Apr 16, 2024  
2014-2015 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2014-2015 Undergraduate Catalog ARCHIVED CATALOG: CONTENT MAY NOT BE CURRENT. USE THE DROP DOWN ABOVE TO ACCESS THE CURRENT CATALOG.

Academic Success Center


    Purpose and Focus  

Today’s university population is more diverse than it has ever been. Student goals range from the intrinsic pursuit of knowledge, to the acquisition of specific work-related skills, to preparation for graduate or professional programs. In UNLV’s urban setting, many students have nontraditional needs and specific career plans not easily met by traditional colleges. To this end, the Academic Success Center provides: 1) quality academic advising and support for undergraduate students who have yet to declare a major, as well as those students who are undergraduate non-degree seeking and 2) tutoring and learning support for all majors. The Academic Success Center is, thus, an academic home both to students exploring their degree options and to those who choose to utilize the wide variety of educational services offered to help them succeed academically.
 

Academic Success Center Service Areas

Academic Advisement (Exploring Majors)

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Exploring Majors students are required to meet with an Academic Advisor in the Academic Success Center (ASC), at least once a semester, to discuss their goals, interests, and major/career plans. The Academic Advising Unit also has tools designed to help with the exploration of various majors, minors, careers, and continuing educational pursuits. The planning process for Exploring Majors begins with new students and continues each time a student meets with an Academic Advisor. Upon earning 30 credits, students are required to schedule an appointment to discuss future plans in more detail. Upon completion of 48 cumulative credits, students are required to change from the exploring category to a specific major. Students can also change majors at any time they have made a decision and meet the entrance requirements for the major selected.

Minimum GPA: 2.00

Change of Major Policies
Students can change their major to the Academic Success Center as an Exploring Major if they are: 1) unsure of a major/career path, 2) are in a Good Academic Standing with a minimum UNLV or transfer GPA of 2.00, and 3) have earned fewer than 48 cumulative credits.

Probation/Suspension
A student is subject to a one-semester college/center suspension after being on academic probation (less than 2.00 cumulative UNLV GPA) for two consecutive semesters. Students wishing to appeal the suspension may submit a Reinstatement after College Suspension form to the Academic Success Center Academic Standards Committee for review. Also, a transfer student entering a probation contract who fails to fulfill that contract is subject to college/center suspension until such time as that student raises his or her GPA to 2.00 or higher. Students will not be considered for reinstatement to the Academic Success Center after three college/center and/or university suspensions.

Undergraduate Non-Degree Seeking Students
Undergraduate non-degree seeking students can take a maximum of eight credits per semester. No more than 24 credits earned as a non-degree seeking student may be applied toward a bachelor’s degree. Credit overload petitions will be considered only for students who possess at least a 3.00 GPA from the most recently attended institution and/or a combination of all institutions attended. Students who have earned 24 credits, or are close to earning this number of credits, as a non-degree seeking student are highly encouraged to apply for admission to UNLV as a degree-seeking student.

Scholarships
Annually, the Academic Success Center offers the “ASC Dean’s Award” for Exploring Majors students. In order to be eligible for the
scholarship, Exploring Majors must first apply through the Center’s Advising Unit. Applications are collected in the spring and successful
awardees are notified in the summer for fall and spring semesters.

Learning Support

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The Academic Success Center is home to a wide range of programs designed to help students succeed. From tutoring to supplemental instruction to mentoring programs, our goal is to help each student individually. Students are encouraged to visit the Academic Success Center on an ongoing basis to seek the support that they need. Staff from the Academic Success Center will also reach out to students to offer support to individuals and are available for presentations and programs to groups of students. Visit our website for additional information on our Learning Support programs.

Tutoring

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The Academic Success Center provides a campus-wide tutoring program for a variety of UNLV courses.  Tutoring is available in the Lied Library, second floor, and Thomas Beam Engineering (TBE 207L) complex.  Subjects typically tutored every semester include, but are not limited to, math, biology, chemistry, physics, economics, accounting, psychology, and foreign languages. Additional subjects are added each semester based on tutoring requests and availability. Tutoring is provided throughout the school year, including the summer. Additional information about tutoring and the schedule is available at academicsuccess.unlv.edu or on Facebook at UNLV Tutoring. The mission of the program is to enhance a student’s overall academic experience at UNLV by providing a respectful, educational environment to reinforce classroom learning. Students who have excelled in their chosen subject(s), and are highly recommended by a UNLV faculty member, are hired throughout the school year as peer tutors.

Supplemental Instruction

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Supplemental Instruction (SI) is a program where SI leaders attend a specific course and then conduct group sessions after class twice a week, usually lasting about an hour.  This program provides students the opportunity to immediately review material covered in class, work through difficult concepts, and form study groups that can continue to work together throughout the semester and in future courses. Students are provided the opportunity under the guidance of the SI leader to reinforce class concepts through a hands on approach while working with peers. SI is typically offered for economics, biology, chemistry, computer engineering, math, and business courses. For a current listing of courses and session times, email SI@unlv.edu. SI leaders conducting the session have successfully completed the course with a B or better and are highly recommended by a UNLV faculty member.

Expect Success Bridge Program

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The Expect Success - Math Bridge Program is designed to enable freshman to reinforce their math skills utilizing an online platform combined with live tutorial support. Students who place into college prep math (Math 95 or 96) based on their ACT/SAT math score are eligible to participate in this intense math refresher. Expect Success Math Bridge uses an adaptive online learning platform to guide students through math concepts that will help them prepare for college level math courses (100-level). Live tutorial assistance will be provided simultaneously while students are working on the online tutoring program. Students who successfully complete the program will retake the Math Placement exam to possibly improve their score so they can enroll into a 100-level math course. Completion of the Bridge program does not grant college credit, rather, provides a great opportunity for students to refresh their math skills in order to potentially retest into a 100-level math class.


The Bridge Program is an online math tutorial that works in combination with personal tutoring assistance to help students overcome their math anxiety while developing a solid understanding of various math concepts. The program is conducted in computer labs at UNLV. The rooms are staffed with experienced tutors who provide individual assistance to students as they work through an adaptive online math tutorial. In conjunction with going over the core fundamentals of mathematics, the program addresses proper note-taking, study skills, and test anxiety; empowering students with the resources needed to be successful in mathematics at the collegiate level.
 

Academic Success Coaching Program

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 Academic Success Coaches help students develop academic skills for successfully navigating the transition from high school to college. Coaches personalize their approach with every student. You and your Coach will create a plan of action tailored specifically to your needs. We encourage you to Shoot for 3s! Obtain a 3.0 grade point average and meet at least 3 times with a Coach in your first semester. Meet with your Coach at least two times before midterms for the best results. If you do this, you will be well on your way to keeping your academic and career dreams alive! Academic coaching empowers students by helping you:

  • objectively assess barriers to academic success
  • establish attainable educational goals
  • develop and maintain positive daily routines
  • improve time management and organizational skills
  • enhance self-esteem and self-advocacy skills
  • develop a study schedule
  • become an active learner and a class participant
  • take effective lecture notes
  • prepare for exams
  • balance academic and social demands
  • establish a rapport with professors
  • utilize college resource

First Year Seminar (COLA 100E)

The Academic Success Center, in partnership with the College of Liberal Arts, provides a 3-credit first year seminar to help students build a strong foundation for academic success. COLA 100E: First Year Seminar includes topics regarding learning strategies, critical thinking, citizenship, ethics, multiculturalism, basic research concepts and other topics relating to student development. Major and career exploration is also intertwined throughout the course content, as students are exposed to a blend of information and experiences to help them explore potential major and career choices.

Early Studies Program

The Academic Success Center hosts the Early Studies Program, which provides highly-motivated high school students an opportunity to get a head start on their college education by enrolling in UNLV courses before high school graduation. Early Studies students also have the opportunity to earn dual credit (university and high school credit) with the approval of their high school counselor. In addition, Early Studies Students receive full access to ASC resources, such as tutoring, advising and academic success coaching. The Early Studies Program attracts some of the best and brightest students in Clark County and creates a more streamlined bridge from their high school to UNLV.

The Office of Student-Athlete Academic Services

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The Office of Student-Athlete Academic Services (SAAS) provides academic advising and support services for over 400 of UNLV’s student- athletes. The office is committed to assisting student-athletes in earning a degree of their choice, while fulfilling UNLV, Mountain West Conference (MWC), and National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) eligibility requirements. Further, every effort is made to instill in each individual those skills necessary to become an independent, responsible member of the UNLV student body. SAAS is committed to providing an environment that facilitates the academic success of every student-athlete. SAAS’ goal is to prepare student-athletes to be fully accountable for their academic progress, resulting in graduation, personal, and professional development.

The academic services staff provides a variety of academic services, to both prospective student-athletes and currently enrolled UNLV student-athletes, per NCAA Bylaw 16.3.1. These services include, but are not limited to:

• Providing UNLV athletic department coaching staff preliminary evaluations of the eligibility and admission status of prospective student-athletes (recruits).
• Assisting student-athletes in course selection, planning, and scheduling for their specific UNLV degree program.
• Monitoring the academic progress of student-athletes toward degree program requirements.
• Informing student-athletes of the myriad NCAA, MWC, and UNLV requirements they must satisfy in order to remain eligible to participate in intercollegiate athletics at UNLV.
• Monitoring the eligibility status of student-athletes and providing direction for meeting eligibility requirements.
• Assisting the faculty athletics representative (FAR) in the eligibility certification of all student-athletes.
• Providing assistance and direction to student-athletes regarding UNLV’s non-academic support services that, which may help them adjust to and cope with the challenges of university life.
• Creating and administering programs that will support and enhance the academic performance and potential of student-athletes.
• Preparing student-athletes for graduation and the ensuing challenges, including employment and post-graduate education.

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