Requirement Number 3.4.9: The institution provides appropriate academic support services.

Full Compliance

Georgia Southern University provides appropriate academic support services of high quality to its students commencing with the student's official acceptance into the University. Once accepted for admission, a student must attend Southern's Orientation, Advisement, and Registration (SOAR)—a mandatory program for all new students (freshmen and transfers) which assists with their transition to the University; provides academic advisement and an opportunity to register for classes; distributes The Eagle Eye: New Student Handbook , the University's Catalog , and other resource materials; and acquaints new students with the campus services available (see also the 2004-2005 Undergraduate and Graduate Catalog , p. 38). Additionally, the University requires all first year students to complete a one-credit orientation course, GSU 1210 . Designed to help first-year students understand the purpose of a college education, this course provides instruction about college resources and requirements, explores values and interests, teaches about making decisions and realistic choices, explores career objectives and programs of study, and establishes supportive relationships with faculty and staff (see 2004-2005 Undergraduate and Graduate Catalog , p. 355, “GSU 1210—University Orientation I”).

Not only is Georgia Southern proactive in informing students about the resources available, but it also identifies and targets student populations it deems to be potentially at risk. For example, data reveal that over half of Georgia Southern students who earn the HOPE Scholarship as beginning freshmen, lose it after their first year due to unsatisfactory academic performance (GPA falls below “B”). To specifically address this population, the University initiated in the 2003 Fall term midterm progress reports for freshmen. Using these reports, the University can identify those students whose course performance is unsatisfactory (below a “C”) at midterm. Advisors and faculty are then informed of ways to intercede with students in academic trouble, engage them in conversation, and advise them about the University's tutoring programs and services.

The University employs this strategy in an effort to raise its retention rates also. First year retention for the Fall 2002 cohort of students returning to Georgia Southern in Fall 2003 was 76% (see 2003-2004 Fact Book , p. 46). Many of these students are dismissed from the University due to academic failure. Again, the University has implemented interventions that force students to meet with their academic advisor every semester prior to registration to discuss academic progress and determine what, if any, support services may be needed. In addition to the Academic Advisement Center , many of the colleges have also established student services centers to better serve their students. Additionally, the Academic Success Center (ASC) offers tutoring in any class that students may request if the budget supports hiring tutors in that subject area. Over 4,500 tutoring sessions were conducted during the past year, approximately 1,250 sessions were conducted in the computer lab, and over 1,000 students attended workshops. Auxiliary Instruction is also offered through ASC for the two classes that have historically had the highest DWF rate (College Algebra and World History). Other services provided through this department include helping students develop study and test taking skills, alleviate test anxiety, and deal with many other concerns that impact academic performance. The ASC even offers tutoring in the residence halls as nearly 3,400 students (over 20%) live on campus. Additionally, residence life staff members offer academic programming through the Department of University Housing . At the opposite end of the spectrum, Georgia Southern has developed the Honors Program to serve those students who are admitted into the University Honors Program.

The University offers a plethora of other student services to meet other identifiable needs. The University's Student Disability Resource Center (SDRC) currently serves 369 students with another 170 students in the application process (SDRC statistics, Spring 2004). Services provided through this Center are published in the 2004-2005 Undergraduate and Graduate Catalog (p. 18) and in the Faculty Handbook (p. 68). The Board of Regents has also established the Regents Center for Learning Disorders (RCLD) to assist students who may have learning disorders. With 28.7% (n= 4,511/15,704) of the student population self-identifying as minority in Fall 2003 (see 2003-2004 Fact Book , p. 32), the University operates the Multicultural Student Center (MSC) to promote cultural awareness and foster educational and developmental opportunities for all students regardless of ethnic heritage or national origin. In addition to being served by the MSC, foreign students receive support through the Center for International Studies . In Fall 2003, Georgia Southern's international student enrollment equaled 2.2% (n=350/15,704) representing 77 different nationalities (see 2003-2004 Fact Book , p. 26). The Counseling and Career Development Center helps students in need of academic, personal-social, or career assistance. Similarly, Health Services functions to assist students with achieving and maintaining the best possible physical and psychological health.

Finally, the University offers a range of academic support services to assist all students and to ensure that their collegiate experience is successful and rewarding. Services that fall under this umbrella include those offered by Information Technology Services , Web Page Accessibility Office , Henderson Library , Financial Aid , and Distance Learning Center . Career Services aids students in identifying and investigating potential careers. They also provide experiential education opportunities. For those students continuing beyond the baccalaureate degree and newly admitted graduate students, the College of Graduate Studies has developed an online orientation and provides access to many academic resources including the Library, WINGS, the Catalog , Travel and Research Grants, thesis/dissertation information, and information about the Graduate Student Organization (GSO) as well as graduate assistantships. The College also publishes the Graduate Student Manual to acquaint them with the resources available.

²⁷In Fall 2003, 86.44% of in-state, first-time freshmen received the HOPE Scholarship during their first year of enrollment, and only 39.44% of in-state sophomores retained the HOPE Scholarship (Office of Financial Aid, Georgia Southern University).

²⁸See http://coba.georgiasouthern.edu/services/index.html —COBA Student Services
http://coe.georgiasouthern.edu/studentinfo.html —COE Educational Resources
http://chhs.georgiasouthern.edu/students/ —CHHS Student Services
http://cit.georgiasouthern.edu/services/ —CIT Student Services
http://cost.georgiasouthern.edu/resources/ —COST Student Resources