CENTER FOR STUDENT EXCELLENCE

Lorett Swank, Chief Student Success Officer

 

The mission of the Center for Student Excellence is to work in partnership with the University academic departments and campus community to assist students in becoming active, responsible, and successful learners. The center is committed to creating an environment which fosters student development and retention. 

To fulfill this mission, the Center for Student Excellence provides freshman advising and academic coaching, the Southeastern (SE) 101: Freshman Academic Success course, an Academic Recovery Program, Southeastern (SE) 102: Freshman Academic Coaching Seminar for first-year probation students, as well as, tutoring in select subjects for all students, a Transfer Student Coordinator, and Academic and Career Exploration (ACE) Coaches for Southeastern students no longer served by first-year advisors. 

Professional academic advisors/coaches are assigned to assist all incoming freshmen (new and transfer students with less than 30 hours). These students are advised in the center until they complete two full semesters or 30 hours, whichever comes first. First-year students meet individually with their professional advisor/coach throughout the semester to discuss academic and career goals, grade progress, obstacles, and other concerns. Advisors also help freshman students learn about and understand academic plans, curriculum and/or program requirements, general education requirements, prerequisites, and course selection.

SE 101, the University’s required academic success course for beginning freshmen, is a two-hour credit graded success course which aims to provide freshman with the tools needed to manage the emotional, social, and academic transition to the university. It is designed to help cultivate effective and adaptable behaviors, develop successful academic strategies, and to connect with professional advisors to explore career options, academic plans, and target the skills needed to be a successful college student.

For first-year students that experience academic challenges, the CSE offers an Academic Recovery Program where students can participate in counselor-led groups and/or individual meetings with their assigned CSE advisor/coach. The Academic Recovery Program is designed to help students identify and develop the tools, skills, and support necessary to recover their grade point average and to regain "good" academic standing with the University as quickly as possible. As an added resource, students are also eligible to enroll in the SE 102: Freshman Academic Coaching Seminar, which is a one-credit hour course that provides student-focused academic coaching by engaging and encouraging freshman students on probation to identify the personal and academic strategies necessary to succeed as college students.  

Tutoring services are offered on the main campus, on-line via NetTutor, and at the library for all Southeastern students. Qualified peer and professional tutors provide one-on-one and small group tutoring with emphasis placed on the student’s responsibility to actively engage in the learning process. 

The Transfer Student Coordinator provides transition assistance to incoming transfer students with over 30 credit hours working to create a transfer-friendly campus that prioritizes transfer enrollment and identifies specific strategies aligned with student needs and the university’s goals. The Coordinator understands that transfer students are unique and works to eliminate “transfer shock” by providing information for transfer students pertaining to Southeastern policies, procedures, advising structures, terminology, learning platform, academic expectations, student engagement opportunities, etc. Serves as an initial point-of-contact for transfer students referring students to appropriate departmental offices, academic departments, faculty, and support services. Collaborates with admissions and academic departments to determine course equivalency determinations and appropriate major. Works with academic departments to establish clear paths for transfer students to pursue their major while maximizing their transfer credit. 

Academic and Career Exploration (ACE) Coaches provide career counseling and coaching for students in transition that are no longer served by first-year advisors. The ACE Coach works in collaboration with department heads, faculty advisors, and undergraduate coordinators to identify and support students that are not progressing in their degree program, unsure about their major, and/or need assistance researching other majors and related occupations.