Academic Excellence Workshops (AEW) are taken in conjunction with core major courses. AEWs are weekly one and two hour cooperative learning sessions. Designed to enhance student understanding, they feature peer-facilitated group work on problems at or above the level of course instruction.

Small-group activities are directed by undergraduate peer educators called facilitators. The AEWs are based on research showing that cooperative methods (as opposed to an individual, competitive approach to learning) promote higher grades, greater persistence, deeper comprehension, more enjoyment in learning, and more positive attitudes toward academic work.