Academic Success Center

What is the program’s mission statement or statement of purpose? Why does the program exist?

Our mission is to provide comprehensive programs and holistic services that will empower students and connect them with the resources they need to achieve both academic and personal goals.

How does the program mission align with the university mission?

Students who achieve their academic and personal goals also refine their abilities to reason and communicate and become responsible citizens.

Whom does the program serve?

1. Provide individual learning strategy instruction, ongoing support and referral services for students seeking to improve their learning skills.
2. Develop, support and help implement University-wide learning initiatives, especially in the areas involving retention, at-risk student populations and students on warning.
3. Conduct outreach efforts to enhance the learning environment, including student workshops, classroom visits, presentations in University housing, staff information sessions.
4. Teach EIU 1111:University Foundations.
5. Provide and maintain a virtual presence through the website and other technology with links to tutoring and other student support services.
6. Collaborate with other university offices and events.
7. Serve on university committees that promote student success and retention.
8. Engage in professional development activities.
9. Oversee the Reinstated Student Program and the Summer Institute for Higher Learning

What are the services provided? How do these services align with the university mission and program mission?

1. Provide individual learning strategy instruction, ongoing support and referral services for students seeking to improve their learning skills.
2. Develop, support and help implement University-wide learning initiatives, especially in the areas involving retention, at-risk student populations and students on warning.
3. Conduct outreach efforts to enhance the learning environment, including student workshops, classroom visits, presentations in University housing, staff information sessions.
4. Teach EIU 1111:University Foundations.
5. Provide and maintain a virtual presence through the website and other technology with links to tutoring and other student support services.
6. Collaborate with other university offices and events.
7. Serve on university committees that promote student success and retention.
8. Engage in professional development activities.
9. Oversee the Reinstated Student Program and the Summer Institute for Higher Learning

Describe the program’s origins (e.g. year established, purpose, expectations).

The Student Success Center at Eastern Illinois University became fully operational in the fall of 2007 as a result of a $35,000 Title III Strengthening Institutions Grant.  A planning committee was formed in 2005 consisting of 20 representatives of faculty, administration and students.  The committee systematically reviewed institutional strengths and weaknesses identified in already existing major planning documents and in the University’s comprehensive accreditation self-study. The result of the review was a matrix of institutional development needs charted against Title III priorities. The matrix focused attention on a cluster of academic needs that would be addressed with a comprehensive Student Success Center. This concept was submitted to the entire campus community in the form of a draft Institutional Development Plan for review and consideration in a series of open forums and ultimately endorsed by the Board of Trustees.

The University was awarded a five-year $1.85 million Title III Institutional Development Grant in fall 2007 to develop and implement the Student Success Center.  The grant application was funded on its first submission; typically an unheard of accomplishment.    The grant provides for the construction of a 5,000 square foot facility to house the Student Success Center, the creation of an endowment to fund operations at the completion of the five-year grant cycle and funding to develop programs, services and to hire staff to support student success and retention.  All of the objectives of the grant were either met or exceeded in this, the final year of the grant cycle.

How has the unit changed or adapted over time?

The position of Student Success Specialist was changed from a 9 month position to a 12 month position of Assistant Director in 2012.  The department expanded in the summer of 2012 to develop and oversee the Summer Institute of Higher Learning. 

If needed, provide supplemental comments to help the reader understand the program’s history and relevance to university mission.

Provide data, if available, on the numbers of students, faculty, staff, or others served by the program during the past four years. If no data are available, please estimate the numbers served annually.

7,159 students received services through the Student Success Center in AY11-A13 either through individualized consultations, classroom instruction ( EIU 2919) or classroom presentations and campus workshops.

Does the program offer any co-curricular opportunities for students (e.g., internships, RSO support, service-learning activities)? Please describe.

The Student Success Center offers 5-6 Graduate Assistantships each year as well as 3-4 internship opportunities.

Does the program contribute to the delivery of academic programs (e.g., providing professional expertise, serving as adjunct faculty)? Please describe.

The SSC oversees the instruction of EIU 2919, provides classroom presentations to academic classes and both the Director and Assistant Director instruct UF 1111.

If needed, provide supplemental comments to help the reader understand the internal demand for the program. Note any clarifications or special circumstances (e.g., curriculum changes made by another program) that should be considered when reviewing the above data.

Is the program accredited or approved by a recognized external agency or otherwise certified to meet established professional standards? Provide an executive summary of and link to the program’s most recent accreditation or certification report, if available.

No.

Is the program required to meet any regulatory or legal requirements? Is the program subject to any special auditing requirements?

FERPA

NACADA best practices

US Department of Education Title III guidelines (2007-2012)

What are the most important outreach or public service activities supported by the program?

The SSC maintains a comprehensive website, offers an online section of EIU 2919 for online learners and has presented at the Charleston Rotary Club.

How do the local community and the region benefit from the program?

Community members can access the website for instructional materials and podcasts.

If needed, provide supplemental comments or data sources to help the reader understand the external demand for the program.

What are the two or three more important measureable outcomes tracked to assess program quality? Does the program conduct an outcomes assessment, and if so, what has been the impact?

The SSC tracks student academic standing and term and cumulative gpa to assess program quality.

We do not conduct outcomes assessment per se as we don't track learning outcomes.

What are the two or three most effective best practices that the program has implemented? What benefits have been gained from implementing these best practices?

The mandatory requirement that all students who fall on academic warning the first time enroll in EIU 2919, the mandatory reinstated student program and the Summer Institute of Higher Learning. 

Benefits gained include the number of students regaining good academic standing following successful completion of EIU 2919, the number of reinstated students moving off of academic probation to good standing following SSC interventions and the 80% retention of rate of the SIHL students.

What external recognitions (e.g., awards, accommodations, professional certifications, references in trade publications) have the program and its staff received in the past three years?

The SSC presented their program to the IBHE as an invited guest of a model program in 2011. 

The SSC was showcased in an extensive newsletter as a Promising Practice by Women Employed in 2011

The Director, Cindy Boyer, received the Award of Excellence from the Graduate School at EIU in 2012.

Is the program active with any regional, national, or international professional organizations?

NACADA

Note any presentations, publications, or offices held in the last three years.

The SSC conducted 120 campus presentations in the last three years.

If needed, provide supplemental comments or data sources to help the reader understand the quality of program outcomes.

Note any special benefits (e.g., personnel support, equipment, permanent improvements) that the program has received in the past three years from its grants and other sponsored programs.

The position of Student Success Specialist was expanded from a 9 month position to a 12 month Assistant Director position.

How does the program benefit from donor gifts (e.g., scholarships, endowed chairs)? Does donor support provide a significant percentage of the program’s overall funding?

no

List two or three key relationships that the program maintains with external constituencies (e.g., community colleges, other universities, government bodies). How do these relationships advance the university mission or otherwise benefit the university?

The SSC maintains a comprehensive website, offers an online section of EIU 2919 for online learners and served as a consultant for Rock Valley Community College as they prepared to submit a Title III grant application.

The SSC has become a respected department that collaborates with other community colleges and universities.

If needed, provide supplemental comments to help the reader understand the resources generated by the program. Note any clarifications or special circumstances (e.g., revenue pass-throughs) that should be considered when reviewing the above data.

Provide an executive summary of and link to any metrics or benchmarks that the program tracks to measure productivity.

Prior to the requirement that all students on academic warning for the first time enroll in EIU 2919, only 34% ever regained good standing at the university.  Following the implementation of this requirement in 2007, an average of85% of students regain good standing within two semesters.

The retention of of SIHL students was 80%.

62% of reinstated students regained good academic standing their first semester back through SSC interventions.

A more detailed explanation can be found on the CASA Annual report.   http://www.eiu.edu/~casa/

What initiatives has the program implemented to enhance staff productivity (e.g., access to training, workflow improvements)? Briefly describe the costs and benefits of these initiatives.

The Director and Assistant Director attend free trainings, presentations and webinars to improve program quality. THe Assistant Director position was moved from an 11 month position to a 12 month position for program expansion ( SIHL) and more efficient office operations.  Cost: $3479.79

If needed, provide supplemental comments to help the reader understand the productivity of the program. Note any clarifications or special circumstances (e.g., accreditation requirements, curricular changes, program restructuring) that should be considered when reviewing the above data.

If needed, provide supplemental comments to help the reader understand the costs associated with the program. Note any clarifications or special circumstances (e.g., expenditures made centrally or externally, expenditures made on behalf of other units) that should be considered when reviewing the above data.

How does the program seek to distinguish itself from similar programs at other institutions?

We offer more comprehensive programs that other universities.  Many success centers are simply tutoring centers.    We offer individualized counseling, mandatory instruction to students on warning, workshops, website, early alert intervention, midterm intervention and serve as a resource and referral hub for all other campus offices.

Note any unique and/or essential contributions that the program makes to the university.

We increase the number of students who regain academic standing at the university and are a key player in retention efforts.

Provide any program-specific metrics that help to document program contributions or program quality. Examples of some commonly used program-specific metrics may be found here.

If needed, provide supplemental comments to help the reader understand the program impact on the university mission.

Provide a link to or listing of the program’s goals and/or strategic plan.

2013-2014 Goals:

1. Provide individual learning strategy instruction, ongoing support and referral services for students seeking to improve their learning skills.
2. Develop, support and help implement University-wide learning initiatives, especially in the areas involving retention, at-risk student populations and students on warning.
3. Conduct outreach efforts to enhance the learning environment, including student workshops, classroom visits, presentations in University housing, staff information sessions.
4. Teach EIU 1111:University Foundations.
5. Provide and maintain a virtual presence through the website and other technology with links to tutoring and other student support services.
6. Collaborate with other university offices and events.
7. Serve on university committees that promote student success and retention.
8. Engage in professional development activities.
9. Oversee the Reinstated Student Program and the Summer Institute for Higher Learning

What role will the program have in the implementation of the university’s strategic plan (provide link to strategic plan)?

The role of the SSC is directly tied to Academic Excellence in the Strategic Plan.  http://www.eiu.edu/strategicsummary/

In the next two or three years, what best practices, improvements in operations, or other opportunities to advance the university’s mission are likely to be implemented?

The SSC would like to expand the SIHL to between 75-100 students.

The SSC will continue to conduct outreach efforts to increase the number of students who receive services.

Supplemental Instruction ( SI) is a best practice that aids in retention.  The SSC would like to see SI implemented in various departments across campus which would require additional funding.

The SSC would like to offer a summer program to high school juniors which would be similar to SIHL only without GPA or ACT restriction.  We believe this would increase freshmen enrollment as students would have positive ties to the university.

If needed, provide supplemental comments to help the reader understand future opportunities for the program.