provides students with improved time management and task prioritization. Overall, the outcomes suggest that integrating GP is an effective strategy for fostering time management skills and lowering students' stress levels.