ACADEMIC SUCCESS DIVISION
Mission Statement
The mission of the Academic Success Division is to provide an integrated, comprehensive program designed to strengthen academic and student success skills, build confidence, and enhance the ability of students to persist and complete a degree program.
The Academic Success Division offers comprehensive academic support services. The purpose of the Division is to serve as a support unit to degree granting departments by monitoring student progress in meeting core curriculum requirements.
Goals
A fundamental goal of the Academic Success Division is to monitor all entering students and provide academic advisement, services, and activities that will maximize their chances of success. Specifically, the goals are to:
1. Provide an opportunity for students to adjust to college life and enhance their personal development.
2. Offer a consolidated system to assist in academic support and student retention.
3. Provide an opportunity for each student to acquire an understanding of student success skills.
4. Improve the academic performance of students needing enrichment.
5. Meet the needs of diverse and special populations, including students with disabilities and students who are underprepared for the college experience and/or coursework.
6. Provide an opportunity for all entering students to develop and/or enhance the following skills:
Competence in reading, written and oral communication skills,
Critical thinking,
Awareness of global perspectives, and
Student success best practices.
The Academic Success Division serves as a point of entry for all students. It consists of the following units: (1) Academic Advising, (2) Academic Support Team, (3) Writing and Literacy, (4) Testing and Assessment.
1. Academic Advising
The primary function of this unit is to provide academic advising for new, transfer and continuing students who have declared a major of AA in General Studies and/or have not completed the general education core curriculum. Academic advisors practice active concern for students’ academic progress and assist students to understand and utilize programs and services that can increase the likelihood for their success. The college’s undergraduate catalog, college handbook, course and student educational plans are the primary components of the advising process. Students who indicate a major interest are advised to consult with the chair of the academic department in which the program is offered.
2. Academic Support Team
The goal of the Academic Support Team is to provide services to students and faculty that lead to higher levels of learning and performance. The Academic Support Center provides tutoring, academic mentoring and classroom instructional support.
3. Writing & Literacy
The Writing & Literacy provides students and faculty writing process support services. The assessment computer lab provides students with an array of instructional technology designed to build academic skills.
4. Testing and Assessment
Student assessment consists of quantitative and qualitative assessment tools. There are several academic assessment tools utilized to assess student skills and learning: COMPASS Placement Test, COMPASS Diagnostic, and BASI pre and post exams. In some cases, assessments are required in order for students to pass courses.
COMPASS Placement Test Must be taken during Registration for placement in English, math, and reading courses if the student has not taken the ACT or scored 17 or below on the ACT.
COMPASS Diagnostic is a tool used by instructors to inventory student skills.
BASI exams measure students’ progress within a certain subject or course beginning with the pre test at the beginning of the semester and ending with the post test at the end of the semester.
Staff:
Daugherty, Sara – Tutor
Lockhart, Kimberly—Writing & Literacy
Love, Keosha – Academic Advisor
Marcell Banks—Testing and Assessment
Nichols, Eric -Tutor
Priebe, Kurtis – Tutor
Skrdlant, Jeff – Tutor
Williams, Charles- Tutor