A&S Probation Students - Academic Coaching

PLEASE NOTE: Academic Coaching will end the last week of classes, Friday, March 14, 2007. 

When student performance falls below the academic standards set by the University of Cincinnati, the student will be placed on probation.  It is our role and mission in the Learning Assistance Center (LAC) to help you return to good academic standing with your college and the university. If you are a student on Academic Probation in the College of Arts & Sciences, you received an email regarding your probationary status for winter quarter.  Per that email it states, the number of academic coaching sessions depends on students' individual progress.  

Since there are a number of factors that contribute to academic difficulty, it is very likely that students will have more than one Academic Coaching meeting this quarter.  It is our belief that students will require approximately three (3) to five (5) coaching appointments -it takes twenty-one (21) days to change a habit! Students will receive academic coaching with Alsace Toure or one of the LAC graduate assistants, Sarah or Sharonita. 

Making An Appointment
It is our recommendation that students call our front desk at 556-3244 to schedule an Academic Coaching appointment.  Students familiar with the Learning Assistance Center Appointment Plus scheduling system, that is used to schedule individual tutoring appointments can create their own academic coaching appointments with the LAC graduate students, Sharonita or Sarah. 

When you login, select Academic Coaching as the subject, schedule your appointment based on your availability and that of the academic coach.  Students will need to have completed a Tutee Application to access this scheduling feature.  Completed applications can be emailed to lac@uc.edu, or faxed to 513-556-3728.  Students can also hand deliver application forms to 120 University Pavilion. 

Upon completion and submission of the Tutee Application, you will receive (on your UC BOL account), your username, user password as well as weblinks to both Appointment Plus and SMARTHINKING Online Tutoring.  Use this information to create an academic coaching appointment with Sharonita or Sarah.  Academic Coaching will be listed as the course. 

There are five (5) tasks we hope to accomplish with you this quarter:   
1. Determine the causes and/or factors leading to academic probation.
2. Develop a plan of action for academic recovery.
3. Assess your current study strategies using the Learning and Study Strategies Inventory or LASSI.
4. Strategize behaviors for success using personal accountability, self-regulation and goal setting.
5. Utilization of available campus resources (Tutoring Services, Supplemental Instruction (SI), Peer Mentor Program, Counseling Services, etc.).

The last point above (#5) is due to the fact that students often struggle because of factors outside of academics.  As a result, we may also refer you to other departments on campus for health-related issues, disability testing accommodations, or career counseling.  Essentially, if we are not in the best position to give you guidance and support you need, we will help you find the appropriate people on campus who are.  It is our hope that these actions will provide you with the tools, skills, and resources you need to be a successful student at the University of Cincinnati.  We want to do everything we can to assist you in reaching your potential.

There are four (4) items you need to complete before our first meeting.    You MUST have these done before we can begin working with you.  PLEASE NOTE:  IF THESE ITEMS ARE NOT COMPLETED, YOUR MEETING WILL HAVE TO BE RESCHEDULED FOR A LATER DATE AND TIME.  

#1 Before our first meeting, we need you to take an assessment called the LASSI (click here for information about the assessment) - #3 mentioned above).  All freshmen on Academic Probation have been sent an email with directions on how to take this assessment. CHECK YOUR UC EMAIL ACCOUNTS FOR THIS INFORMATION!  Please make sure you complete the LASSI based on the strategies you used last quarter, do not take this assessment more than once, we will only use the first set of data.  You will need to email me (Alsace.Toure@uc.edu) upon completion of the assessment. You will not need to bring a copy of the results, we will provide a copy.

#2 The other item we will need you to do before the first meeting is to think about the factors leading to your academic probation status.  Click here for the probation questionnaire.  Please bring this to your first meeting.

#3 Print the Winter 2008 Quarterly Planning Grid.  Using your course syllabi from each course you are enrolled winter quarter, write down when you have major assignments due (tests, quizzes, papers,etc.).  Please bring this to your first meeting.

#4 Print the Weekly Time Management grid.  Track your time for one week prior to the academic coaching meeting.  Please bring this to your first meeting.

To reiterate, there are four (4) things you need to do before your first appointment with the LAC:
1. Take the LASSI, send an email to Alsace.Toure@uc.edu upon completion. You will not be required to bring a copy, we will provide a copy.
2. Complete the Probation Questionnaire.  Please bring this to your first appointment.
3. Complete the Winter 2008 Quarterly Planning Grid, using your course syllabus. Please bring this to your first appointment.
4. Print the weekly planning grid.  Track your time for one week prior to the meeting.  Please bring this to your first appointment. 

PLEASE NOTE: THE LEARNING ASSISTANCE CENTER DOES NOT HAVE THE CAPABILITY OR ABILITY TO REMOVE REGISTRATION BLOCKS FOR SPRING QUARTER REGISTRATION.  If you have any questions about the information contained on this page, please contact Alsace.Toure@uc.edu or one of our friendly front desk staff at (513) 556-3244.  If you have specific questions regarding your academic probation requirements, please contact Mrs. Paula Breslin directly - Paula.Breslin@uc.edu, or (513) 556-0798.