1P8 Underprepared Student Assistance

• Developmental Coursework: The admissions and placement process helps determine whether students need developmental courses in math, reading or English, in which case they are enrolled in those courses. Pre-academic courses are available for those students who need additional help in their coursework or who are preparing to enter post secondary education and need to strengthen their skills in specific areas. COMPASS or ACT scores are used to determine placement into ENGL 101 Composition and higher level math courses, MATH 101 Intermediate Algebra, MATH 102 College Algebra, and MATH 115 College Math. Students who test below the required placement cutoff scores take ENGL 095 Writing Made Easy, or ENGL 098 Introduction to Writing Success for English and MATH 090 Basic Mathematics or Math 098 Basic Algebra for math. Pre-academic courses are delivered through the Adult Learning Center at minimal cost to students ($50 per course).
• Student Success Seminar: STI has developed a new Student Success Seminar course, piloted in fall 2008 and approved through the Curriculum Committee as a requirement for all STI students without prior post-secondary course experience, effective fall 2009. The course is part of an integrated support system for students. Students are taught where to find services, how to network, how to study, etc. Success advisors facilitate the course and act as coaches for the students throughout their entire program.
• Faculty to Student Communications: Faculty use a mandatory, documented mid-semester warning code and advising process to help identify students with academic concerns in coursework and/or class attendance. Faculty work as Academic Advisors for their program students and use this information during student advising meetings to help determine student needs and provide support. Warning code information is communicated through the STInet site and is available to students and Academic Advisors. Advisors can also use the system to document advising meetings. Faculty also work with the Student Success Advisors to intervene when students need additional support.
• Preparatory Coursework: In 2008 a preparatory coursework track was created to allow underprepared students the opportunity to enroll and demonstrate success in preparatory courses before they take program-specific coursework.
• Tutoring: STI provides free peer tutoring services to students needing these services. The services are coordinated by the Disability Services Facilitator.