Abstract:

This presentation introduces the audience to building a support system for students, a CASA as in the Center for Academic Success and Achievement. The college experience is a tough journey for most students and not an easy road toward graduation. The metaphor used is the same as one would build a house, a home CASA. The struggles, the set-backs, the bad weather, the beautiful moments or accomplishment and lifting the weights are highlighted. The key elements are presented, related to raising the walls of CASA (as in academics needed to move forward) and starting the process (as in experiences, knowledge, skills, attitudes). The counselors, advisors, faculty and mentors are all important people in making it happen, building CASA. At the center is the student and along with the student all the other support services and people, with their roles in making the experience as best as possible. The goal of the presentation is to inform the audience about the idea for a project and different initiatives implemented at the university, how those related to advising research, students' success and support. The role of faculty and counselors are highlighted in supporting students and how they went beyond the classroom experiences, into community service and engagement, study abroad experiences and other opportunities that were made available to students to grow and transform. The presentation of the initiatives will include an overview of advising terminology, literature review highlighting the main background studies, the preliminary methodology used (survey, data collection and data analysis), results with a summary of findings. The presentation will conclude with future recommendations for programs, research, questions and answers for audience. An interactive activity will also take place to brainstorm and generate ideas for making a strong case for the Center for Academic Success and Achievement.

Keywords:

Student success, student support, student achievement, student guidance.