This presentation gives an overview of services provided by the Tutoring and Academic Success Center (TASC) at Cleveland State University in Cleveland, Ohio. In particular, the Success Coaching and Viking Academic Boot Camp programs are explored in more detail.

1. Deciphering Best
Practices for
Underprepared
College Students
Christine A. Vodicka, Director
Tutoring & Academic Success Center

2. The Tutoring & Academic
Success Center (TASC)
• The “Tutoring Center” given new name, location, and
management in Fall 2008.
• In the last 4 years, expanded services beyond 1:1 tutoring:
• Walk-in tutoring
• Writer’s Block
• eTutoring
• Supplemental Instruction (SI)
• Structured Learning Assistance (SLA)
• Viking Academic Boot Camp*
• Success Coaching*

3. 2008: staff of
12
2012: staff of
125+
(not all pictured)

4. From empty and
dull to lively and
inviting!

5. TASC cont’d
The staff… The programs…
• Half undergraduate students • Each year TASC programs
and half graduate students. serve over 5,000 students.
• Minimum GPA 3.0. Average • Students that attend SI or SLA
GPA is approx. 3.5. sessions tend to score one
letter grade higher than non
• Tutors get certified by the
participants.
College Reading and Learning
Association (CRLA)

6. A CLOSER LOOK AT TWO
TASC BEST PRACTICES:
Success Coaching
&
Viking Academic Boot Camp

7. Meeting individual needs with:
SUCCESS COACHING

8. What is Success Coaching?
Success coaches offer individualized sessions and customized
workshops for programs on campus. Participants learn about the
following:
 Note-taking
 Studying
 Time management
 Goal setting
 Motivation
 Organization
 Test taking strategies
 Reading comprehension
 Stress/anxiety management

9. What do coaches do?
• Coaches prepare personalized sessions for each of their
students (test taking, time management, studying, etc.)
• Coaches assist students in developing and following a “Success
Action Plan.”
• Throughout each session, coaches encourage student self-
reflection while helping students develop metacognitive skills.
• Coaches also act as a mentor to the student. Students realize
they have someone to turn to.

10. Success Coaching is
catching on…
Our Growth
120
100
80
Students
60
Coaches
40
20
0
Fall 2010 Spring 2011 Fall 2011 Spring 2012

11. Who attends
Success Coaching?
Number of Success Coaching Students
In Spring of 2012, we
assisted a total of 99
undergraduates.
14%
Freshmen
8% Sophomores
30% male students
Juniors 70% were female
12%
66% Seniors

12. Success Coaching
Intervention (SCI)
• Pilot program in Spring 2012
• Designed to help freshmen on academic probation (GPA<2.0) boost their
GPA in order to be in good academic standing.
• The Intervention was voluntary and included:
– 3 workshops designed to help the students with preparing for the start
of classes, getting refocused and reorganized at midterm time, and
finals preparation
– 1:1 Success Coaching (recommended six sessions minimum)
– 347 first year students on academic probation after their first semester.
Approximately 100 participated in the intervention.

13. Preliminary Findings
• Students who attend
Success Coaching on
average improve their GPA
by over 1.0.
• One student recently on
probation that participated in
ongoing coaching went from
1.2 term GPA to a 3.36
term GPA in one semester!

14. Hard work pays off with the…
VIKING ACADEMIC BOOT CAMP

15. What is VABC?
• Intensive 7-week summer program
• Offered to incoming freshmen and current students that place into
developmental math and/or English
• Program components:
– Math and English classes
– Structured Learning Assistance (SLA)
– Success Coaching
– Team/Community Building
– “Bridge” to College Life
– Accessible fees
Semester Course/Textbook VABC
Cost cost
English $760 $100
Math $1550 $100

16. VABC: The Beginning
PURPOSE GROWTH
• Designed for students Number of students enrolled
with multiple risk factors: 50
first generation, low 40
income, minority status 30 2009
• Opportunity to pass 20 2010
2011
developmental courses 10
at reduced rate of $100! 0
Math English

17. VABC: Victory Days
Each Friday: Purpose:
• 11:00-2:00 • Learn self-management skills,
• Success Coaching goal setting, note-taking,
studying, etc.
• Team Building/ Campus • Become acclimated and
Exploration engaged with the university
• Guest speakers • Bond with other students and
VABC staff
• FREE LUNCH!

18. VABC: Success
Average pass rates for VABC pass rates!
developmental courses
Math:
Math: 88% in summer 2011
41% - 53% (up from 75% in summer 2010)
English: English:
100% in summer 2011
49% - 63% (up from 81% in summer 2010)

19. The Recipe
for Success
• Supportive and positive faculty
• Embedded support (faculty + 2 SLA Leaders per each
of 2 math courses and the 1 English course)
• Attendance policy; students cannot miss more than two
days or they lose their spot in the program
• Success Coaching Workshops
• Team building and campus exploration

20. VABC: Testimonials
“Now that “They
I’ve taken “Bootcamp was the make me
this course best option & I would look at
I am refer anyone to this college
excited for program.” in new
math.” way.”

21. Thank you.
Christine Vodicka
Director, Tutoring & Academic Success Ctr.
(216) 523-7366
c.vodicka@csuohio.edu
TASC information packets are available.