The Academic Support Referral (ASR) acts as an early alert system which is designed to increase students' persistence and promote the development of the intellectual and affective domains to improve how students learn. The University of Houston, Clear Lake is committed to make certain that students, faculty and staff are aware of the educational and academic support programs offered to students and has implemented a retention program through the Academic Support Referral. This program is managed by the Student Success Center (SSC). I feel everyone at the university has a vested interest in student success.
The Academic Support Referral exemplifies how the University of Houston, Clear Lake is an academic community, in every sense of the word. We come together to support those who are in need of assistance and to support student learning.

The Academic Support Referral program allows faculty to be proactive and involved in assisting with the student retention efforts, through the early detection and intervention of students who are experiencing problems that may affect their academic performance.

Academic Support Referrals are for student(s) for which faculty has a concern(s) and/or do not feel that you as faculty can provide the additional out-of-class support the student may need. The Student Success Center will contact the student, share the faculty member's concern(s), and the SSC will provide recommendations. Students will receive an alert email once faculty submits an ASR due to the following concerns:
• Excessive absences
• Missing tests or assignments
• Failure to complete homework
• Classroom behavior
• Tardiness
• Low scores on tests/assignments/quizzes

After the request is sent, the Assistant Director of the Student Success Center will contact the student within 72business hours (the SSC will make multiple attempts to contact the student). In addition, the Student Success Center will notify you, the instructor, as well as the student on the plans we deem necessary to assist the student personally and/or academically.

DELIVERY FORMAT: The program has a hybrid format.

PROGRAM SCALE: Large-scale (reaches more than 25 percent of its intended target population)

HOW TO ENROLL: All stakeholders have access to this program. As such, there is no enrollment process

EVALUATION STATUS: Data related to program outcomes have been internally collected in the past

DEPARTMENT(S) OVERSEEING PROGRAM: Student Success Center

CONTACT FOR MORE INFO: Jorge Tennin at tennin@uhcl.edu or 2812832454

Embedded tutors (ETs) work closely with instructors for the duration of a course to help students understand course concepts and enhance student engagement. The tutor attends class meetings each week, and class attendance is based on the needs of the students and the structure of the class. In the classroom, the ET functions as a mentor and a model for successful academic strategies and habits. ETs are not classroom observers, teaching assistants, personal assistants to the instructor, or instructors. They have authority over students because instructors introduce them into courses. ETs follow the same “hands-off” rules as tutors in the Student Success Center (SSC): Help students understand materials, but don't do the work for them. Embedded tutors use “best practices” learned during the tutor training they receive at the beginning of the semester of employment. The tutors are intended to optimize classroom learning by working with individuals and small groups, including going over an assignment, reviewing a key lesson or skill, and preparing for exams. ETs also take on an advocacy and intermediary role with students, voicing concerns and ideas to the instructor based on student feedback. Their presence in the classroom enables students to better understand their instructor and the lessons. In addition, the tutor may hold study sessions for students outside of the designated class time. Instructors recommend their embedded tutor(s) from students that have previously taken their course and received an “A” or “A-” in the course. Currently, all of the ETs are assigned to courses in the College of Science and Engineering.

DELIVERY FORMAT: The program has a hybrid format.

PROGRAM SCALE: Large-scale (reaches more than 25 percent of its intended target population)

HOW TO ENROLL: All stakeholders have access to this program. As such, there is no enrollment process

EVALUATION STATUS: Data related to program outcomes are currently being internally collected

DEPARTMENT(S) OVERSEEING PROGRAM: Student Success Center

CONTACT FOR MORE INFO: Dorsey Thomas at Thomasdo@uhcl.edu or 2812832450

The mental Health Awareness Training CErT program is based on the UHCL Counseling and Mental Health Center's mission, “Connect, Empower, Thrive”. The "Connect, Empower, refer, and Thrive (CErT)", training is a research-based program for UHCL students, faculty, and staff on recognizing signs of mental health issues, connecting to resources, preventing poor mental health outcomes, and ensuring student retention and success. The 2-3-hour training contains modules separately targeting faculty/staff; general students and student leaders; veterans; and students seeking teacher certification. The main learning objectives for this training are for participants to learn to identify emerging signs and symptoms of mental health concerns, be able to distinguish skillful ways to intervene with individuals who are experiencing mental health concerns and make referrals to appropriate services, and be able to identify at least two ways to engage in self-care.

DELIVERY FORMAT: The program has a hybrid format or has both online and in-person components.

PROGRAM SCALE: Unknown

DEPARTMENT(S) OVERSEEING PROGRAM: UHCL Counseling and Mental Health Center

CONTACT FOR MORE INFO: Cynthia Cook at cert@uhcl.edu or 2812832580

Peer Mentors have successfully completed the Learning Frameworks course and now work closely with the First-Year Seminar instructor to provide peer mentoring and instructional support to one section of the Learning Frameworks's first-year and transfer students. Coordinating with an assigned Learning Frameworks faculty member to prepare for each weekly lesson, peer mentors serve as liaisons between students and faculty. Peer mentors are also clearinghouses for student success resources and campus events. They exemplify critical thinking by modeling class assignments, assessing weekly writing assignments, and facilitating small group discussions. During weekly peer mentor-student conversations about academic success tips, co-curricular opportunities, and targeted workshops, they create an atmosphere of trust, responsibility, and encouragement with students.

The First-Year Seminar Peer Mentor Program also benefits peer mentor cohorts. Peer mentors develop leadership skills vital to college and professional success; receive mentorship from faculty supervisors; create a close community within their cohort through shared trainings and experiences; cultivate fairness by engaging in challenging assumptions about cross- and intra-cultural diversity; and participate in professional development opportunities such as presenting at academic conferences, moderating First-Year Seminar events, and networking with campus and community leaders.

DELIVERY FORMAT: The program has a hybrid format or has both online and in-person components.

PROGRAM SCALE: Large-scale (reaches more than 25 percent of its intended target population)

DEPARTMENT(S) OVERSEEING PROGRAM: College of Human Sciences and Humanities

CONTACT FOR MORE INFO: Anne Gessler at gessler@uhcl.edu or 281-283-3471

The Success Coaching Program is designed to help both undergraduate and graduate students develop their academic skills by matching their individual learning style and academic needs with effective strategies to meet their course requirements at UHCL. Students participating in this program have 2 options: requesting a one-time session to work on a particular skill, or meeting for multiple sessions on a weekly or as-needed basis. Students opting for a one-time session are assigned based on schedule and skills requested to an available coach. Students choosing to meet on a continual basis meet first with the Assistant Director to best determine individual academic needs and goals and then meet regularly with a Success Coach. The student's Success Coach coordinates a skill development plan with the student utilizing material from the student's current courses. Students are able to schedule their initial appointment by emailing or calling the office phone. After the student's initial appointment students can then schedule their own appointments at their convenience.

The skills that a Success Coach and students may develop include, but are not limited to, organization and time/task management, academic reading speed and strategy, note taking methods, test-taking strategy, critical thinking, and public speaking. The students' academic progress in these skills is monitored throughout the semester by their Success Coach. Success Coaches also offer students practical help with digital tools such as Blackboard and file sharing/editing in Google Drive for facilitating group work. Coaching sessions are available face-to-face or online via Blackboard Collaborate or Zoom as needed.

DELIVERY FORMAT: The program has a hybrid format or has both online and in-person components.

PROGRAM SCALE: Small-scale (reaches fewer than 10 percent of its target population)

PROGRAM OUTCOMES: • 77% of students were removed from probation, cont. probation and remained in good standing that utilized coaching.
• Success Coaching was reflective of the ethnic diversity seen at UHCL in services to underserved and minority populations.

DEPARTMENT(S) OVERSEEING PROGRAM: The Student Success Center

CONTACT FOR MORE INFO: Dr. Jorge Tennin at Tennin@uhcl.edu or 2812832454