Issue 3
2016 The Academic Success Center at Augusta University
AFA Departments Academic Advisement Katherine Sweeney, AVPSS 706-731-7979 academicadvising@augusta.edu
Career Services Julie Goley, Director 706-731-1604 careercenter@augusta.edu
The 5000+ square-foot Academic Success Center (ASC), located on the first floor of University Hall, is scheduled for completion in mid-fall. The goal of the center is to develop a robust support infrastructure for freshman and sophomore students, to promote engagement and have an overall positive impact on AU progression and graduation rates. Many of our students are looking to enter highly selective programs and graduate schools and the ASC programs can help them earn and maintain a high GPA to be competitive candidates. Other students may find a particular subject or course difficult and the ASC programs will help them overcome the challenge. The primary goal is to empower all students to reach their academic potential. The ASC will house a tutoring program for students enrolled in general education courses, a new academic coaching program, and the First and Second Year-Experience office. Academic Coaching: Fall 2016 Academic coaching began when the semester started. Academic coaching refers to the process of guiding a student into becoming the most effective, self-regulated learner possible. The coaching framework includes reflection, planning, goal setting and a solid support network to promote student success. Coaching is a perfect metaphor for the relationship because the goal is to identify the academic strengths and weaknesses of students and individualize a program of appropriate activities and workshops to address them, much as an athletic coach or a personal trainer assesses an athlete and Academic Success Center Continued on Page 2
Center for Academic Success Lorraine Evans, Executive Director 706-446-5167 Loevans@augusta.edu
CURS John Sutherland, Director 706-729-2260 jsutherland@augusta.edu
Office of Experiential Learning Kim F. Gray, Director 706-446 -5564 kim.gray@augusta.edu Faculty Dev. & Teaching Excel. Deborah Richardson, Director 706-737-1742 ctl@augusta.edu
First/Second-Year Experience Beth Huggins, Director 706-737-1594 ehuggins@augusta.edu
Registrar Heather Metress, Registrar 706-731-1430/1431 registrar@augusta.edu
University Libraries Brenda Seago, Director Greenblatt 706-721-3441 Reese 706-737-1744 www.augusta.edu/library
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Academic Success Center at Augusta University develops a training regimen. Academic coaches differ from academic advisors as coaches address topics like learning strategies, life management skills, and earning strong grades whereas conversations with advisors focus on planning curriculum and meeting graduation requirements. A growing body of research indicates coaching helps students with the transition from high school to college; it helps them to understand what is required to be successful in college. Jerry Oliver is the first full time Academic Coach at the ASC and he is excited about the opportunity to initiate the coaching program. “Coaching is a great mechanism to connect with students and help them reach their academic potential” said Jerry. “I really enjoy working with students and helping them realize how a few relatively small changes can make a big difference in their course grade.” The ASC offers one-on-one coaching sessions as well as a range of workshops. Workshop topics this semester include note-taking, time-management, test anxiety, study skills, utilizing textbooks and more. More than 50 students have attended workshops since the beginning of term and we anticipate more will engage after the first round of exams. Dr. Lorraine Evans, Executive Director of the ASC said, “The response to our workshops so far has been very positive. Student evaluations indicate they find them very useful and the comments include requests for more!” Tutoring: Spring 2017 In the spring of 2017 the ASC will provide students with a wide range of tutoring options, including subjects in the core curriculum such as Algebra and Humanities courses, in order to promote their academic success and progression into their major. Conversations with departments across campus are going to ensure a smooth transition of lower-division tutoring services to the ASC; upper division tutoring will remain in the academic departments. Connecting with the First and Second Year Experience To provide a strong support network for incoming students the ASC will work closely with Beth Huggins, Director of FYE/SYE . The goal is to collaborate on programming to encourage student engagement and promote timely progression in the major. The current FYE/SYE theme, Humans and Heroes, could lead to workshops exploring what it means to be an academic hero, for example. Linking to Academic Advisement The close relationship between the ASC and Academic Advisement is a key component to the development of a robust student support network. Advisors will be kept up-to-date with the services provided by the ASC and can recommend workshops, coaching and tutoring to students early in their college careers and hopefully, minimize potential problems for students. Assistant Vice President for Student Success and Director of Academic Advisement, Katherine Sweeney, believes the collaboration between advising and the ASC will really help students be more successful. “Advisors can provide students with options that can have a real impact,” she said, “and the fact we are all in the same unit – in the same building – provides us with the flexibility to respond to students’ needs as they arise.” Please send your questions, comments or suggestions to ASC@augusta.edu
MARK YOUR CALENDAR!
Augusta University Deadlines for Curriculog and the 2017-18 University Catalog Proposals
Summer 2017
Fall 2017
Spring 2018
New Course Proposal
March 15, 2017
March 15, 2017
November 15, 2017
Existing Course Modification
March 15, 2017
March 15, 2017
November 15, 2017
New Program Proposal
March 15, 2017
March 15, 2017
N/A
Curriculum Revision
March 15, 2017
March 15, 2017
N/A
FAQs about Deadlines and Curriculog Are all proposals and revisions submitted through Curriculog? Yes, all course proposals and revisions must be entered in Curriculog.
Can proposals be submitted throughout the year? Yes, proposals can be submitted any time through the year but will be implemented according to the established deadlines.
Why are course and curriculum process deadlines necessary? The establishment of deadlines for the course and curriculum process helps in the planning of course schedules for departments, students and advisors.
Are course and curriculum deadlines normally enforced at universities? A review of procedures within the USG and beyond revealed that annual curriculum and catalog deadlines are the norm, not the exception.
Should a new program proposal be reviewed by anyone prior to submission in Curriculog? Yes, a new program should be reviewed with the Vice President for Academic Planning and Strategic Initiatives.
104 Boykin Wright Hall Augusta, GA 30912
Phone (706) 446-1422