Retention Programs
In keeping with REACH's third goal, improving university persistence rates for undergraduate students is a significant focus of our work. Below are the numerous programs and services that REACH offers to help fulfill this goal.
Our Retention Programs include:
REACH Ambassadors
Please go to the Peer Mentoring & Advice page for more information on the REACH Ambassadors.
REACHout Holiday Celebrations
REACHout events provide an opportunity for REACH to promote its academic services and programs to the general student population. REACH provides candy, snacks, and drinks to students in the Strickler Hall lobby. There are also handouts with program and seminar schedules for students to take. Photos from REACHout events and other activities are available in the Photo Gallery.
Student Success Seminars
REACH is all about academic success! This becomes evident in the emphasis placed upon the acquisition and refinement of college-level study strategies.
The term "study strategies" refers to those behaviors, practices and habits that enable students to become more efficient and effective learners for maximum academic success. The strategies presented have been demonstrated to improve learning, memory, and retention. Students are encouraged to employ them in their studies and in preparation for their tests.
The Student Success Seminars provide an overview and examples of appropriate strategies for university students to incorporate into their various content areas—options which assure student success while allowing students to address their preferred learning style.
Please go to the Student Success Seminars page from more information.
Supplemented Study Program
While focusing on study strategies similar to the Student Success Seminars, the Supplemented Study program provides a more in-depth analysis, selection, and application of specific strategies for the Biology, History, Sociology or Psychology content which the supplemented studies embrace. These strategies extend to study, review, and test preparation. Because of time restraints posed by the seminars, exposure to study strategies is somewhat limited to the awareness level, whereas the Supplemented Study go in-depth and deal with the “What?”, the “When?”, the “How?”, and the “Why?”
The Supplemented Study Program provides an opportunity to first time students for two additional hours of instruction and academic support in designated general education courses. Students taking a supplemented course section will attend the lecture class for 3 hours each week and will additionally attend a discussion/tutoring class connected to the lecture for 2 hours a week. Students will attend a total of 5 hours of class each week. Students will have no additional tuition charged for a supplemented course section. Students will receive 3 credit hours towards graduation for successful completion of the supplemented course section.
The additional hours of class will assist students with critical reading skills and study strategies for the course, and will provide content tutoring to encourage students’ success in the general education course. Students will sign a learning contract related to the additional attendance and assignments of the supplemented course section on the first day of class. A student’s completion or non-completion of this contract will be reported to the general education course professor during the semester.
Eligibility:
To meet a CPE mandate, the university requires that first-year students admitted with reading deficiencies receive instruction. One supplemented general education course section is required for all entering UofL freshmen whose ACT Reading scores are 18 or less (SAT I Verbal 430 or less). This requirement is state-mandated and university-wide. Advisors working with first-year students are obliged to assist them in developing an individual schedule of classes that meets the requirement.
Registration for the supplemented course sections will be monitored. Students not eligible for the program will be removed from the supplemented course sections. Students required to register for a supplemented course section will be notified and required to change their schedule of classes if no registration in a supplemented course section is found following their orientation.
Advisors may also recommend the Supplemented Study Program to students who may expect to experience difficulty with selected general education courses. Referrals for voluntary participation in supplemented sections should be addressed to Cathy Leist, Director of REACH (852-6706 or email). Voluntary participation will be available to these students dependent on enrollment.
REACH for Success Learning Communities
College of Arts & Sciences - Fall 2005
Benefits:
Learning communities represent an opportunity for students to set up a course schedule with three linked courses as part of their first-year registration. These linked courses will enroll the same 25 students.
Students will be able to experience:
- A strong sense of community within the classroom
- Small recitation-style classes for all three courses
- Peer study groups for all three courses
Research suggests learning communities help students experience more active learning leading to success in the classroom and higher GPAs. Enrollment in a REACH learning community places students in all designated course sections and individual course sections may not be dropped without dropping all sections in the community.
8388 UNIV 150-05
GEN-101 BIOL-102 Supplemented MATH-111
Enrollment is restricted to freshmen in the College of Arts and Sciences who
enroll in a REACH for Success Learning Community. Students must be eligible for
Supplemented MATH-111 and the REACH Supplemented Study Program for College Reading.
Morning Times
TTh 10:00am-10:50am
TTh 11:00am-12:15pm
MTWThF 9:00am-9:50am (08/22-10/14)
TTh 8:00am-8:50am
8389 UNIV 150-06
GEN-101 SOC-202 MATH-080
Enrollment is restricted to freshmen in the College of Arts and Sciences who enroll
in a REACH for Success Learning Community. Students must be eligible for MATH 080
and the REACH Supplemented Study Program for College Reading.
Afternoon Times
MWF 1:00pm-1:50pm
MW 2:00pm-2:50pm
MWF 11:00am-12:10pm (08/22-10/14)
MW 3:00pm-3:50pm
Revised 5/20/05
MAPS - Monitored Academic Preparation for Success
What is the MAPS Program?
This program is offered for Porter Scholars who have earned fewer than 60 credit hours and who have been identified as having academic difficulty. This program offers structured advising and academic support to help improve students' GPA and maintain their Porter Scholarship. MAPS is a collaborative effort involving Porter Scholars Advising and Resources for Academic Achievement (REACH).
What are the benefits of the MAPS Program?
MAPS has been carefully designed to create an advising and academic assistance program. Participation in this program will greatly enhance students' opportunity to earn the GPA required to maintain their scholarship. At the end of the semester, if the student does not earn the required GPA, but have fully participated in MAPS, he/she will be able to show documentation of his/her completed contract in any appeal made for continuance of his/her academic scholarship.
What assistance is offered by the MAPS Program?
MAPS offers individual advising with a Porter Scholars’ Advisor in regularly scheduled sessions occurring throughout the semester. The Porter Advisor will work to assist the student with financial aid questions, personal time management concerns, personal counseling, and will be available to advocate for the student. In addition, REACH will provide the student with professional study strategy assistance in four seminars provided multiple times until midterm. REACH will also provide free tutoring the student's general education courses.
What do I need to do to participate in MAPS?
MAPS is required. The student must attend one of two information sessions for an introduction to the program. In this session, the program will be explained, focusing on the expectations for the student for the semester. He/She will be introduced to the MAPS Agreement, a contract outlining the specific conditions to be met and giving permission for the Porter Advisor and REACH to communicate concerning the student's academic progress. The student will need to sign an agreement during an information session.
Additional questions?
Contact Sharonda Wathen at 852-7267 or Cathy Leist in REACH at 852-8105 for more information.
Academic Mentoring by Request
Contact Cathy Leist or call 852-8105 for more information.
