Student Success Services

The Office of Advising and Student Success offers the following services and programs to help students be successful: 

Tutoring services  

• Guided Study Sessions (GSS).  Guided study sessions are designed to improve student knowledge, comprehension and critical thinking skills, which often results in improved student retention.  Sessions are led by trained peer tutors and held regularly as review sessions for specific courses.  To participate in a guided study session, contact your instructors regarding availability, times and locations. 

• One-on-One (1:1) tutoring sessions.  Trained peer tutors are available in some courses to work with students individually.  For information on availability, contact the Coordinator for Advising and Student Success. 

• Smarthinking Online Tutoring Services. This service provides the ability to connect with on demand expert tutors for drop-in sessions 24/7, schedule an appointment in advance, submit writing for detailed review, or ask questions offline. This service can assist students in Nursing, Allied Health, and many general education courses. These tutoring services are offered at no charge to the students.  Access to SmartThinking is available through Canvas. 

Alert System  

The College has devised two formal grade warning systems to help students attain a successful educational experience. The early alert warning system allows faculty and staff to identify students with academic concerns after the fourth week of the semester.  Students are contacted by the Coordinator of Advising & Student Success to schedule an appointment to discuss resources available and to develop a plan for improvement. After official midterm grades have been reported, any undergraduate student with a failing grade D+ or below in a non-major course or C+ or below in a major course receives notification from the Dean, Student Affairs & Enrollment Management. These students are required to meet with the Coordinator, Advising and Student Success to develop an Academic Improvement Student Success Plan. Early warnings allow the students ample opportunity to correct academic behaviors either before midterm or final grades are assigned. 

Steps to success may include but are not limited to: conferences with academic advisor and/or instructor for individualized guidance or counseling; referral to group or individual peer tutoring; attendance at Student Success group sessions such as time management, stress management, memory, reading and note taking skills, and effective test taking strategies; and/or advisement regarding restructuring of curriculum plan. 

ASPIRE Camp 

The Office of Advising and Student Success also coordinates the ASPIRE (Associate of Science, Prepared, Informed, Ready, Educated) program, a student success and leadership program for Associate in Science students. The ASPIRE program begins with ASPIRE Camp, held in the summer for incoming freshmen. ASPIRE II meetings are held monthly throughout the academic year and address topics such as Student Success, Career Success, Community Service and Leadership Development.