NEWCOMB-TULANE COLLEGE
UNDERGRADUATE
ACADEMIC SUCCESS CENTER
Year-End Review
2014-2015
OUR VISION
Newcomb-Tulane Undergraduate College employs new and innovative ways to ensure
that every student reaches their full potential. The Tulane Academic Success Center
has created a culture on campus that makes seeking guidance for academic success a
core part of a Tulane education. Instead of being stigmatized, Tulane’s services, such as
tutoring and success coaching, are increasingly seen as standard and important parts of
the Tulane experience.
The peer educator helped me get better
grades, which are necessary for both
academic and personal success!
THE IMPACT OF YOUR SUPPORT
OVERVIEW
>>>
Because of your generosity, the Tulane Academic Success Center broadened its
groundbreaking efforts to bring academic success guidance to more students during
the 2014-2015 academic year.
The center started the Tulane Resilience Cooperative, integrating exciting
programming based on Stanford professor Carol Dweck’s work, featuring a growth
mindset vs. a fixed mindset. The Tulane Resilience Cooperative operates on the idea
that intelligence and skills are not fixed. Rather, people can become smarter and more
talented through hard work and dedication. Therefore, the program teaches students
to overcome challenges, to go from “I’m not good at this” to “I don’t know how to
do this yet.” The program’s goal is to create a culture of growth in which students
understand and learn from their failures. This program is part of a larger campus-wide
focus on resiliency.
1
NEWCOMB-TULANE COLLEGE
giving.tulane.edu/NTC
To emphasize that rebounding from failure is something to be celebrated not
stigmatized, the center produced videos of prominent Tulane students, staff and
faculty explaining times they overcame adversity.
Professor Carrie Wyland discusses changing career
paths close to graduation
Screenshot of one of the videos
PROFESSIONAL SUCCESS COACHING
Full-time success coaches met with students in one-on-one regularly-scheduled
meetings. In the meetings—held either weekly, biweekly or monthly—coaches
discussed each student’s needs, goals, interests, values and unique learning styles. The
Tulane Academic Success Center hired a third success coach in 2014-15, allowing the
center to increase its impact by holding more meetings.
Success Coaching Works Coaches discovered that students who attended five or
more success meetings had a higher increase in GPA than those who attended four or
fewer meetings. This data shows that students who actively engage in the process have
better academic outcomes.
Most-discussed Topics Coaches collected data on the 15 topics students discuss
most frequently during success coaching appointments. The five most popular topics
are the following: time management, grades, stress management, social issues, and
academic processing.
Professional Development Two success coaches received rigorous and prestigious
International Coaching Federation credentials: Michele Oelking became a Professional
Certified Coach, and Karen Hochheiser became an Associate Certified Coach. In
addition, Hochheiser was accepted into the Motivational Interviewing Network of
Trainers. The thorough training that Tulane coaches receive is reflected in the high
quality of coaching available to Tulane students, setting Tulane apart and ahead of
peer institutions; most colleges don’t require coaches to be certified at all.
giving.tulane.edu/NTC
NEWCOMB-TULANE COLLEGE
2
Tulane’s coaches also received training in how to advise students with ADHD. Everyone learns in a different way, and coaches’ strategies are based on a student’s unique
learning needs. Because of their advanced knowledge of ADHD, Tulane’s coaches have
been selected to present at both national and international conferences during 2015.
Success coaches also provided professional development sessions for Tulane staff on
how best to support student development and academic achievement, highlighting
neurodiversity and resiliency as themes.
SUCCESS COACHING IMPACT
SCHOOL YEAR
SUCCESS COACHING
STUDENTS SERVED
2013 - 2014
1,256 appointments
120 students
2014 - 2015
57% increase to
1,969 appointments
62% increase to
316 students
Student Testimonials
(My success coach has) given me a clear sense in regard to what
I want to accomplish. I feel as if I am on the right path now.
She has helped me schedule assignments, stay organized, manage
stress and keep perspective.
My grades have increased profoundly since last semester.
PEER EDUCATOR SERVICES
Whether one-on-one tutoring, group tutoring, support sessions, career development
sessions, peer coaching or group supplemental instruction, Tulane’s peer education
program is becoming ever more popular among a wider number of students. For
example, in the spring semester, 45 percent of students using the supplemental
instruction program had a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or above. And 83 percent had a
GPA above 3.0, which is about the average GPA for a Tulane undergraduate. This
shows that the Tulane Academic Success Center serves a very representative range
of students, that students are starting to integrate success services into their Tulane
experience and that these support services are no longer just for students who are
struggling academically.
3
NEWCOMB-TULANE COLLEGE
giving.tulane.edu/NTC
2014 - 2015 PEER EDUCATION APPOINTMENT ATTENDANCE SUMMARY REPORT
SUPPLEMENTAL
INSTRUCTION:
3,792 sessions.
WRITING:
867 appointments
TUTORING:
2,704 appointments
TASC STUDY
CHECK-INS*:
1,168 attendance recordings
TASC WORKSHOPS**:
54 appointments
General Chemistry and General Biology were the most utilized courses.
TOTAL: 8,750 (increased from 8,261 appointments and sessions the year before)
*In study check-ins, students come to the Student Success space to study and sit quietly at an empty
table or one of the computer cubicles if working on a project.
**Peer educators collaborate with campus departments such as Greek Life, Residential Life, TIDES,
other student organizations and faculty to hold workshops on a variety of set topics, such as internships,
time management and surviving Mardi Gras. Students can also create a new workshop on a requested
topic. In addition to typical workshops about the freshman transition, the most popular topics tend to be
those focusing on New Orleans or study skills. For example, there were large turnouts for “Things to Do
in NOLA,” “Best Places to Study,” and “Use Your Unique Learning Style.”
Integrated Career Advising into Academic Success Advising All professional
and student success staff members are now trained to work with undergraduates
on career needs and goals. As such, career development is becoming a standard
and important part of the undergraduate student experience from the very first time
students step foot on Tulane’s campus. Giving peer educators the capabilities to give
career advice complements the guidance that students can receive from the Tulane
Career Center and has many possible advantages. For example, working with their
peers instead of professionals can remove some of the stigma for those students who
either think it’s too early in their timeline to meet with a professional about their career
goals or who are more comfortable interacting with their peers. Also, peer educators
can offer more flexibility than professional career advisors, making appointments afterhours or in locations such as residence halls.
Expanded Writing Support For the first time, Tulane students received expanded
help with writing. In the past, students approached tutors in the Writing Center for
help only with academic papers or group projects and presentations, but in 2014-15
students received assistance with professional documents such as graduate school
applications and resume and cover letters. This is part of a larger effort to establish
Career Development Initiatives as a component of peer educator services.
Launched Making a Path In October 2014, the Success Center launched Making a
Path: a career education/advice program. In this peer-led, 10-week workshop series,
students helped other students navigate the job search process. The program included
such services as help preparing resumes and creating marketing materials. Last year’s
program was based on a national model, but in the 2015-16 year, the center plans to
grow the program and gear it to highlight the resources available on Tulane’s campus
and in the Tulane alumni and parent network.
giving.tulane.edu/NTC
NEWCOMB-TULANE COLLEGE
4
Student Testimonials
(My peer educator) pushes me to succeed and genuinely wants
me to achieve all my personal goals.
(He) made confusing ideas clear, provided additional insights,
and taught useful tricks.
Expanded Marketing Peer educators marketed success services at tables,
workshops, classroom visits and in collaboration with campus partners. The Success
Center offered “bring a friend” appointments to reach students who might be reluctant
to meet with a tutor by themselves. Outreach efforts encouraged more students to
schedule appointments in advance rather than the night before the test.
The Tulane Academic Success Center is also included in the Parent Orientation
program during the “Academic and Career Planning Resources” panel presentation
during new student orientation. More than 1,100 parents attended these workshops
during the 2014-2015 year.
Students from across
campus learn more about
the Tulane Academic Success
Center through outreach
events, such as Puppy Days
and the Rowdy Rascals
Petting Zoo stress relievers,
which are held at exam time.
<<<
Peer educators help
students find success in
their studies.
>>>
5
NEWCOMB-TULANE COLLEGE
giving.tulane.edu/NTC
LOOKING TO THE FUTURE
Moving forward, the Success Center will ensure more programs are tailored to
Tulane. For many programs, the center follows best practices nationwide or bases the
programs on a national model, but the staff wants to make sure all services are Tulanespecific and speak to the unique needs of the Tulane student population.
The center will also expand the Tulane Resilience Cooperative. The staff is in the
process of adding alumni videos to its repertoire and plans to add more videos of
students, alumni and staff. The center will bring speakers to campus and integrate its
work in resilience into the university-wide initiative being established as part of Forum
Tulane. This year, resilience is the theme for Forum Tulane, an initiative designed to
foster interdisciplinary collaboration and intellectual exploration through an annual
university-wide conversation around a common theme. Forum Tulane will incorporate
resilience-related programming and resources from a wide variety of academic and
student support units across the university.
The Success Center is also developing a Public Speaking Lab. Verbal communication
is a vital aspect of success both socially and professionally, and the undergraduate
college is committed to establishing a place on campus where students can record
their public speaking and get feedback afterwards.
This summer, the center hired a new Tutoring Manager, Alex Kasik, who has a strong
background in higher education. She will work with peer educators during the 20152016 academic year to implement a new training system. Tutoring for courses will be
customized so that peer educators are closely connected to Tulane faculty and specific
schools. In the future, the staff envisions being able to offer students web tutorials on
certain classes—not just General Chemistry but Professor Heiko Jacobsen’s Section 1.
The center aims to reach 10 percent of all undergraduate students through Success
Coaching, up from the current 3 to 4 percent reached by its three coaches. The center
also plans to continue adding more peer educator services, with additional one-on-one
tutoring, writing assistance and supplemental instruction.
giving.tulane.edu/NTC
NEWCOMB-TULANE COLLEGE
6
Appendix A: New Wave
>>>
1
APPENDIX A
NEWCOMB-TULANE COLLEGE
giving.tulane.edu/NTC
>>>
giving.tulane.edu/NTC
NEWCOMB-TULANE COLLEGE
APPENDIX A
2
Appendix B: Pinterest
>>>
1
APPENDIX B
NEWCOMB-TULANE COLLEGE
giving.tulane.edu/NTC
Appendix C: Stress Relief Dog Days Flyer
>>>
Free petting
& doggie
kisses!
11:30am to
1:30pm
outside TASC
building #14
giving.tulane.edu/NTC
NEWCOMB-TULANE COLLEGE
APPENDIX C
1
Appendix C: Puppy and Petting Zoo Flyer
>>>
Aenean a magna vel pede vestibulum
rhoncus. Nulla cursus orci quis tortor.
P UPPY D AYS !
Oct 1
Dec 3
11 AM
to
1 PM
R OWDY R ASCALS
P ETTING Z OO !
Oct 1
Dec 3
11 AM
to
1 PM
TASC PRESENTS:
PUPPY DAYS & PETTING ZOO
STRESS RELIEF!
Located on the Academic Quad outside of TASC, Building #14
2
APPENDIX C
NEWCOMB-TULANE COLLEGE
giving.tulane.edu/NTC
Appendix D: Sample of Tutoring Schedule
>>>
giving.tulane.edu/NTC
NEWCOMB-TULANE COLLEGE
APPENDIX D
1
Appendix E : TASC Infographic on Growth Mindset vs. Fixed Mindset
>>>
1
APPENDIX E
NEWCOMB-TULANE COLLEGE
giving.tulane.edu/NTC
Appendix F: Parents as Partners
>>>
giving.tulane.edu/NTC
NEWCOMB-TULANE COLLEGE
APPENDIX F
1
IT’S EASY TO GIVE
888.265.7576
ONLINE giving.tulane.edu/NTC
PHONE