UTC is committed to helping students make a productive transition to college life. Central to this commitment are various academic programs, resources and services, including the Freshman Academic Success Tracking initiative, designed to help first time freshmen become responsible, self-disciplined students.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis initiative attempts to achieve this purpose by promoting responsible class attendance,\u201d according to Dr. Fran Bender, Assistant Provost for Student Retention and Success.\u00a0 \u201cSpecial emphasis is placed on the first six weeks of the freshman year when most academic problems begin although monitoring will continue throughout the semester,\u201d Bender said.<\/p>\n
This fall semester the freshman composition and Western Humanities instructors in the English Department are taking attendance in their classes.\u00a0 Once students have missed two classes, their instructors send the students\u2019 names via computer to the Advisement Office, Residence Life, and Bender.\u00a0 Students living in on-campus housing are contacted by Residence Advisors who remind these students of the importance of class attendance to academic success.\u00a0 These students also receive a card detailing student resources for academic and\/or personal issues.\u00a0 Students living off-campus receive a phone call from Blake Pierce in the Advisement and Retention Office.<\/p>\n
\u201cContact, though brief and positive, is designed to encourage class attendance and consultation with the teachers about academic concerns.\u00a0 Students are contacted only once even though they may continue to miss class.\u00a0 The contact should serve as awake-up call and encouragement for students,\u201d Bender said.<\/p>\n
This initiative, modeled on those used by other universities to help freshmen get off to a good start, has proved successful.\u00a0 \u201cWe hope that we, too, get positive results,\u201d Bender said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
UTC is committed to helping students make a productive transition to college life. Central to this commitment are various academic programs, resources and services, including the Freshman Academic Success Tracking initiative, designed to help first time freshmen become responsible, self-disciplined students. \u201cThis initiative attempts to achieve this purpose by promoting responsible class attendance,\u201d according to… <\/p>\n