Compliance Certification Report
| 3.4.9 | The institution provides appropriate academic support services. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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[Compliance] |
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Narrative: |
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| The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) is in compliance with Principle 3.4.9 because the University has an established academic support system with the following components that have been developed because they are appropriate to the particular needs of our undergraduate and graduate students. Academic Advising Academic advising is a primary component of academic support services across all the colleges. The goals of academic advising include: 1) assisting students in planning academic and life goals; 2) assisting students in their personal adjustment to the UAH campus; 3) aiding students in the assessment of academic needs, in developing appropriate educational plans and in selecting and registering for courses each term; 4) explaining and clarifying graduation requirements as well as academic policies; and 5) facilitating student success. General academic advising is organized throughout the University on a two-tier system. Entering freshmen are provided academic advising in the student's chosen college. Each college maintains an advising office staffed by professional advisors who guide students at least through their first year but generally into and sometimes through the sophomore year. Undecided, conditionally admitted, transient, high school and non-degree seeking students are advised in the Academic Advisement and Information Center located in the University Center. When students have settled on a major they are encouraged by their lower division advisors to develop a program of study. This generally occurs mid-way through the sophomore year. At this point students are directed to the department of their chosen field of study where they are assigned advisors from the faculty. It is with this person that students complete their programs of study. While the locus of advising changes at this point, professional advisors in the colleges remain important resources to students as they progress towards graduation. In some areas where state licensing is a part of the program of study, such as in education and nursing, professional advisors monitor and counsel students through completion of their courses of study. The University also maintains a drop-in center where students can seek quick and immediate assistance with a variety of academic matters such as change of schedule, drop-add, course repeat, application for graduation, and registration. Known as Charger Central, the center is located in the University Center and is a service center more than an advisement center, though it is a purveyor of academic information. The Associate Provost for Undergraduate Studies meets regularly with the professional academic advisors in the course of the academic year to coordinate their activities and to conduct on-going assessment of the success of academic advisement at UAH. Graduate students are advised by faculty members in their particular departments and programs. Academic Assistance Resources Curriculum planning and implementation is supplemented by a variety of resources available to all students and some directed at designated groups. Under the direction of Student Services, the University operates an orientation program for entering students, support services for international students (including ESL), and support services for students with disabilities. Minority students are provided support through the Office of Multicultural Affairs, the Alliance for Minority Participation program, and the College Going Minorities-Program Launching Undergraduate Success (CGM-PLUS). The Counseling Center and Career Services play an important role in academic advisement. The Counseling Center assists students in diagnosing and managing personal, emotional and learning issues that often obstruct effective learning. The Career Services center assists students in identifying intellectual interests and strengths, career development and exploration, and ultimately their job search. The Vice President for Student Affairs chairs a Common Concerns Committee that provides on-going assessment and direction for the program. In addition to orientation, the University encourages entering undergraduate students to participate in the Learning Communities program and to take the University 101 course. These were instituted to help new students establish an academic and social base quickly, and to provide them with practical information and skills necessary for the smooth transition from high school to college. Students at all levels and in all colleges have access to a variety of tutoring services and academic resources. Tutors are provided free of charge by both the Office of Student Affairs and the Office of Academic Affairs at the college and/or department level. In some core areas, the University has established centers for academic assistance. These include the Writing Center and the Mathematics Learning Center. The Writing Center is open to all students and has as its goal assisting students in the planning, organization, focus, structure, explanation, support, and mechanics in individual writing assignments, and in general to help students become more confident and successful writers. The Mathematics Learning Center is a computer laboratory and tutoring center for students in math courses through the Calculus II level. It is staffed by faculty and graduate students. In addition to these, the colleges operate a number of resource centers with specific focus, such as the Calculus Workshop, the Physics Success Center, the Nursing Learning Resource Center, and the Women's Studies Resource Center. Students interested in professional careers have access to a Pre-Professional Health Advisor, a Pre-Law Advisor, and a Business Advisor. The School of Graduate Studies provides additional resources such as Thesis and Dissertation guides. In addition, the M. Louis Salmon Library provides several academic assistance resources such as Interlibrary Loan, a Reserved Materials desk and staffed computer laboratories. The University maintains a Web Course Tools (WebCT) system that instructors may use to make course materials available to students. WebCT also allows students to communicate with their instructor and/or classmates. An administrative staff person serves as the WebCT manager to assist faculty in using the system. Additional discussion of academic support services is included in the narrative for Standard 2.9 and Standard 2.10. |
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