Academic Success and First-Year Experience Programs and Initiatives

1. Academic Success and First-Year Experience Programs and Initiatives Stephanie M. Foote Enrollment Planning Team Meeting March 21, 2007

2. Department Overview Programs • First-Year Reading Experience (FYRE) • First-Year Seminar (AFYS 101) • First Pace (Preparing for Academic Excellence) • Academic Success Workshops • Strategies for Academic Success • Tutor Training • Pacer Success

3. Department Overview Services • Math Lab • Writing Room • Tutoring • Supplemental Instruction (SI) • Academic Consultations • Study Behavior Inventory (SBI)

4. FYRE Summer 2007

5. FYRE The First-Year Reading Experience (FYRE) at USC Aiken is intended to provide first-year students an opportunity to share a common intellectual experience with faculty, staff, and other students. The FYRE will also present opportunities for students to think critically and dialogue about topics and issues related to the reading and the first year of college. The first-year reading selected for the 2007-08 academic year is The Color of Water by James McBride. First-year students will receive copies of the book during orientation.

6. First Pace www.usca.edu/firstpace

7. First Pace First Pace is a 4-week summer program that provides students admitted provisionally to USCA with an opportunity to demonstrate their academic ability and motivation in foundational courses. The program begins with July orientation, and includes the following: • Enrollment in either AMTH 104 or AEGL 101 • Tutorials and Supplemental Instruction • Regular meetings with assigned First Year Advisors • * “Strategies for Academic Success” intensive workshop, attending to the specific skills students need to be successful during the beginning of the academic year (*strongly encouraged)

8. Pacer Success Created by the Students At Risk Action Team, and piloted in Spring 2007 to offer assistance to students who are at risk of academic probation or suspension All students with semester or cumulative grade point averages below a 2.0 (excluding those on suspension) received a copy of the Pacer Success Newsletter (mailed in early January 2007).

9. Pacer Success • In the newsletter, students were invited to participate in a Pacer Success Workshop offered before spring classes began. Students on probation received an additional invitation to the workshop through a mailing sent from the Records Office. • The Students At Risk Action Team hopes to expand the program with the implementation of the new Probation and Suspension policy

10. Study Behavior Inventory • The Academic Success Center offers academic consulting sessions designed to assist students at any level. Students work one-on-one with professional staff members to improve time management, study skills, etc. The Study Behavior Inventory will be used during these consultations. • The SBI is a tool to help assess students’ study skills, specifically measuring: • Long-term study behaviors • Short-term study behaviors • Academic Confidence • Other areas relating to academic success

11. Contact Information Stephanie M. Foote H&SS, Room 208B stephanief@usca.edu (803) 641-3321 Erin Fowler H&SS, Room 101D erinf@usca.edu (803) 641-3795 On the Web: www.usca.edu/asc www.usca.edu/fye www.usca.edu/firstpace