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Dr. Greg Lester, executive director of academic advising and student success at Appalachian State University, outside the Office of Student Success. Photo by Chase Reynolds

Student success — early intervention is key

“It is all about how to be academically successful. How to be the good students we know they can be. If they were accepted here, they can succeed here.”

Dr. Greg Lester ’98 MA

By Elisabeth Wall
Posted June 26, 2018 at 3:32 p.m.

BOONE, N.C. — As an undergraduate student, Greg Lester was falling behind at the University of Kentucky (UK) in the 1990s.

Dr. Greg Lester ’98 M.A., executive director of academic advising and student success at Appalachian State University, said intervention by UK’s academic advisors turned him around and helped get him where he is today.

The programs he manages at Appalachian are dedicated to helping students focus on academic success and make the most of their time as a Mountaineer. The Office of Student Success (OSS) staff works with all colleges, schools and departments on issues affecting student success and operates under the leadership of Dr. Mark Ginn, vice provost for undergraduate education in the Division of Academic Affairs.

“It is all about how to be academically successful. How to be the good students we know they can be. If they were accepted here, they can succeed here.”

Dr. Greg Lester ’98 MA

Early intervention is key, Lester said. Students who fell behind in the spring semester of 2018, for instance, were contacted by phone by OSS staff members in early June to help them begin making plans to get back on track.

All students whose cumulative GPA falls below a 2.0 take a mandatory Academic Success Workshop the semester following the grade drop. “You notice we don’t call it a probationary workshop. It is an academic success workshop. It is all about how to be academically successful. How to be the good students we know they can be. If they were accepted here, they can succeed here,” he said.

Three reasons students may fall behind:
  • Academic preparedness.
  • Financial struggle.
  • Personal or family issues.

Campus services and resources addressing these issues appear effective. Appalachian’s overall retention rate is 87.2 percent, which is nearly 20 percent higher than the national average.

Three reasons students may fall behind:
  • Academic preparedness.
  • Financial struggle.
  • Personal or family issues.

Campus services and resources addressing these issues appear effective. Appalachian’s overall retention rate is 87.2 percent, which is nearly 20 percent higher than the national average.

Students fall behind for a number of reasons, Lester said. One cause is academic preparedness. “Many have not had to work all that hard in high school,” Lester said. “And the tactics they used then don’t translate to higher education.”

Second is financial struggle — if you have to work full time it is hard to devote the time necessary to studies, Lester said. He is currently working with campus partners to explore a Financial Literacy Workshop, and additional resources for students are available through Appalachian’s Office of Student Financial Aid and Student Employment.

Finally, according to Lester, personal or family issues often cause a student to withdraw or fail.

While OSS focuses on academics, Lester was quick to point out there are numerous services and resources available at Appalachian to help with students’ personal issues — the Counseling and Psychological Services Center, the Division of Student Affairs and the Department of Wellness and Prevention Services, to name a few.

“Success of our students is absolutely a team effort,” he said.

Overall, these programs and initiatives appear effective. Appalachian’s overall retention rate is 87.2 percent, which is nearly 20 percent higher than the national average.

Academic workshops help students examine the following:
  • Academic standards, probation policies and forgiveness policies at Appalachian.
  • A growth mindset vs. a fixed mindset.
  • Academic factors and obstacles.
  • A personal action plan.
  • How to maximize time.
  • How to form or break a habit.
  • Resources and future direction.
  • Available academic strategy courses.
  • GPA calculations to regain good academic standing.

To help faculty and staff easily access resources with which to assist students in need early, OSS has partnered with the Early Intervention Team, a faculty and staff-led entity, and the Office of the Dean of Students to prepare a “Quick Referral Guide for Faculty and Staff.”

If a student is falling behind academically, Lester said, his office wants to make them aware of the problem as quickly as possible. “Students tend to think, ‘Oh, things will get better,’” he said. “It will get better because they take positive action, if they are forced to grapple with the problem early.

“It’s not magic. Some students just need an accountability partner. We ask them, ‘What’s coming up? How did you do?’ We try to help them keep ahead of the game.”

And, it works. Data provided by the university’s Office of Institutional Research, Assessment and Planning (IRAP) indicate that those who take the workshops are quicker to regain good academic standing and report a higher GPA the following term.

“Students consistently tell us they gain skills and learn tactics in academic workshops that help them in this and future semesters. They gain a better understanding of the risks and of what they need to do to succeed.”

In addition to the workshops, related programs offered by Appalachian’s Student Learning Center include tutoring, LEAD tutoring, academic strategy instruction, Academic Services for Student Athletes and As-U-R, an intensive student support program focused on supporting students with executive function challenges.

  • LEAD tutoring is provided for all students who want to improve their understanding of course material and their grades. Only students who have enrolled in and have earned an A in the course are hired to be LEAD tutors. This student attends class and takes notes for the entire semester and leads interactive study sessions two or three times a week. Studies show that students who attend this form of tutoring regularly can earn up to a letter grade higher than those who choose not to attend.
  • Academic Services for Student Athletes is designed to ensure student-athletes succeed in academics as well as in the game. In the fall 2017 semester, 22 student-athletes recorded a perfect 4.0 GPA. Two-thirds of Appalachian’s student-athletes made the Appalachian Athletics academic honor roll, which requires students to have a minimum GPA of 3.25 while being enrolled in at least 12 hours of coursework.
  • The OSS offers academic coaching for a small number of students each year, usually based on recommendations from an advisor or associate dean, or someone in Student Affairs. In 2017–18, a total of 39 students benefited from coaching. “It’s a small but highly effective program,” Lester said.

And the success stories are sweet. Lester recounted a conversation with a student he saw just before graduation in May: “‘You led my academic success,’ he told me. ‘I’m graduating. The things you told me helped me turn it around and do this.’

“We hear that from coaching, from call projects,” Lester said. “‘Thanks for noticing,’ they say. ‘I’m glad App noticed and cared.’”

Appalachian's As-U-R — an academic resource for any student
Appalachian's As-U-R — an academic resource for any student
Oct. 1, 2017

The intensive student support program As-U-R, which is offered by Appalachian State University’s Student Learning Center, provides support and resources for a variety of Appalachian students.

Read the story
Student Success at Appalachian
Student Success at Appalachian

Finding balance academically, financially, personally

Aug. 24, 2018

Appalachian has systems, personnel and strategies in place to ensure students have the help they need in all three areas of the “success stool.”

Read the story
Wellness and Student Success at Appalachian
Wellness and Student Success at Appalachian

Why 8 dimensions of wellness are important to students’ holistic balance

Aug. 3, 2018

Dr. Alex F. Howard explains why staying healthy in multiple ways impacts a student’s ability to stay and complete a degree.

Read the story
Financing the dream — staying fiscally afloat at Appalachian
Financing the dream — staying fiscally afloat at Appalachian
Aug. 24, 2018

FAFSA. FSEOG. ACOG. Acronyms abound when exploring how to pay for college. At Appalachian, interpreters are in place to help students and their families navigate the process of securing financial aid.

Read the story
Five keys for students to achieve academic success
  • Go to class — every class.
  • Speak to and work with instructors.
  • Take care of business: read, study, get to classes and exams on time, do homework, reach out early for help.
  • Be honest with yourself about your academic performance.
  • Devote 40 hours a week to schoolwork — pursing a degree is a full-time job.
Appalachian State University performance goals related to student success

In January 2017, the Board of Governors of the University of North Carolina System unanimously approved Higher Expectations, a five-year strategic plan for the UNC System. The plan calls on the UNC System to achieve ambitious goals in access, student success, affordability and efficiency, economic impact and community engagement, and institutional excellence and diversity.

Chancellor Sheri Everts signed a pledge with President Margaret Spellings to meet UNC System strategic goals over the next five years. “We recognize that these initiatives are ambitious,” Everts said, “but they are achievable.”

Additionally, she noted that they were consistent with Appalachian’s mission to increase access to education for those students who otherwise would not have the opportunity to achieve a college education. Today, Appalachian is well on its way to meeting, if not exceeding, these five-year performance goals.

See the full UNC System Dashboard with five-year goals and benchmarks.

Low-income completions

By 2021–22, Appalachian will produce 1,600 low-income graduates, an increase of 24.2 percent (312 additional low-income completions over a base of 1,288).

Rural completions

By 2021–22, Appalachian will produce 1,593 rural graduates, an increase of 16.2 percent (222 additional rural completions over a base of 1,371).

Achievement gaps

By 2021–22, Appalachian will reduce by 50 percent the achievement gap in undergraduate degree efficiency among low-income students.

Appalachian’s Center for Academic Excellence

Appalachian’s Center for Academic Excellence (CAE) is the primary teaching and learning resource on campus. Among its services, it offers professional development for faculty to learn and use effective teaching practices.

High-quality instruction is essential because it impacts student success, according to Dr. Susan Colby, the center’s director of faculty professional development.

“There is a growing body of evidence that supports the important connections between faculty development, improved teaching, and students’ academic success,” she said. “High-quality instruction leads to better student outcomes, and student success directly reflects teaching excellence.”

Located in Anne Belk Hall, the CAE offers workshops and support in:

  • Course redesign.
  • Instructional design.
  • Learning communities.
  • Learning technologies.
  • Best practices for cultivating equity, inclusion and diversity.
  • New faculty orientation, and more.

Other initiatives include programs that support leadership development, mentoring and online instruction.

Learn more

About the Office of Student Success

The Office of Student Success (OSS) is committed to improving the undergraduate experience for the students of Appalachian State University. Whether students are struggling or excelling, OSS is dedicated to helping students make the most of their time as a Mountaineer. To this end, OSS staff works with all colleges, schools and departments of the university on issues affecting student success. Learn more at https://studentsuccess.appstate.edu.

About the Division of Academic Affairs

The Division of Academic Affairs is responsible for student learning and success at Appalachian State University, including oversight of the university’s challenging academic curriculum, active classroom environments, and close collaboration between faculty members and students on scholarly activities. Academic Affairs encompasses the degree-granting College of Arts and Sciences, College of Fine and Applied Arts, Beaver College of Health Sciences, Reich College of Education, Walker College of Business and Hayes School of Music; as well as the Cratis D. Williams Graduate School, the Honors College, University College and 12 other units that support the innovative, interdisciplinary and integrative academic experience for which Appalachian is known. Learn more at http://academicaffairs.appstate.edu.

About Appalachian State University

As the premier public undergraduate institution in the Southeast, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives as global citizens who understand and engage their responsibilities in creating a sustainable future for all. The Appalachian Experience promotes a spirit of inclusion that brings people together in inspiring ways to acquire and create knowledge, to grow holistically, to act with passion and determination, and to embrace diversity and difference. Located in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Appalachian is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System. Appalachian enrolls nearly 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and graduate majors.

What do you think?

Share your feedback on this story.

Academic workshops help students examine the following:
  • Academic standards, probation policies and forgiveness policies at Appalachian.
  • A growth mindset vs. a fixed mindset.
  • Academic factors and obstacles.
  • A personal action plan.
  • How to maximize time.
  • How to form or break a habit.
  • Resources and future direction.
  • Available academic strategy courses.
  • GPA calculations to regain good academic standing.
Five keys for students to achieve academic success
  • Go to class — every class.
  • Speak to and work with instructors.
  • Take care of business: read, study, get to classes and exams on time, do homework, reach out early for help.
  • Be honest with yourself about your academic performance.
  • Devote 40 hours a week to schoolwork — pursing a degree is a full-time job.
Appalachian State University performance goals related to student success

In January 2017, the Board of Governors of the University of North Carolina System unanimously approved Higher Expectations, a five-year strategic plan for the UNC System. The plan calls on the UNC System to achieve ambitious goals in access, student success, affordability and efficiency, economic impact and community engagement, and institutional excellence and diversity.

Chancellor Sheri Everts signed a pledge with President Margaret Spellings to meet UNC System strategic goals over the next five years. “We recognize that these initiatives are ambitious,” Everts said, “but they are achievable.”

Additionally, she noted that they were consistent with Appalachian’s mission to increase access to education for those students who otherwise would not have the opportunity to achieve a college education. Today, Appalachian is well on its way to meeting, if not exceeding, these five-year performance goals.

See the full UNC System Dashboard with five-year goals and benchmarks.

Low-income completions

By 2021–22, Appalachian will produce 1,600 low-income graduates, an increase of 24.2 percent (312 additional low-income completions over a base of 1,288).

Rural completions

By 2021–22, Appalachian will produce 1,593 rural graduates, an increase of 16.2 percent (222 additional rural completions over a base of 1,371).

Achievement gaps

By 2021–22, Appalachian will reduce by 50 percent the achievement gap in undergraduate degree efficiency among low-income students.

Appalachian’s Center for Academic Excellence

Appalachian’s Center for Academic Excellence (CAE) is the primary teaching and learning resource on campus. Among its services, it offers professional development for faculty to learn and use effective teaching practices.

High-quality instruction is essential because it impacts student success, according to Dr. Susan Colby, the center’s director of faculty professional development.

“There is a growing body of evidence that supports the important connections between faculty development, improved teaching, and students’ academic success,” she said. “High-quality instruction leads to better student outcomes, and student success directly reflects teaching excellence.”

Located in Anne Belk Hall, the CAE offers workshops and support in:

  • Course redesign.
  • Instructional design.
  • Learning communities.
  • Learning technologies.
  • Best practices for cultivating equity, inclusion and diversity.
  • New faculty orientation, and more.

Other initiatives include programs that support leadership development, mentoring and online instruction.

Learn more

What do you think?

Share your feedback on this story.

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  • Students

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Archives

Appalachian Today is an online publication of Appalachian State University. This website consolidates university news, feature stories, events, photo galleries, videos and podcasts.

The migration of materials from other sites is still incomplete, so if you cannot find what you're looking for here, please refer to the following sources:

  • Additional feature stories may be found at Appalachian Magazine
  • Podcasts may be found at Appalachian Magazine
  • Photo galleries and videos published prior to Jan. 1, 2015 may be found at Appalachian Magazine
  • A university-wide Google Calendar may be found at Events at Appalachian

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Archives

Appalachian Today is an online publication of Appalachian State University. This website consolidates university news, feature stories, events, photo galleries, videos and podcasts.

The migration of materials from other sites is still incomplete, so if you cannot find what you're looking for here, please refer to the following sources:

  • Additional feature stories may be found at Appalachian Magazine
  • Podcasts may be found at Appalachian Magazine
  • Photo galleries and videos published prior to Jan. 1, 2015 may be found at Appalachian Magazine
  • A university-wide Google Calendar may be found at Events at Appalachian
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