3.4.9 Academic Support Services

Comprehensive Standard: The institution provides appropriate academic support services.

X Compliance
    Partial compliance
    Non-compliance

Narrative:

Georgia State University provides a variety of academic support services for students and faculty. To ensure that services are adequate and appropriate, units which provide services for students and faculty set annual outcomes/objectives, assess the results, report the findings on WEAVEonline, and develop action plans designed to improve the quality of the service. In this section we focus on academic support services that are offered across the university.  In section 2.10 we report on programs, services, and activities under the umbrella of the Division of Student Affairs, and in section 3.8.1 we report on library support services.

The Student Advisement Center (SAC) [1] serves all freshmen students, new transfer students who have fewer than 42 credit hours, undecided majors, and students in the Academic Improvement Program (all undergraduate students with an academic standing of supervision or probation).

Each college has an office of academic assistance to provide advisement for undergraduate students who have earned 42 hours and all graduate students:

The Dean of Students Office [2] answers students’ questions and directs students to appropriate staff or departments and assists in finding solutions to complicated situations. 

The Learning Assistance Program [3] provides assistance to students who want to be more effective or efficient in their study techniques. Small group instruction is offered in many areas including reading comprehension, speed-reading, time management, test taking and concentration. Students can register for a variety of workshops or participate in the Study Skills Circus, a two-day workshop offered at the beginning of each semester to help students improve academic performance. Students can make appointments by contacting the Counseling Center.

The Writing Studio [4] is sponsored by the Department of English and is a resource for any student needing advice or tutoring assistance. This Center is also designed to provide support services for students who are taking composition and other English courses, or preparing for the Regents’ Examination. Students can make standing appointments or can walk in for short-term assistance.

The Mathematics Assistance Complex, [5]  sponsored by the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, provides tutorial services for students enrolled in mathematics courses.

African American Student Services and Programs [6] promotes diversity programs for African American students and serves as a liaison between students and other segments of the university community. Also provided are academic services such as Black Freshmen Network, Academic Development Study Sessions, Peer Advising Network, tutorial assistance, and resource referrals.

Office of Disability Services [7]  provides program accessibility and reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities. Also provided are evaluation of individual needs, advisement and appropriate academic support for persons with identified disabilities. This office also provides testing facilities and proctoring to students with special needs.

The Counseling Center [8] helps students explore personal issues or concerns such as anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and sexual or physical abuse. The Center provides programs to enhance community development and to educate around multi-cultural issues. Programs are offered for departments and organizations on personal growth or psycho-educational topics. This office proctors make-up exams, and scans and scores tests for faculty. The Center provides individual, couple, and group personal counseling and psychotherapy; enhances communication skills or relationships development; and assists students in career development or planning.

University Career Services [9] assists students in locating career and employment opportunities, including internships, and works with colleges, departments, and student groups to develop and deliver customized career programs. The office also provides workshops and other resources to assist students in clarifying career objectives and learning effective job search skills.

The International Students and Scholars Programs [10] provides support for non-immigrant international student/faculty/researcher populations, their dependents, and for any foreign-born citizens and permanent residents of the U.S. who may need services. OISP assists faculty in developing new international programs and coordinates international exchange programs as well as hosting international delegations. This office serves as a liaison with academic departments, the diplomatic corps, and a variety of U.S. and international agencies as well as serving as the campus advisor for U.S. faculty and student Fulbright applicants, NSEP grants, Board of Regents scholarships, and international opportunities.

Student Support Services [11] offers individual tutoring in math, English, and reading, as well as other subjects. A learning lab, academic counseling/coaching, and career exploration/assistance are available. This office develops individual education plans, and offers advocacy, case management, and textbooks on tape. Referrals can be made for diagnosis of learning disabilities and testing accommodations.

The  University Library [12] provides access to collections, circulation of library materials, reference assistance, consultation, and library instruction are the core library services offered to GSU students and staff.  Reference assistance is available in person, by telephone and also via online chat and instant messaging.  The liaison and Learning Commons librarians also provide one-on-one, in-depth research consultations on specific topics.  Library instruction is delivered through classroom sessions and through self-paced online tutorials and research guides.

The University Library also provides a Learning Commons [13] area that brings together services from several Student Support units and academic departments.  In addition to the research assistance available from University librarians, the ESL program and the English department provide writing assistance to students on-site and IS&T’s help desk staff assist students with campus computing and wireless support.  A detailed discussion of library services supporting undergraduate and graduate student learning is available in Section 3.8.1.

Services for Faculty include:

The Center for Teaching and Learning [14] promotes student learning by encouraging and supporting faculty efforts to explore the teaching-learning process. Such explorations include development of instructional skills, reflection on current instructional practices, implementation of teaching innovations, and use of emerging technologies. Further, the Center serves as an advocate for excellent teaching and for the expansion of incentives for the continued improvement of teaching and learning at the University.

The Instructional Technology Center (ITC) [15] is designed for faculty, students, and Pre-K-12 educators to encourage and support technology confidence and expertise in the areas of teaching, collaboration, and consultation. One of several centers operated by the College of Education at Georgia State, the ITC offers a wide variety of services related to instructional technology.

The Office of Diversity Education Planning [16] provides educationally structured learning opportunities for social, personal and intellectual/academic development. The program engages members of the University community in personal and professional development through training sessions, seminars, workshops, and reflective learning activities. This office also sponsors programs and activities that reflect differences in age, culture, ethnicity, gender, geographic background, nationality, disability, race, sexual orientation, social-economic status, and spirituality.

University Educational Technology Services (UETS)  [17] provides institutional instructional technology support, including assistance with instructional design, assessment, and learning objects; creation of Web-based course materials and WebCT support; digital media services; and technology training.

Classroom and Lab Facilities — Workplace Technology Services [18] provides information and support about specially designated classrooms in various places on campus and computer terminal facilities available for faculty and student use. For help with a classroom or laboratory problem, contact the help desk at (404) 651-0834.

The University Library [19] offers GSU faculty reference assistance and consultation services along with desktop delivery (e-mail) of journal articles and book chapters from the print collection at the University Library.  The library also maintains both electronic (E-Reserves) and print reserve materials’ collections where faculty may place their course materials on reserve in electronic format or in the print reserve collection for their students’ use. The library makes online request forms available through the library’s website in order to facilitate faculty requests for library instruction for classes, requests for library purchases and requests for placing materials in the E-reserves system.

The Office of Undergraduate Studies maintains information on academic support so that students can locate services by functional area. [20]

Services for Departmentally-based Programs

In addition to the support services for individual students and faculty, there are several initiatives that provide academic support to academic programs. The supplemental instruction program [21] provides funding, through the Office of Undergraduate Studies, to departments to offer free, out-of-class, study sessions for traditionally difficult courses.  Likewise, the Retention/Progression/Graduation [22] initiative through the Provost's Office provides funding to departments to design and initiate programs to redesign courses which have a high DWF rate. Several different models have been funded.

Supporting Documentation:

  1. Student Advisement Center
  2. Dean of Students Office
  3. Learning Assistance Program
  4. Writing Studio
  5. Mathematics Assistance Complex
  6. African American Student Services and Programs
  7. Office of Disability Services
  8. Counseling Center
  9. University Career Services
  10. International Students and Scholars Programs
  11. Student Support Services
  12. University Library
  13. Library Learning Common
  14. Center for Teaching and Learning
  15. Instructional Technology Center
  16. Office of Diversity Education Planning
  17. University Educational Technology Services
  18. Classroom and Lab Facilities
  19. University Library
  20. Academic Support Information
  21. Supplemental Instruction
  22. Retention/Progression/Graduation