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Institutional Support
JAGS: A Pathway to Prominence
We at Southern University and A&M College have identified and developed a Quality
Enhancement Plan (QEP) that is consistent with our mission, focuses on student success and
reflects our commitment to continuous improvement. We remain committed to helping our
students succeed in their academic effort, graduate on time and go on to have productive
careers, live noble lives and contribute to society as global citizens. Our effort is aligned with
our strategic intent and with workforce development goals of the state of Louisiana.
A recent institutional assessment revealed that a disproportionate number of students at our
institution do not return for a second year (39.2%
of first-time freshmen). Thus, to improve retention,
we made plans to intervene through the utilization
of research-based strategies that will ensure
student success. We remain committed to Fulfilling
the Promise of providing every student with the
opportunity of degree attainment.
Our QEP titled JAGS – Journey to Achieve Greater
Success, focuses on the first-year experience of
our undergraduate students. It incorporates (1)
planned curriculum revisions in gateway courses in
three select disciplines and (2) a more coordinated
academic enrichment effort in support of first-year
students. The QEP activities are in line with the
Southern University and A&M College Strategic
Plan, IMAGINE 20K: 2018 – 2030, and reinforces our
commitment to providing a high-quality academic
experience for all students so that they can succeed.
I am grateful to the QEP Development Team for their
work in preparing this document. Their diligence in reviewing institutional data and compiling
feedback from university stakeholders has led to the broad acceptance of the JAGS QEP.
Further, the well-thought-through assessment plan will help us learn from, intervene, and
deliver what we have planned. I am committed to providing the required budgetary support
to implement this plan over its five-year duration. We encourage the Southern University
community and its stakeholders to embrace this new innovative plan which will provide
support to positively transform our students, how they learn and perform, in their Journey to
Achieve Greater Success!
Yours in Education,
Dr. Ray L. Belton
Southern University and A & M College, Chancellor
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Executive Summary ..........................................................................6
2. Overview of Southern University and A&M College .........................7
3. QEP Topic and Development Process ...........................................11
4. Literature Review and Best Practices .............................................17
5. Program Design ..............................................................................24
6. Implementation Plan .......................................................................27
7. Assessment Plan .............................................................................35
8. Marketing Plan ................................................................................38
9. Timeline ...........................................................................................39
10. Organizational Structure ...............................................................41
11. Budget and Resources .................................................................44
12. Appendices ...................................................................................46
13. References ....................................................................................67
6 | JAGS – Journey to Achieve Greater Success
1. Executive Summary
Southern University and A&M College (SU) is committed to student success. This
commitment is reflected in our mission statement where we aim “to provide a student-focused
teaching and learning environment.” In the spring of 2017, Southern University and A&M
College began a broad-based process of planning for the Quality Enhancement Plan. The
initial activities included review of institutional data and communication with stakeholders
including faculty, students, administrative representatives, and the Board of Supervisors for
input concerning potential topics.
The ongoing processes revealed common themes centered on the first year experience
of our undergraduate students. During the fall semester of 2018, we became aware of a
disproportionate number of students who were likely to be placed on academic probation.
These students, as further analyses of institutional data suggested, were not passing select
general education courses. The result of the analyses was also shared with the Academic
Council, the College Deans, the Faculty Senate and with the Chancellor’s Cabinet. Soon
a Southern University and A&M College Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) was identified to
focus on the first year experience of undergraduate students and more specifically to address
student success in English, mathematics, and biology gateway courses.
The objectives of the SU QEP, JAGS – Journey to Achieve Greater Success, will be
achieved through student success in three gateway courses and through student learning
outcomes aligned with SU General Education Program of Excellence (GEPE). Southern
University’s commitment to the QEP is supported by our investment in the Gardner Institute’s
Gateways to Completion® (G2C) program which provides a meticulous process that will be
used to initiate and implement the QEP. The internal and external review and assessment
of the G2C process will provide feedback to refine the QEP implementation and suggest
practices for sustaining enhancements. We will also supplement our effort by examining and
revising the content and process of orientation for new undergraduate students and ongoing
student development engagements.
SU will implement and monitor the QEP with the aid of faculty teaching gateway courses,
with students serving as peer coaches, and staff facilitating student support services. The
First Year Experience initiative, by embracing the Seven Habits of Highly Successful College
Students model, will help students develop a new mindset, gather new tool set and acquire
new skill set, all so they can persist and succeed in college and beyond. The Center for
Student Success will actively provide tutoring and supplemental instruction with requests from
students and/or instructors teaching gateway courses.
The QEP title, JAGS – Journey to Achieve Greater Success, appropriately describes an active
process and utilizes a reference to the university’s mascot, the Jaguar, to promote university
pride. The JAGS QEP will infuse active learning and student engagement as well as personal
and institutional pride into the first year experience. With these necessary tools we envision
greater student success through their academic journey.
1. Executive Summary
7 JAGS – Journey to Achieve Greater Success |
2. Overview of Southern University and A&M College
Southern University and A&M College, originally founded in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1880,
moved to Scotlandville, just north of Baton Rouge, in 1914. From a small, state-sponsored
institution of higher learning for black Louisianans, Southern University grew into the only
system among Historically Black Colleges and Universities in the nation. Southern University
and A&M College is a comprehensive institution offering four-year, graduate, professional, and
doctoral degree programs. The university offers bachelor’s degrees in 33 areas as well as 23
master’s and five doctoral degrees.
The Baton Rouge campus is located on Scott’s Bluff overlooking the Mississippi River in
the northern section of the City of Baton Rouge. The city parish metropolitan area has a
population of more than 800,000 and serves as a cultural, political, educational, and industrial
center for South Louisiana. The campus encompasses 512 acres, with approximately 60 acres
for agricultural instruction, research and outreach.
2. Overview of Southern University and A&M College
8 | JAGS – Journey to Achieve Greater Success
Educational opportunities are provided for traditional and non-traditional students offering
scholarly interaction among diverse people. The university is committed to a broad
program of research, both basic and applied, and creative work to stimulate the faculty and
students in a quest for knowledge and to aid society in resolving its scientific, technological,
socioeconomic, and cultural problems.
Southern University renders service to the community through urban and rural programs and
makes available educational, cultural, and developmental resources to enhance the quality
of life. Adhering to the spirit of its function as an 1890 Land-Grant Institution, the University’s
public service programs have assumed a prominent posture throughout the State of
Louisiana, nationally, and internationally.
Southern University views diversity as vital to the health of any educational enterprise. To
support this philosophy, the University takes affirmative steps to maintain a multicultural
faculty, staff, and student body. This diversity is achieved principally through assertive
recruitment efforts and through multifaceted international programs.
The University seeks to recruit and maintain a faculty which through its preparation and
scholarly activities exert a profound effect on various institutions in the state, region, nation,
and world. Beyond their traditional roles, faculty members perform distinguished services that
complement and enhance both teaching and research initiatives and provide an additional
mechanism for Southern University to serve the community at large.
2. Overview of Southern University and A&M College
9 JAGS – Journey to Achieve Greater Success |
2. Overview of Southern University and A&M College
The University develops and maintains a safe physical environment that is conducive to
intellectual growth and development while operating in accordance with the highest standards
of fiscal and administrative management. This environment is enhanced through the use of
the most recent information technology, which offers the university community access to
resources from throughout the world.
Mission
The mission of Southern University A & M College – a historically black 1890 land-grant
institution in Baton Rouge, Louisiana - is to provide a student-focused teaching and learning
environment that creates global leadership opportunities for a diverse student population
where teaching, research, service, scholarly and creative expectations for students and faculty
are achieved through the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs offered at the institution
via different instructional modalities and via public service.
Vision
To provide access and opportunity to students and matriculate graduates who are equipped
to excel in a 21st century, knowledge-based, global economy.
10 | JAGS – Journey to Achieve Greater Success
Core Values
Student Centered: Students are the focus of institutional priorities, resource
decisions, and planning. As stewards of student needs, we are advocates for student
access, success, completion, placement in the workforce and/or in graduate or
professional programs.
Academic Excellence: Academic excellence is the provision of the highest
quality educational and learning experiences made possible by academically and
professionally qualified faculty and staff, opportunities for contextual learning, state-
of-the-art facilities, safe and aesthetically pleasing surroundings, and resources
necessary to support teaching and learning.
Access: Access fosters the opportunity and possibility for anyone associated with
Southern University and A&M College to acquire a quality educational experience at
an affordable price.
Integrity: Integrity involves honesty and fairness, consistency in instruction, ethics
of scholarship, freedom of inquiry, and open and truthful engagement with the
community through effective communication, policies and practices.
Research and Scholarship: Southern University and A&M College serves
as an incubator and champion for both basic and applied research as well as
entrepreneurial endeavors that produce knowledge of intrinsic and practical value.
With an emphasis on partnerships, research and service projects, the university
employs emerging technology to prepare students to contribute to the well-being of all
communities.
Innovation: Innovation is the creative and deliberate application of teaching,
research, scholarship and service for the development of products and services that
provide added value to Louisiana and beyond.
Diversity: Differences in views, interpretations and reactions derived from diversity
are important. Diversity enriches a learning environment focused on preparing
individuals to live and work in a global society.
Community: Southern University and A&M College is a community of faculty staff,
students and alumni that share a common identity and purpose that engages with the
university’s external community through diverse services and programs. Our global
community continues to demonstrate unequivocal support of our institutional mission.
(Southern University and A&M College Strategic Plan 2018-2023: Imagine 20K, 2018)
2. Overview of Southern University and A&M College
11 JAGS – Journey to Achieve Greater Success |
3. QEP Topic and Development Process
SACSCOC requires each of its member institutions to develop a Quality Enhancement Plan
(QEP) as a component of the accreditation process (Standard 7.2). We have chosen “JAGS -
Journey to Achieve Greater Success” as our QEP (JAGS QEP).
The JAGS QEP Begins
For several years Southern University has been exploring ways to enhance the retention of
first-year students. Various units have implemented activities and strategies to assist students
in their academic courses. We decided to take a comprehensive approach to student success
and the JAGS QEP serves as the umbrella to link general education courses in English,
biology and mathematics with our student success initiatives. The final decision of the JAGS
QEP topic was motivated by the analysis of student success data in the respective courses.
More specifically, we will focus on enhancing and ensuring student success in
“gateway” courses, namely in English Composition I and II (ENGL 110/111), in Pre-Calculus
Mathematics I: College Algebra (MATH 135) and in General Biology (BIOL 104). The choice of
a topic for our QEP was influenced by, and is a natural outgrowth of, our institutional planning
and our assessment effort. After the QEP topic was identified, a concerted and a broad-based
effort took place to get feedback from, and to gain acceptance amongst, a broad spectrum
of university community including faculty, students, staff, administrators, alumni, and from the
governing board.
Figure A. English Composition I (ENGL 110) pass/fail rates, Fall 2014 – Spring 2019
3. QEP Topic and Development Process
12 | JAGS – Journey to Achieve Greater Success
Figure B. English Composition II (ENGL 111) pass/fail rates, Fall 2014 – Spring 2019
Faculty focus groups were conducted to gather faculty input and ideas on how to help
Southern University students succeed. The discussion in the focus groups helped to refine
student learning outcomes, activities, assessment and professional development. The focus
groups were held based on subject area and discipline. Before attending the focus group,
faculty were asked to complete a survey. The survey requested faculty feedback with respect
to teaching and learning, barriers to student success, professional development and possible
solutions. During the focus groups, all faculty were asked to respond to two main questions:
1) What are barriers your students face? and 2) What are solutions to the barriers? The survey
results and conversations in the focus groups were reviewed for common themes to further
develop the QEP topic.
Our QEP effort is linked with our institutional mission and is consistent with our aspirations in
the current strategic plan. The QEP has evolved from and supports the four imperatives that
guide our nearer-term activities, including prioritized resource allocation. It is also aligned with
and will help fulfill the Master Plan of Louisiana’s Board of Regents and the expectations of
Louisiana Economic Development (LED) authority.
Our QEP emerged from institutional data and will directly benefit our students. Our effort
will enhance student success and will also fulfill several identified, specific, student learning
outcomes. The QEP, as and when implemented, will significantly and positively impact
student persistence from the first to the second year and thus help enhance retention rates
subsequently. Student success in the selected general education courses will also result in
better outcomes as measured by timely graduation and placement in careers. Institutional
support has been assured at the highest level to initiate, develop and complete our QEP.
3. QEP Topic and Development Process
13 JAGS – Journey to Achieve Greater Success |
3. QEP Topic and Development Process
Figure C. Pre-Calculus Mathematics I: College Algebra (MATH 135) pass/fail rates, Fall 2014 –
Spring 2019
Figure D. General Biology (BIOL 104) pass/fail rates, Fall 2014 – Spring 2019
The budget for this year (2019-2020) and for the next year (2020-2021) reflects special
allocations to support activities at various levels and to help recruit nine additional faculty
members in the focus disciplines. Further, we will, for each year, assess our progress,
learn from and use the results of what we measured. During the next five years we hope
to experience an academic renewal that will spread to other courses and disciplines. The
lessons learned and shared will positively transform the way we embrace our students, gauge
their needs, and orient them to campus life. We will be able to offer differentiated academic
advising and support, and improve how we facilitate classroom instruction. In short, the QEP
proccess will give us insight on how we promote and sustain “a student-centered learning
environment” that is etched in our mission statement.
14 | JAGS – Journey to Achieve Greater Success
Our present QEP effort can be categorized into three phases:
1. QEP Planning Phase (Identification and Justification) - Done
2. QEP Development and Dissemination Phase – Oct. 2019 - May 2020
3. Implementation Phase – June 2020- September 2025
QEP Planning Phase (Identification and Justification)
Southern University A&M College in Baton Rouge had, in 2016 - 2017, identified four
imperatives to guide its activities. These institutional priorities were communicated to
SACSCOC in a monitoring report and later were woven into the formulation of a newly
minted strategic plan called Imagine 20K. The four imperatives are (1) enhance retention, (2)
increase graduation, (3) ensure success in licensure and certification exams and (4) enhance
placement in relevant careers. Prompted by the first of the four imperatives, after the end of
the fall of 2018 we wanted to know the academic performance of the newly recruited freshman
class. We discovered that 47% of the freshman class was on the verge of falling below a 1.8
GPA and being labeled academically deficient. Many would be on academic probation unless
some remedial measures or related interventions were undertaken. We further analyzed the
student performance data and discovered that there were five courses where the students
were failing in high numbers — the first course in English Composition, General Biology,
College Algebra, Introductory Psychology, Arts Appreciation and Visual Arts. The first three
courses were where the need for intervention was the highest.
The student performance data was simultaneously discussed in the University Academic
council, the Council of Academic Deans, the faculty convocation, the staff convocation,
and later in the meeting of the Board of Supervisors. At all the identified levels participants
recommended that effort to ensure student success in these select high-failure courses
should be the focus for our Quality Enhancement Plan. Next, the Chancellor and the
Executive Vice-Chancellor organized a series of six fire-side chats where the senior
administrators met with freshman students in the evenings, at their dorms or in the student
center, to solicit input and to discuss ways to help students succeed academically and to
persist as college students.
A representative group of faculty and administrators attended the Gateway Course Experience
Conference in Atlanta, Georgia organized by the John Gardner Institute. At the conference,
we sought to learn more about similar problems at other schools and to identify best practices
and ways we could adapt and innovate all with the intent to enhance student learning and
ensure student success. We followed up the conference participation with an on campus
Faculty Development Workshop titled “Closing the Student Achievement Gap with 5
Strategies for Course Redesigns.” The workshop was facilitated by Mr. Tony Holland, Special
Assistant to the Chief of Staff of the Alabama Community College System, and was hosted by
the College of Sciences and Engineering.
3. QEP Topic and Development Process
15 JAGS – Journey to Achieve Greater Success |
During the summer of 2019, select faculty, administrators, and the Deans of Humanities and
Sciences and Engineering also attended two seminars on Pathways to Student Success led
by Dr. Tristan Denley, a nationally recognized expert, and hosted locally by the Louisiana
Board of Regents. The seminars focused on student success, pathways and effective co-req-
uisite delivery.
QEP Development and Dissemination Phase – October 2019 – May 2020
During the summer of 2019, a series of three meetings took place where the details of
our approach to enhance student success in gateway courses was further affirmed and
consensus emerged that the next phase, the development of the QEP, be implemented. At
the first meeting the Chancellor and the Executive Vice-Chancellor convened a meeting of
all senior academic leaders to discuss our commitment to the university’s strategic plan
Imagine 20K. The four imperatives were also highlighted leading to the affirmation the Journey
to Achieve Greater Success (JAGS), with focus on ways to ensure student success in the
gateway courses, as our QEP. Similar commitments were made in the strategic planning
meeting of the Academic Council and also the meeting of the Department Chairs. Each of
the participants were requested to hold similar sessions to inform and seek input from their
respective units. The QEP was also identified and discussed in the faculty convocation and
in the staff convocation. Subsequently, early in the fall semester, a development team was
convened including faculty, support staff and representation from institutional research.
This QEP Development Team was trusted to help develop the nuts and the bolts of our
QEP which would include a comprehensive plan to ensure student success and to improve
specific student learning outcomes. As a matter of principle, we committed ourselves to
adopt, develop, implement a plan that will both demonstrate compliance with our institutional
accreditor (SACSCOC) and also embrace an integrity-based approach to do what is right for
and by our students following our strategic plan, consistent with our mission and our legacy
as an HBCU.
After attending the 2019 Gateway Course Experience Conference, a discussion took place
about whether and how we could work with the John Gardner Institute in order that we will
be more directed and adapt and use best practices appropriate to our mission, size and
complexity. We were invited to join and were later accepted in the cohort of the Class of
2019. In November 2019 we were offered the services of Dr. Roberta Mathews, who will
work closely with us to examine our data, and guide our effort to redesign our courses,
our approach to classroom instruction and how we engage students in and outside the
classroom. Dr. Mathews visited Southern University for two days in January 2020 to address
the faculty convocation and on the second day to work with the Academic Council and the
QEP Development Team on determining our next steps.
3. QEP Topic and Development Process
16 | JAGS – Journey to Achieve Greater Success
An enhanced student support system is also being implemented to augment and to
complement the faculty efforts to better serve the needs of students. During our listening
sessions we learned that student success is a function of all of us pitching in our effort in
a creative and collaborative space. These sessions helped us to understand that to help
a student succeed in an identified course more than academic intervention is needed. A
student needs to be more proficient in managing life on campus and beyond, more self-
reliant, and better at time management, money and relationships. Thus, we subscribed
to and introduced Franklin Covey’s 7 Habits® of Highly Effective Students in our Freshman
Seminar Class. It is our expectation that this investment will have positive collateral benefits,
and will inspire a student to perform better in all classes including the identified gateway
courses. We also feel that our efforts will be evident when we assess and measure student
success in the gateway courses and will result in students being more confident and better
prepared for life given enhanced proficiency in oral and in written communication. Further, we
believe that students will have a better appreciation for and use of quantitative reasoning.
QEP Implementation Phase
It is our intent and our expectation that, in our third phase, we will faithfully and enthusiastically
implement our QEP. We will assess our effort at each phase of implementation. We will
convene to discuss the results from our inquiry and discuss any need to fine tune and/or
revise our effort. The QEP Development Team, during Phase Three of the plan will become
a steering committee allowing for the involvement of a broader group of faculty, staff from
support areas, and of course, students. This new group along with the steering committee
will serve as the QEP Advisory Team. The QEP Advisory Team will be led by the QEP director.
More details on our implementation plan is included in Section 6 of this document.
During the implementation phase we will actively solicit and utilize the help of the John N.
Gardner Institute for Excellence in Undergraduate Education. We will use the Gateways to
Completion® (G2C) process, a three-year process, to initiate and support our JAGS QEP
activities. In addition to our Office of Strategic Planning, Policy and Institutional Effectiveness,
we will utilize the G2C platform, to collect, store, retrieve and analyze relevant data to both
assess our progress, and make reinforcements or modifications as necessary. We will be
guided through the process by Dr. Roberta Mathews who has been assigned to serve as
our G2C senior advisor and mentor. Further, our effort will be supported via resources and
webinars available in the G2C platform, the G2C Community of Practice and participation in
the annual Gateway Course Experience® Conference.
3. QEP Topic and Development Process
17 JAGS – Journey to Achieve Greater Success |
4. Literature Review and Best Practices
4. Literature Review and Best Practices
The JAGS QEP at Southern University and A&M College focuses on student success in
English, biology and mathematics gateway courses. In the context of the JAGS QEP, we
will measure student success using the improvement in student passage rates in gateway
courses and the retention rates of first-year students. Additionally, we will track improvement
in graduation rates. The QEP aims to implement revised gateway courses via course redesign
and the inclusion of co-requisite courses. Multi-tier services will be implemented to support
student success including tutorials, student tutorial training, faculty training and workshops.
Writing Centers
The hallmark of higher learning institutions
is to ensure student learning and success,
which is reflected in the SACS Student
Achievement standard. This standard
(8.2.c in the 2018 The Principles of
Accreditation) requires that colleges and
universities provide appropriate “academic
and student services that support student
success.” A dedicated writing center is but
one way to meet this institutional need.
As Robert Baden (1974) said, “If there is
one generalization popular with regard
to the writing of college students, it is the
one that says, with varying degrees of
emphasis, that they cannot write” (Baden,
1974). Developing writing proficiency is a
challenge many college students face. To
meet these challenges, universities have
sought various ways to improve student
writing, including the use of college writing
centers.
There are several historical accounts, which detail the origins and necessity of writing centers
in higher education, including Peter Carino’s (1995) article “Early Writing Centers: Toward a
History” and Boquet’s (1999) “’Our Little Secret’: A History of Writing Centers, Pre-to Post-
Open Admissions” (Carino, 1995; Boquet, 1999). From its earliest beginnings in the 19th
century to its current state, Boquet traces the various iterations of the writing lab/clinic/
center and the conflicts that arose. In the 1920s, writing labs were perceived as a method of
instruction to be contained in the classroom; however, this view shifted in the 1940s when they
were recognized as an autonomous site. It was during this time that institutions and writing
instructors began to value these spaces, yet the literature on writing labs also reveals “tension
emerging between the institutional space of the writing center and the individual pedagogies
enacted in that space” (Boquet, 1999). Specifically, those emerging tensions centered on the
writing center’s purpose.
18 | JAGS – Journey to Achieve Greater Success
That central purpose varied from seeing these spaces as grammar fix-it shops where student
deficiencies are highlighted. This model had a tendency to marginalize the writing center’s
role as well as the students who sought their services. The implication was that the writing
center was inevitably/exclusively linked to remedial students. Shifting away from remediation-
oriented labs, another model of the writing center arose in the 1940s, influenced by the
Rogerian nondirective counseling approach. This student-centered model emphasized
the social nature of composing and counseling (posing questions to draw from student’s
knowledge). By the 1970s, the writing center reemerged to reflect the new institutional
concerns of increasing enrollment, larger minority populations, and declining literacy skills.
The site versus method conflict reemerged, but three “methodological differences” in lab
arrangements were prominent, including those who supported auto-tutorial methods and
materials, those who were critical of such programmed instruction, and those who sought
alternatives to traditional forms of writing lab instruction (Boquet, 1999).
In the end, the writing centers of today reflect one or all of these methodologies, as many
have embraced technology to assist students (auto-tutorial labs), emphasized individualized
instruction and human interaction, and sought alternative instruction in peer tutors (Boquet,
1999). In considering the history of writing centers and relevant writing center theory, Southern
University’s proposed center will rely on best practices, as we address the needs of our
students. Our purpose is in accordance with North (1984) who in his seminal essay, “The Idea
of a Writing Center” suggests: “Our job is to produce better writers, not better writing” (North,
1984). With this student-centered goal in mind, the center will be staffed with peer tutors and
faculty to provide academic support to students enrolled in English courses from composition
to literature, and will serve students at any level (struggling to advanced) and at varying
stages of the writing process. Again, the writing consultations will be student centered and
largely guided by conversations about writing and the writing process. This method allows for
the consultant to pose a series of inquiries about the student’s assignment and then tailor the
session to the student’s individual needs and skill level. Emphasis will be placed on high order
concerns, including focus, organization, and development; to a lesser degree, consultants
will focus on sentence structure, punctuation, diction, and spelling. Beyond this basic aim, the
Writing Center will also host writing workshops that can cover an array of topics from citation
skills to grammar.
Tutoring Centers
Tutoring has proven to be a beneficial support for students in a number of areas. The primary
objective of tutoring is to increase the knowledge and skill level of the students receiving the
tutoring (tutee) (Kersaint, Dogbey, Barber, & Kephart, 2011). Tutors teach tutees what they
need at that particular moment and can adjust their sessions to meet the needs, interests,
and abilities of each student (Chin, Rabow, & Estrada, 2011). Tutoring is a practical means
for enhancing student learning, content knowledge, and content-specific academic skills
(Kersaint, Dogbey, Barber, & Kephart, 2011; Lock & Layton, 2008) (Kersaint, Dogbey, Barber,
& Kephart, 2011; Lock & Layton, 2008). Additionally, tutoring in alternative modalities (for
example online tutorials) provide students with a better comprehension of course content
(Belawati, 2005).
4. Literature Review and Best Practices
19 JAGS – Journey to Achieve Greater Success |
4. Literature Review and Best Practices
Overall the positive benefits of tutoring include increased critical thinking, improved
metacognitive skills, and an improvement in communication and compositions skills
(Falchikov, 2001). Boylan, et al. observed that tutoring positively impacts the final course
grade for students participating in tutorials and in the long term positively impacts graduation
rates. Further, higher interest in the academic subject was observed in courses in which the
tutoring takes place (Boylan, Bonham, Bliss, & & Saxon, 1995).
Tutoring also allows students to achieve their academic goals. Tutoring provides a space for
active learning, which Dvorak argues is absent in the lecture instructional method (Dvorak,
2004). According to Topping and Ehly, tutoring allows for more individualized instruction
promoting persistence and retention (Topping & Ehly, 1998). Tutors have the ability to form
relationships with the tutees that lead to coaching which assist, with improving problem
solving skills. Additionally, students were more comfortable in a one-on-one setting and were
willing to ask more questions than in the traditional classroom setting (Falchikov, 2001).
The amount of time a student spends in tutoring can have an effect in academic improvement.
For example, Lidren and Meier observed that students who participate in one hour of tutoring
per week perform better in a psychology course than those students who do not participate
in tutoring (Lidren & Meier, 1991). Rheinheimer demonstrated that grades improve once a
student completes five hours of tutoring (Rheinheimer & Mann, 2000). The same research
found that 15 hours or more of tutoring had the greatest impact on grade achievement.
Tutoring positively impacts at-risk students. The work of Rheinheimer, et al., examined at-
risk students and tutoring (Rheinheimer, Grace-Odeleye, Francois, & Kusorgbor, 2010). This
study found that at-risk students who received tutoring had higher academic performance and
retention than those who did not engage in tutoring. Furthermore, graduation rates of the at-
risk students were higher for those students who actively participated in tutoring sessions.
20 | JAGS – Journey to Achieve Greater Success
To this end the JAGS QEP will provide additional peer tutoring services for gateway courses.
To better serve the student population, tutoring centers have been placed strategically in
buildings where gateway courses meet or in buildings close to meeting locations. These
new tutoring centers are to be staffed by peer tutors and monitored by staff from the Center
for Student Success. Further, select gateway courses will be assigned a peer tutor who will
attend class sessions in addition to meeting with students in the tutoring centers. This practice
familiarized the enrolled students with the peer coach and established a point of contact in the
tutoring center for the students and the course instructors.
According to Falchikov, tutors are the extension of instructors (Falchikov, 2001). However, due
to lack of experience in teaching and for presentation consistency prospective tutors should
participate in some form of training. Tutor training is important to help students become
effective peer coaches (Chapman, 1998) and such training is an established best practice
(Reichert & Hunter, 2006; CRLA, 2019; NTA, 2019). The JAGS QEP will implement enhanced
training for students selected to serve as peer coaches for gateway courses. Additionally, peer
coaches will meet throughout the term with faculty - course instructors or course coordinators.
Supplemental Instruction
Supplemental instruction as established and implemented at the University of Missouri-
Kansas City (UMKC) is defined as follows:
Supplemental Instruction (SI), created at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, is a
non-remedial approach to learning that supports students toward academic success
by integrating “what to learn” with “how to learn.” SI consists of regularly scheduled,
voluntary, out-of-class group study sessions driven by students’ needs. Sessions are
facilitated by trained peer leaders who utilize collaborative activities to ensure peer-to-
peer interaction in small groups. SI is implemented in high-risk courses in consultation
with academic staff and is supported and evaluated by a trained supervisor.
Purpose:
1. To increase retention within targeted historically difficult courses
2. To improve student grades in targeted historically difficult courses
3. To increase the graduation rates of students
(The International Center for Supplemental Instruction at the University of
Missouri-Kansas City, 2015)
As UMKC has modeled, supplemental instruction requires training on multiple levels – SI
supervisors, staff members responsible for the management and assessment of an SI
program; peer leaders, students conducting SI sessions; and faculty. The JAGS QEP seeks to
offer SI services free of charge to students in gateway courses and is committed to facilitating
the necessary training in order that implementation of supplemental instruction at Southern
University and A&M College will be an effective tool for student success in line with best
practices. Members of the Division of Student Success will participate in training via the
International Center of Supplemental Instruction at UMKC which offers training as well as
certification for programs.
4. Literature Review and Best Practices
21 JAGS – Journey to Achieve Greater Success |
4. Literature Review and Best Practices
Co-requisite Courses
Colleges are admitting students who are not performing at college level in mathematics,
reading, or writing. Once identified by test scores or placement tests, students requiring
remediation are placed into developmental courses that are intended to prepare students for
college level courses. In English, those courses often take the form of basic composition and
reading courses designed to strengthen students’ writing skills and reading comprehension
in preparation for their first-year composition courses. While in mathematics, courses
are designed to build a student’s knowledge base in arithmetic, algebra, geometry and
trigonometry, skills necessary for college level mathematics.
While remediation in the form of developmental coursework has proven useful in promoting
college entry, studies show that students entering college with remedial needs are not likely to
continue to college level courses, and ultimately graduation (America, 2012). These courses
delay student progress, since developmental courses take an additional semester to complete
and most often credits are not applicable toward graduation. Further, students who feel
frustrated by placement in such courses might decide to stop taking classes altogether, which
negatively affects retention.
The Complete College America report titled “Remediation: Higher Education’s Bridge to
Nowhere” included the following recommendations based on national data to support
students requiring remedial courses:
1. Strengthen high school preparation;
2. Start students in college-level courses with built-in, co-requisite support;
3. Embed needed academic help in multiple gateway courses; and
4. Encourage students to enter programs of study when they first enroll.
(America, 2012)
22 | JAGS – Journey to Achieve Greater Success
The JAGS QEP seeks to address remedial needs in line with the latter three recommendations
by providing
• co-requisite courses in English and mathematics,
• redesigned biology courses,
• peer coaches and tutorial services in gateway courses, and
• academic coaches to support students during their first year of college in the
selection of a program of study and in course registration.
The co-requisite model allows a student to receive coaching on remedial skills while being
enrolled in a required college level course. The students enrolled in co-requisite courses
have two classes and instructors or support staff working together to support the students’
acquisition of the skill set needed to succeed in the first-year gateway coursework.
Studies indicate that students enrolled in co-requisite courses have a success rate higher
than those who enrolled in traditional developmental remediation and a higher retention rate
than students in traditional developmental remediation (Bailey, 2009). Minimally, it has been
reported that students participating in co-requisite courses require less time to progress in
their academic program of study (Campbell & Cintron, 2018).
The Momentum Year
“Many schools now build into the curriculum first-year seminars or other programs that bring
small groups of students together with faculty or staff on a regular basis.” (Kuh, 2008). The
Office of First and Second Year Experience (FYE & SYE) at Southern University and A&M
College serves multiple roles as it pertains to a successful transition and common intellectual
experience for Emerging Jaguar scholars, first time transfer students and students with 0
to 30 credit hours. In collaboration with academic units, this office strives to foster student
accomplishments in terms of persistence and an increase in graduation rates. The Office of
FYE & SYE prides itself on providing first- time freshmen with a supportive and meaningful
“momentum” year and avoiding the “sophomore year slump” for second year students.
Southern University and A&M College offers countless opportunities for innovation and
enrichment.
Programs like first-year workshops, seminars, study abroad, and temporary jobs have
become progressively accessible at public and private colleges and universities. Additionally,
colleges have adopted first-year experience programs to assist first-year students with a
seamless transition from high school to college.
First Year Experience Courses
“The freshman seminar is a proven and effective way of enhancing freshman success. It can
be the glue that holds together and solidifies all efforts to enhance freshman academic and
personal success” (Upcraft, Gardner, & Associates, 1989). Freshman Seminar at Southern
University and A&M College introduces first-time freshmen to our academic community and
engages them in the process of scholarly inquiry. These courses are required, one-credit
courses for first year students offered over two semesters.
4. Literature Review and Best Practices
23 JAGS – Journey to Achieve Greater Success |
4. Literature Review and Best Practices
Freshman Seminar and other first-year experience initiatives exist to implement a successful
transition for first-year students at Southern University and A&M College. Furthermore, these
classes establish the foundation for gaining knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary for
academic success.
The Office of FYE & SYE at Southern University and A&M College implemented Franklin
Covey’s 7 Habits® of Highly Effective College Students to shift the mindset of first-year
students to assist with their academic and social engagement. Additionally, this elite program
assists with fostering meaningful relationships between students and the support staff
including academic specialist, academic coach’s, peer mentors and tutorial professionals
(Covey, 2014).
Research shows that a great deal of first year students fail to meet expectations or drop out
of school due to a lack of cultural capital as it relates to their educational aspirations, and the
life skills to achieve that vision. The implementation of Franklin Covey’s 7 Habits® of Highly
Effective College Students, authored by Sean Covey and other professionals, has served
as a success tool that benefits students during their college matriculation and throughout
their career (Covey, 2014). The 7 Habits® have had a huge impact across the nation (Covey,
2014). The 7 Habits® are:
• Habit 1: Be Proactive®,
• Habit 2: Begin With the End in Mind®,
• Habit 3: Put First Things First®,
• Habit 4: Think Win-Win®,
• Habit 5: Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood®,
• Habit 6: Synergize®, and
• Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw®. (Covey, 2014)
In this student success course, first year students will display solid academic skills, real life
skills, and a resilience that will support persistence and graduation within four years (Covey,
2014). The overall goal of the 7 Habits® is for students to thrive in their new environment
as well as tap into their full potential. Every chapter in the course text concludes with an
assessment that students may total to see singular improvement and to follow their capacity
to move from reliance to relationship. Further, there are exercises on initiative and proposals
that students may apply to help facilitate a triumphant first year.
24 | JAGS – Journey to Achieve Greater Success
5. Program Design
5. Program Design
JAGS QEP provides students with enhanced support in gateway courses through redesigned
courses - including co-requisite courses - and student support through tutorial services with
peer coaches and supplemental instruction. The primary audience is first and second year
students enrolled at Southern University and A&M College. However, the support services
provided via the Writing Center and the Tutoring Centers will be open to all students.
Program Outcomes
Successfully implementing JAGS QEP will have the following results:
Increase in retention of students from first to second year via higher passage rates in
gateway courses.
Increase in professional development for faculty and staff in support of JAGS QEP
initiatives and a model for sustained professional development focusing on student
success.
JAGS QEP Student Learning Outcomes
The goal of the JAGS QEP is to increase the passage rate and student success in the gateway
courses at Southern University and A&M College. The courses include English Composition
I and II (ENGL 110/111), Pre-Calculus Mathematics I: College Algebra (MATH 135) and
General Biology (BIOL 104) with activities in Freshman Seminar (FRMN 110/111) serving
as a link between the gateway courses. The student learning outcomes are interdisciplinary
and will be assessed using a common rubric. The inclusion of Freshman Seminar (FRMN
110/111) will allow the reinforcement and transference of concepts and skills offered in
the 7 Habits® curriculum to the gateway courses. After the approval of the JAGS QEP and
during implementation planning, modifications in the activities and assessment tools will be
incorporated where appropriate. The overarching strategy of the outcomes, however, will
remain. The adoption of the student learning outcomes will require curriculum review and
redesign coupled with faculty development and various levels of institutional support.
Support Plan
Curriculum redesign will occur as a part of the JAGS QEP. Faculty professional development
will be an integral part of this effort to ensure that instructional faculty are well informed
about the QEP assessment tools and invested in the course revisions. Discipline specific and
collective JAGS QEP professional development opportunities will be planned by the JAGS
QEP Advisory Team. The Advisory Team will draw on the expertise of tenured and tenure track
faculty as well as suggest relevant guests to facilitate on-campus professional development
activities and webinars. Further our participation in the Gardner Institute’s Gateways to
Completion (G2C) program provides access to resources and webinars via the G2C platform.
To promote student success activities, instructional faculty will interact regularly with the
Division of Student Success to learn of and provide feedback about planned student success
workshops and activities.
25 JAGS – Journey to Achieve Greater Success |
JAGS QEP Professional Development
A critical part of the JAGS QEP is faculty and staff buy in and support. Faculty will be
charged with curriculum redesign and implementation while staff will implement and facilitate
student support services. These activities are interdependent, thus will require consistent
communication across units. Throughout the JAGS QEP activity years, professional
development and training opportunities will be provided for faculty and staff charged with
implementing JAGS QEP activities. These activities will promote effective verbal and written
communication, effective use of technology in teaching, and effective discipline specific
strategies that facilitate student success in gateway courses. The QEP Advisory Team is
charged with implementing workshops and training programs in support of JAGS QEP.
Faculty facilitators will be encouraged to attend professional conferences. Annually, QEP
Advisory Team members and faculty facilitators will be selected to attend the Gateway Course
Experience Conference sponsored by the Gardner Institute. Further, the QEP Advisory Team
will report lessons learned from the QEP implementation at professional conferences and
seek feedback from faculty and the broader educational community concerning assessed
activities and their use in activity improvement.
With the JAGS QEP we seek to enhance student engagement via support services. We will
provide “open house” opportunities for students, faculty and staff to learn about existing
support services and to recommend student success events and activities.
JAGS QEP Student Events
The Journey to Achieve Greater Success begins the moment a student enrolls at Southern
University and A&M College. The New Student Orientation provides students with a first
impression of the campus community and the personnel who will guide the initial phase of
their journey. The JAGS QEP will collaborate with the Office of Academic Affairs, Student
Affairs and Enrollment Management, the Division of Student Success, and academic colleges
to plan and implement New Student Orientation that emphasizes the importance of success in
gateway courses and provides students with tools that will facilitate the success.
While academics will be the focus of the New Student Orientation, we seek to implement
a holistic theme to include an introduction to student support services, campus logistics,
and highlights of student life. The sessions will be lively, informative and interactive, while
emphasizing academic expectations and standards. Students will meet key personnel in
administration, student government, student life and in their selected academic college.
Academic advising will occur during New Student Orientation and students will meet the
Academic Coaches who will provide advising and course enrollment services during the first
year.
In addition to New Student Orientation, the JAGS QEP Advisory Team will plan events over the
five-year activity period for students in collaboration with the Division of Student Success. The
events will range from workshops to community building activities. At needs, orient them to
campus life, offer differentiated academic advising and support, how we facilitate classroom
instruction, in short, how we promote and sustain “a student-centered learning environment”
that is etched in our mission statement.
5. Program Design
26 | JAGS – Journey to Achieve Greater Success
5. Program Design
Southern University and A&M College, we promote the academic and personal development
of students. To this end, the Division of Student Success organizes and implements
workshops that encourage academic and personal growth. Workshops that have been
popular are listed below.
Type of Event/Activity Title of Event/Activity
Workshop Stress Management
Workshop Time Management
Workshop Effective Communication with Professors
Workshop Hope and Growth Mindset
Workshop Financial Literacy
Workshop Juggling School, Work, and Life
Workshop Test Taking Strategies
Workshop Steps to Academic Success
Workshop Is My Major Right for Me
In addition to these activities, the JAGS QEP Advisory Team will collaborate and partner with
university units, student professional organizations, and corporate sponsors to plan events in
support of the JAGS QEP efforts.
27 JAGS – Journey to Achieve Greater Success |
6. Implementation Plan
6. Implementation Plan
Southern University and A&M College will implement and monitor programs in support
of student success in gateway courses with the aid of the QEP Advisory Committee. The
minimum requirements for bachelor’s degrees at Southern University and A&M College
include completion of general education requirements (Southern University and A&M College
2017-2020 Undergraduate Catalog, 2017). Part of these requirements are six credit hours
of English Composition (ENGL 110 and ENGL 111 with grades of “C” or better), six credit
hours of mathematics and nine credit hours of Natural Sciences. In addition, all students must
complete the University Writing Proficiency Examination. The examination is administered as
a part ENGL 111, or is administered separately for transfer students who completed English
Composition courses at another college or university.
The JAGS QEP incorporates activities in English, mathematics and biology coupled with
support services facilitated by the Division of Student Success. We provide examples of
activities that are underway that support the efforts of the JAGS QEP. We then outline the
implementation plan for the JAGS QEP. During the next five years we expect to get further
support that will positively impact our efforts in gateway courses.
Mathematics Pilot Project: Math Coaching with MSEIP Grant and Cooperative
Learning
To address the observed needs of students enrolled in mathematics gateway courses, the
College of Sciences and Engineering drafted and submitted a proposal to the Minority
Science and Engineering Improvement Program (MSEIP) of the U.S. Department of
Education. This initiative sought to provide enhanced support for students enrolled in Pre-
Calculus Mathematics I: College Algebra (MATH 135) and Pre-Calculus Mathematics II:
College Trigonometry (MATH 140). These courses are prerequisites to required courses in the
Sciences and Engineering curriculum. With the support of an MSEIP grant Math Coaching
began in the spring of 2019.
Math coaching began with several undergraduate and graduate students serving as tutors,
or peer coaches, in the student learning center housed in the engineering building, P.B.S.
Pinchback Hall. We introduced and used the term “peer coaches” when promoting the
services to students to reduce the stigma students might associate with tutoring or the need
for a tutor. Students enrolled in MATH 135 and 140 were asked to provide the times when
they would be available to participate in math coaching and based on the student survey a
schedule was developed for the peer coaches. Virtual coaching options were also provided.
Additionally, incentives were provided to students enrolled in these courses for attending
coaching sessions.
Math Coaching support continued during the summer of 2019 and the fall of 2019 with
expanded services that included more peer coaches, peer coaches attending sections of
MATH 135, and additional mathematics resources and study guides for the students. During
the spring of 2020, MSEIP funded math coaching services will continue and focus on support
in MATH 140 classes. Math coaching services for MATH 135 classes will continue under the
supervision of the Division of Student Success.
28 | JAGS – Journey to Achieve Greater Success
During the spring of 2019 Mathematics Program faculty participated in a professional
development workshop conducted by Dr. David W. Johnson. During the training faculty
worked through Dr. Johnson’s book titled, Cooperation in the Classroom. “Cooperative
learning is the instructional use of small groups so that student work together to maximize
their own and each other’s learning” (Johnson, Johnson, & Holubec, 2013). Building on this
definition, the workshop included discussion about the importance of cooperative learning
to student success, practice of classroom activities that prompt student engagement, and
reflection on next steps.
Mathematics faculty trained in collaboration with English faculty. The training promoted
conversation across the disciplines concerning ways we may mutually support students
enrolled in gateway courses. After the training, faculty incorporated cooperative learning
pedagogy in their classes. Since the training, mathematics faculty have been collaboratively
developing in class activities, implementing techniques learned and observing student
responses and benefits.
Given these initial activities, faculty continue to collaborate and to revise in class activities to
promote student exploration outside of class sessions. Coupling these in class activities with
math coaching services provides an extension to learning themes presented in class and
formal space (coaching sessions) where students may practice mathematical concepts with
the support of peer coaches.
English Pilot Project: Writing Center
Currently, students enrolled at Southern University do not have regular access to writing
assistance via student support services. Based on the literature review findings (Bell, 2002)
and institutional commitment to ensure student learning and success, a Writing Center to be
housed in the Department of Languages and Literature will be piloted in spring of 2020. The
Writing Center will be multifunctional in its purpose; however, it will primarily help students
develop and craft their writing.
The center will be staffed with peer tutors and faculty to provide academic support to students
enrolled in English courses from composition to literature, and will serve students at any level
(struggling to advance) at varying stages of the writing process. The writing consultations
will be student centered and largely guided by conversations about writing and the writing
process. This method allows for the peer tutor to pose a series of inquiries about the
student’s assignment and then tailor the session to the student’s individual needs and skill
level. Emphasis will be placed on high order concerns, including focus, organization, and
development; to a lesser degree, consultants will focus on sentence structure, punctuation,
diction, and spelling.
Beyond this basic aim, the Writing Center will also host writing workshops that can cover an
array of topics from citation skills to grammar. Additionally, a workshop that prepares students
for the Writing Proficiency Examination (WPE) will be offered. This examination, administered
internally in our second composition course and externally for transfer students, is designed
to assess a student’s basic proficiency in writing and critical thinking.
6. Implementation Plan
29 JAGS – Journey to Achieve Greater Success |
Such a workshop will be especially beneficial for transfer students who may have experienced
a gap in taking general education courses, namely composition.
Based on the anticipated success of this initial project, an expansion to online tutoring
services and a web page will also be in development. While the project would initially offer
one-on-one consultations, the goal is to offer both synchronous and asynchronous sessions,
which will accommodate even more students. The web page will comprise online scheduling
options, faculty and student resources, including access to links, handouts, and other
interactive resources. These interactive resources will also be made available on site by way
of computer and/or tablet stations loaded with courseware for grammar practice.
In terms of quantitative measures, we intend to log the number of student visitors and hours of
tutorials provided. Additionally, at the close of each consultation, students would complete a
satisfaction survey. The survey would allow the Writing Center peer tutors to receive feedback
on their services and improve where needed. With these tools of assessment and analysis of
data, the best possible outcome is the establishment of the center as a permanent student
support service, which substantially increases student performance in English courses and
writing across the campus.
JAGS QEP Implementation Years: 2020 – 2025
English: Co-requisite Courses
In addition to the Writing Center, the Department of Languages and Literature plans to pilot a
different structure for developmental courses. In the fall of 2020, the department will establish
three sections of a co-requisite course in English that will include remediation in college-
level writing and reading. These courses will pair with an introductory composition course in
which the same students are enrolled, thus the instructors of both courses will need to work
closely together. As a control, these co-requisite courses will be compared to three sections
of traditional developmental writing and three sections of introductory freshman composition
with students who are not in the co-requisite courses.
How will students be chosen for this pilot course?
Presently, students are chosen for the developmental writing courses based on their ACT
scores. Students with a score less than 18 are assumed to need remedial attention. The
population for the co-requisite courses for the initial implementation year should be from the
same population as the students currently selected for the developmental writing courses.
Starting in the fall of 2020, students with ACT scores under 18 will be required to take a
reading comprehension and vocabulary test in order to place them in either the co-requisite
courses, or developmental courses for those students needing more remediation. After the
project has sufficient data, we will determine whether reading comprehension is a significant
determiner of success in the co-requisite courses, and whether it should be used to decide
which students should be chosen.
6. Implementation Plan
30 | JAGS – Journey to Achieve Greater Success
Peer Coaches
Each co-requisite course will be assigned a student tutor, or peer coach, to work with the
students in that section. These peer coaches will be students with demonstrated writing ability.
Each peer coach will set up a schedule with the students in their assigned section which will
allow for individual meetings and coaching during the semester. Three other peer coaches
will be assigned to three instructors of introductory freshman composition. Peer coaches will
receive training and a stipend or community service credit, for their work.
Requirements for Implementation
As part of this project, faculty teaching the co-requisite courses will be provided faculty
development time and a stipend to redesign the curriculum. Additionally, the faculty in the
introductory freshman composition courses that will be paired with the co-requisite courses
will participate in the redesign and planning of the courses. The faculty involved will receive a
stipend for their participation.
Assessment of the project
In order to determine the effectiveness of the project, we will be tracking several different
factors. First, the retention numbers for students in the co-requisite courses will be compared
to those in other developmental writing courses and those students enrolled in traditional
first-year composition courses. If the pilot shows that the students in the co-requisite are
more likely to continue as students, the project will be considered beneficial. Included in the
JAGS QEP activities, as students progress through their academic programs, retention will be
tracked to see if their participation in the project had a long-term effect on their outcomes.
Second, the grades of the students in the co-requisite courses will be compared to those in
other developmental courses and those in traditional first-year courses. We expect students
in the co-requisite courses outperform those students in a course plan that includes a
developmental course followed by the required general education course. The co-requisite
course model will also be more time and cost effective for our students as they will not have to
enroll in two separate three credit-hours courses offered during different semesters.
In addition, to assess the coaching component of the course, students will be surveyed to
determine whether the coach was helpful and effective in helping students perform better in
the class.
Mathematics: Co-requisite Courses
The Mathematics Program – housed in the Department of Mathematics and Physics –
will implement co-requisite courses that will provide students requiring developmental
mathematics additional instruction and practice to build and reinforce mathematical skills
while they participate in a college level mathematics course. A co-requisite course will be
piloted to be paired with sections of the course Pre-Calculus Mathematics: College Algebra
(MATH 135).
6. Implementation Plan
31 JAGS – Journey to Achieve Greater Success |
How will students be chosen for this pilot course?
At present students entering Southern University with ACT scores less than 19 are enrolled
in Developmental Mathematics (MATH 092). In the present protocol, a student must pass the
MATH 092 end-of-course exam with a grade of 70% or better prior to enrolling in a college
level mathematics course. This protocol requires a semester of mathematics course work
that does not earn college level credit. Starting in the fall of 2020 students with ACT scores
less than 19 will be required to take a mathematics placement test in order to determine their
placement in the co-requisite courses or the standard developmental course.
Peer Coaches
Peer coaches will continue attend MATH 135 classes for selected sections. Full math
coaching services will be provided for all MATH 135 sections via the tutoring centers managed
by Center for Student Success. Coordinated activities with peer coaches and faculty will occur
to assist in managing course topics and to provide feedback concerning student inquiries.
Requirements for Implementation
A team of mathematics course coordinators will facilitate the revision of course curriculum
in order to build co-requisite courses. Prior training in cooperative learning will inform
course design and implementation. Mathematics course coordinators will be selected by
the department and college leadership. Their responsibilities will include managing course
content, facilitating the co-requisite course design, and observing instructors who will facilitate
the co-requisite courses. Mathematics course coordinators will receive a stipend to participate
in curriculum revision activities. They will be required to participate in JAGS QEP faculty
training activities.
Assessment of the project
Student success in the co-requisite courses will be measured using midterm and final grades
in the courses. Student success will be compared across co-requisite courses and standard
versions of developmental mathematics and college level courses. Additionally, student
satisfaction surveys will be administered to students participating in tutorial services. Data will
be compared from those sections with in-class peer coaches versus those that do not have
in-class peer coaches. Furthermore, we seek to track student engagement in other support
services (for example, workshops and community building activities) with their academic
progress and participation in a co-requisite course.
Annual review of assessment data will inform implementation of co-requisite courses in
subsequent years. We anticipate that the enhanced support services that will be implemented
as a part of JAGS QEP for co-requisite courses as well as standard versions of the courses
will promote student engagement and success in math courses, thus will improve retention.
6. Implementation Plan
32 | JAGS – Journey to Achieve Greater Success
Biology: Course Redesign
All Southern University students must minimally complete three credit hours in a biological
sciences course. Overwhelmingly, the selected course is General Biology (BIOL 104), thus
this course is also a vital component to student success. This is a non-major course (biology
majors may not take this course for credit). The planned course redesign seeks to update the
course and to expose students to biology concepts in a refreshed manner that makes use of
current technologies and educational resources.
The Course Redesign Process
The biology course redesign will review the current learning outcomes, syllabus and
teaching and learning strategies used in the course. BIOL 104 is taught each semester with
a range of 55 to 65 students per section in the traditional face-to-face course. The course
has coordinated sections where the same syllabus (which includes the same point scale),
schedule and final exam are used. In the course’s history there have not been peer coaches
in the classroom.
The redesign process will follow successful strategies of Handelsman, J., Miller, S., and Pfund,
C. (2007), Nomme and Birol (2014), and others who recommend that the process be iterative
and reflective with planning (including input from faculty and students), implementation and
evaluation/assessment (Handelsman & Pfund, 2007; Nomme & Birol, 2014). The goal of the
course redesign is to create a student-centered course with active learning. The redesigned
course will aim to: “(a) incorporate topics and learning activities to demonstrate how scientific
evidence forms the basis of biological knowledge; (b) engage students in learning biological
concepts and guide their formation of conceptual frameworks of biological knowledge; and
(c) challenge students to think critically about societal issues that are grounded in biological
concepts” (Nomme & Birol, 2014).
Peer Coaches
Biology peer coaches will be introduced as part of the course redesign. The peer coaches
will attend classes regularly with the enrolled students and serve as tutors outside of the
classroom. Their addition to the class will provide faculty with assistance in active learning
activities. The peer coaches will also meet regularly with instructional faculty. As stated in
previous sections, peer coaches are students who have successfully completed the course
with an A or B; they are also role models for other students.
Assessment of the redesign
The evaluation/assessment of the redesign will inform the iterative process. Student surveys,
focus groups and course assignments/exams will be used. The review of these items
collectively will continue to shape the redesign process for the duration of the QEP and
thereafter.
6. Implementation Plan
33 JAGS – Journey to Achieve Greater Success |
Freshman Seminar
The Office of First and Second Year Experience, a unit in the Division of Student Success,
facilitates Freshman Seminar courses. With respect to the JAGS QEP, these courses serve
as a focal point for indoctrinating first-time freshman to the university – academically, civically
and socially. The Freshman Seminar courses meet once per week for 50 minutes over two
semesters. The Freshman Seminar courses have implemented the curriculum of Franklin
Covey’s 7 Habits® of Highly Effective College Students. In addition, the first semester of
Freshman Seminar (FRMN 110) includes the following topic: Southern University History,
time management, emotional Intelligence, campus support systems, self-discovery, major/
concentration exploration, and goal setting. The second semester of Freshman Seminar
(FRMN 111) includes the following additional topics: career exploration, professionalism,
leadership opportunities, diversity and inclusion, self-awareness, and effective decision
making.
In conjunction with the Center for Student Success (also a unit in the Division of Student
Success), the curriculum of both Freshman Seminar courses works to ensure students attend
university events, academic empowerment sessions and Academic Coaching sessions.
Assignments in the Freshman Seminar courses are utilized to hold students accountable for
their success and encourage them to take full advantage of the support services offered by
the Division of Student Success. Furthermore, the Office of First and Second Year Experience
via the Freshman Seminar courses collaborates with the Division of Student Affairs and
Enrollment Management, Career Services and other university units to provide services for
students which facilitate their development holistically. Our goal is to demonstrate to students
how education and life applications correlate to academic success and leadership.
JAGS QEP and Gateways to Completion
Developmental and gateway courses are included in the JAGS QEP activities. English and
mathematics developmental courses will be paired with the respective gateway courses, and
the paired courses will be collectively revised. These select courses will be redesigned to
promote active learning and to ensure students are more engaged and motivated to succeed.
The result of the surveys of the faculty teaching gateway courses in English, biology and
mathematics will be used to more specifically address the learning needs of students and how
the courses will be redesigned to serve them better. Attention will be paid to course content
including supplementary materials, student engagement and methods of instruction and
delivery.
The Gateways to Completion (G2C) process will be utilized to methodically analyze, plan, act,
monitor and refine the gateway courses. The G2C process will occur over a three-year period.
In the first year, we will utilize the G2C platform to build an inventory of courses, and engage
in a self-study that will produce course reports and a comprehensive institutional report. Each
report will incorporate an action plan, which will be reviewed and evaluated by our G2C Senior
Advisor, Dr. Mathews. In the second year, action plans will be implemented and monitored. As
activities are assessed the feedback will be used to refine activities. In the third year, refined
action plans will be implemented and assessed. The course reports and the action plan will
be presented to the Academic Council for further review and input.
6. Implementation Plan
34 | JAGS – Journey to Achieve Greater Success
The G2C process is a subset of the JAGS QEP activity period of five years, and will directly
support JAGS QEP activities. Lessons learned within the G2C process will assist in the
development of course revision plans for other gateway courses and courses that follow the
gateway courses.
Faculty teaching gateway courses, called faculty facilitators, will participate in training and
workshops that will include discussions concerning course redesign, course implementation,
assessment of the courses and utilization of support services to promote student success in
the courses. They will be offered faculty development opportunities to learn from their peers
and also share their experiences via intellectual contributions at the department, college and
university meetings and in seminars and conferences hosted by accreditation agencies and
similar organizations.
7. Assessment Plan
Table. List of developmental, gateway, and freshman seminar courses that
are included in the JAGS QEP.
35 JAGS – Journey to Achieve Greater Success |
7. Assessment Plan
7. Assessment Plan
The JAGS QEP will hire a Director and a Data Manager. The JAGS QEP Director will (1)
coordinate JAGS QEP activities in collaboration with academic units and the Division
of Student Success; (2) facilitate meetings of JAGS QEP Advisory Team; (3) coordinate
professional development and trainings for faculty with respect to QEP activities; and (4)
facilitate the preparation of semester and annual reports of the JAGS QEP. The Director will
work under the direct supervision of the Senior Associate Vice-Chancellor of Academic Affairs.
The JAGS QEP Data Manager will coordinate JAGS QEP data activities in collaboration with
the academic units, the Division of Student Success and the institutional research office.
Duties will include the collection, management, analysis and reporting of JAGS QEP data. The
Data Manager will work under the direct supervision of the JAGS QEP Director and the Chief
Academic Officer. We also plan to use the services of an external provider (Dextera) that has
experience in guiding similar activities of the other institutions in the G2C cohort group.
Quantitative and qualitative data will be collected in support of JAGS QEP activities. Southern
University and A&M College utilizes LiveText to collect and manage assessment data. The
JAGS QEP will use LiveText to assess student learning outcomes in gateway courses.
Common LiveText assignments will be included in sections of each JAGS QEP gateway
course and the assignment will be assessed with a common rubric. For example, all BIOL 104
sections will assign the same activity via LiveText and the assignment will be assessed using a
common rubric. Assessment data will be used to inform course revision and student support
services. Likewise, JAGS QEP student learning outcomes will be assessed using LiveText via
the gateway courses and Freshman Seminar courses.
Assessment in Gateway Courses
Faculty facilitators will conduct course and discipline specific assessments. Livetext will
be used to conduct formative and summative assessments.
Faculty facilitators will conduct discipline specific assessments utilizing JAGS QEP
student learning outcomes and use a common LiveText rubric.
Midterm and final grades will be reported for each gateway course.
Faculty facilitators will be surveyed about the co-requisite courses and the redesigned
course including the scheduling of peer coaches.
Assessment of Student Support Services
Students will be surveyed at the close of each Division of Student Success workshop.
Surveys will request that students report their enrollment in gateway courses.
36 | JAGS – Journey to Achieve Greater Success
Students will be surveyed during each visit to Tutoring Centers and the Writing Center to
assess their perception of the level of assistance rendered during the visit. Surveys will
request that students report details such as enrollment in gateway courses, frequency of
Tutoring Center visits, and Tutoring Center locations visited.
Students will be surveyed about their experience with peer coaches in their respective
course sections.
Assessment of Faculty Facilitators
Faculty facilitator surveys will be conducted at the close of each term to assess faculty
perception of student engagement.
Faculty facilitator surveys will be conducted at the close of each term to assess faculty
promotion of student support services and the perceived benefits to students enrolled in
their courses.
Assessment of Professional Development
Faculty and staff will be surveyed at the close of each professional development activity
to assess their perception of the level of assistance rendered by the activity.
During each professional development activity data will be collected about the number
of faculty and staff participants, their academic units or divisions, and information about
their prior professional development participation.
QEP Data Collection System
A repository for the collection of JAGS QEP data will be developed in consultation with the
academic units, the Division of Student Success, and the Office of Strategic Planning, Policy,
and Institutional Effectiveness. The JAGS QEP Data Manager will be housed in the Office of
Strategic Planning, Policy, and Institutional Effectiveness and will manage JAGS QEP data.
The overall assessment of the QEP effort will be conducted, every year, to determine
student success. This assessment will include all the metrics alluded to prior and also track
improvements in student retention and persistence.
7. Assessment Plan
37 JAGS – Journey to Achieve Greater Success |
7. Assessment Plan
38 | JAGS – Journey to Achieve Greater Success
8. Marketing Plan
JAGS QEP marketing will occur at all levels of Southern University and A&M College. The
Marketing Plan seeks to provide general knowledge of activities and their value to the
institution as a whole and comprehensive knowledge within units directly engaged in QEP
activities. The QEP Advisory Team members and designated QEP champions will facilitate the
dissemination of information to the university community and beyond.
The JAGS QEP will be discussed and marketed in the following venues:
New Student Orientation (each semester)
Faculty Convocation (each semester)
Staff Convocation (each semester)
Faculty senate meetings (monthly)
Staff senate meetings (monthly)
Southern University Board of Supervisors meetings (monthly)
Southern University website
College meetings
Departmental meetings
Student Fireside chats
Student government meetings
Gateway course syllabi
Southern University Alumni Federation meetings
Meetings with community and corporate partners
The Academic Deans meet weekly with the chief academic officer. The Academic Deans will
serve as JAGS QEP champions and will advise their respective academic units concerning
QEP activities. Monthly briefings will be prepared by the QEP Advisory Team reporting activity
progress and promoting upcoming activities which will include relevant contact information.
Student workshops and community building activities will be announced and promoted
in various modalities including university email blasts, announcements via the learning
management system, the university website, and fliers posted in key university venues.
The Division of Student Success will meet with faculty and students who will as JAGS QEP
champions, discuss upcoming student activities and solicit input in planning future activities.
Further, faculty instructing gateway courses will include information on course syllabi and
course webpages concerning QEP support services. This information will be provided to
instructional faculty during QEP training activities.
Promotional items will be purchased to brand and market the JAGS QEP. It is our hope that
through broad and regular communication, the campus community and stakeholders will
diligently participate in the Journey to Achieve Greater Success.
8. Marketing Plan
39 JAGS – Journey to Achieve Greater Success |
9. Timeline
FY17: 2016 – 2017
QEP Planning Committee formed
QEP Planning Committee reviewed prospective QEP topics suggested by students,
faculty, administrators and the Board of Supervisors
QEP Planning Committee identified four broad-based competencies for QEP topic
consideration – communication, critical thinking, quantitative reasoning and information
literacy
FY18: 2017 – 2018
QEP Planning Committee presents competencies for QEP topic consideration during the
Fall 2017 Faculty Convocation
QEP forum held on September 27, 2017, to engage Southern University and
stakeholders in the development process
Southern University and A&M College Accreditation Committee attended the SACSCOC
Annual Meeting, December 2 – 5, 2017
SACSCOC and QEP updates presented during the Spring 2018 Faculty Convocation
FY19: 2018 – 2019
QEP Planning Committee reviews institutional data
Review of Fall 2018 first time freshman academic performance
Southern University and A&M College Strategic Plan, Imagine 20K: 2018 - 2030,
presented during the Spring 2019 Faculty Convocation
Discussions of student academic performance at with stakeholders (University Academic
Council, Council of Academic Deans, faculty, staff, Board of Supervisors)
Pilot activities – Math coaching and faculty professional development
Southern University faculty and administrators attend the 2019 Gateway Course
Experience Conference
College of Sciences and Engineering hosts Faculty Development Workshop titled
“Closing the Student Achievement Gap with 5 Strategies for Course Redesigns”
facilitated by Mr. Tony Holland, May 9, 2019
Southern University faculty and administrators attend Pathways to Success workshop
hosted by the Louisiana Board of Regents and facilitated by Dr. Tristan Denley, University
System of Georgia, June 20, 2019
9. Timeline
40 | JAGS – Journey to Achieve Greater Success
FY20: 2019 – 2020
JAGS – Journey to Achieve Greater Success unveiled during the Fall 2019 Faculty
Convocation and Staff Convocation
Pilot activities – Expanded Math coaching and pilot Writing Center
Dr. Bijoy Kumar Sahoo named Interim Executive Vice Chancellor
QEP Development Team convened for weekly meetings
JAGS QEP presentation and panel discussion at Spring 2020 Faculty Convocation
Dr. Roberta Mathews, Retired Vice President for Academic Affairs at Marymount College
and Gardner Institute’s Gateways to Completion Senior Advisor visited Southern
University January 8 - 9, 2020
QEP Development Team Gateway course workshop with Dr. Mathews
Gateways to Completion (G2C) process begins
Faculty professional development on gateway course facilitation
Faculty search for English, mathematics, and biology faculty
QEP Report submitted to SACSCOC on January 27, 2020
FY21: 2020 – 2021
Gateway co-requisite courses begin
G2C process continues – implement and monitor courses
Peer coaches selected for gateway courses and trained by faculty and Division of
Student Success
JAGS QEP marketing at faculty, staff and student meetings
QEP assessment and reporting at the close of the fall (end of December) and spring
semesters (end of May)
JAGS QEP Advisory board meetings (fall semester: weekly to assess implementation;
spring semester: twice a month). Discuss initial results and revise approaches/strategies.
JAGS QEP annual report (end of July, specific dates to be determined annually)
FY22 and Beyond: 2021 – 2025
Gateway co-requisite courses continue and lessons learned to be utilized in other similar
courses
Faculty facilitator professional development
Faculty focus groups
Student focus groups
Dissemination of JAGS QEP assessment data to university stakeholders
JAGS QEP Marketing and updates to faculty, staff and students at meetings
JAGS QEP Advisory board meetings (monthly)
JAGS QEP annual report (end of July, specific dates to be determined annually)
We intend to, in the spirit of continuous improvement, strive to explore ways to further
enhance student success in the select gateway courses, assess and learn from our effort
and ensure that other courses that are barriers to student success benefit by replicating
our success.
9. Timeline
41 JAGS – Journey to Achieve Greater Success |
10. Organizational Structure
The following chart provides an overview of the Southern University and A&M College
organizational chart as it pertains to JAGS QEP accountability and supervision.
Abbreviated Organizational Chart
10. Organizational Structure
42 | JAGS – Journey to Achieve Greater Success
QEP Development Team
The QEP Development Team was convened to help develop the nuts and the bolts of the
JAGS QEP. The charge was to develop a comprehensive plan to ensure student success and
to improve specific student learning outcomes.
10. Organizational Structure
10. Organizational Structure
42
QEP Development Team
The QEP Development Team was convened to help develop the nuts and the bolts of
the JAGS QEP. The charge was to develop a comprehensive plan to ensure student
success and to improve specific student learning outcomes.
Name
Title
Department / College
Academic Affairs
Dr. Bijoy Sahoo
Interim Exec. V C./Sr. Assoc.
VC for Academic Affairs
Academic Affairs
Faculty
Dr. Rasheedah Jenkins
Assistant Professor
Department of Languages and
Literature,
College of Humanities and
Interdisciplinary Studies
Dr. April Toadvine
Assistant Professor
Department of Languages and
Literature,
College of Humanities and
Interdisciplinary Studies
Dr. Rachel Vincent-Finley
Associate Dean for Academic
Affairs
Associate Professor
College of Sciences and
Engineering
Department of Mathematics and
Physics, College of Sciences
and Engineering
Dr. Francesca Mellieon-
Williams
Associate Professor
Department of Science
Mathematics Education, College
of Sciences and Engineering
Student Success
Ms. LaTrina Collins
Executive Director
Center for Student Success
Division of Student Success
Academic Affairs
Mr. Zackeus Johnson
Executive Director
First and Second Year
Experience
Division of Student Success
Academic Affairs
Institutional Research
Mr. Srinivas Reddy Gavini
Director, Institutional Research
and Assessment
Office of Strategic Planning,
Policy and Institutional
Effectiveness
Dr. Berdikul Qushim
Senior Planning and Evaluation
Analyst
Office of Strategic Planning,
Policy and Institutional
Effectiveness
43 JAGS – Journey to Achieve Greater Success |
10. Organizational Structure
QEP Advisory Team
During the Implementation Phase of the JAGS QEP the Development Team will continue
to serve in the capacity of a steering committee. This group will be joined by additional
faculty, staff and student representatives to form the JAGS QEP Advisory Team. The JAGS
QEP Advisory Team will be charged with overseeing the overall implementation of the QEP
including the facilitation of reporting and dissemination of findings.
44 | JAGS – Journey to Achieve Greater Success
11. Budget and Resources
Southern University is committed to the success of the JAGS QEP. To this end, a budget will
be allocated in the following categories – personnel, professional development, marketing,
materials and supplies and professional services.
Tenure-track faculty positions. Nine new faculty lines have been approved for new hires
in English, biology and mathematics. Three new faculty will be recruited in each of the disci-
plines. Total of the annual salaries is $534,000.00. The total of the fringe benefits (faculty rate
of 26.57%) is $141,883.80.
Director. The QEP Director’s annual salary is estimated to be $70,000. The total of the fringe
benefits (faculty rate of 26.57%) is $18,599.
Data Manager. An annual stipend of $2,500 is allocated for the QEP data manager. The total
of the fringe benefits (staff rate of 26.57%) is $664.25.
Faculty Facilitator Stipends. English, biology and mathematics faculty will receive a sti-
pend for participating in curriculum redesign activities and to serve as facilitators. A total of
$15,000 will be allocated each academic year to compensate faculty for curriculum redesign
activities ($1500 * 10 faculty per academic year). The total of the fringe benefits (faculty rate of
26.57%) is $3,985.50.
Peer Coaches. Each undergraduate tutor will work at most 10 hours per week during the Fall
and Spring and Summer terms. Peer tutors will be assigned to JAGS QEP courses. The 10
hours of peer coaching activities will be broken down as follows – three hours attending class,
one-hour meeting with the Center for Student Success staff and preparation time based on
the weekly course schedules, 6 hours of peer coaching face-to-face or virtually (via Zoom or
Skype). The Peer Coach will be compensated $15 per hour. A total of $112,500 will be allocat-
ed each academic year to compensate peer coaches ($15 per hour*10 hours per week*15
weeks*50 peer coaches per year).
Writing Center Staff. A total of $20,000 per year will be allocated for a graduate student as-
sistant ($25 per hour * 20 hours per week * 15 weeks per semester and $5000 per summer).
Marketing. Promotional Items. A total of $33,000 will be allocated for the purchase of QEP
promotional items for the duration of the activities.
Materials and Supplies. A total of $35,000 will be allocated for the purchase of QEP materi-
als and supplies for the duration of the activities.
Professional Development. Workshops & Conference Participation. A total of $80,000
will be allocated for the (2) hosting workshops in support of QEP activities and for conference
participation, presentations and related intellectual contributions.
11. Budget and Resources
45 JAGS – Journey to Achieve Greater Success |
11. Budget and Resources
Professional Services. We have joined the G2C (Gateway to Completion) cohort led by the
Gardner Institute. DXtera will help manage data. The five year cost: $250,000.
11. Budget and Resources
45
Professional Services. We have joined the G2C (Gateway to Completion) cohort led
by the Gardner Institute. DXtera will help manage data. The five year cost: $250,000.
Annual Budget (2019-2025):
Implementation Phase
Description
Preparatio
n Period
2019 - 2020
Year 1
2020 2021
Year 2
2021 2022
Year 3
2022 2023
Year 4
2023 2024
Year 5
2024 2025
Tenure track
faculty positions
$ 534,000.00 $ 534,000.00 $ 534,000.00 $ 534,000.00 $ 534,000.00
Director $ 70,000.00 $ 70,000.00 $ 70,000.00 $ 70,000.00 $ 70,000.00
Data Manager $ 2,500.00 $ 2,500.00 $ 2,500.00 $ 2,500.00 $ 2,500.00
Faculty Stipends.
Curriculum
Redesign
$30,000.00 $ 15,000.00 $ 15,000.00 $ 15,000.00 $ 15,000.00 $ 15,000.00
Fridge Benefits
(faculty & staff.
26.57%)
$7,971.00 $ 166,251.25 $ 166,251.25 $ 166,251.25 $ 166,251.25 $ 166,251.25
Peer Coaches
($15 per hour)
$ 112,500.00 $ 112,500.00 $ 112,500.00 $ 112,500.00 $ 112,500.00
Writing Center
Staff
$ 20,000.00 $ 20,000.00 $ 20,000.00 $ 20,000.00 $ 20,000.00
Marketing.
Promotional
Items
$ 5,000.00 $ 10,000.00 $ 5,000.00 $ 5,000.00 $ 5,000.00 $3,000.00
Materials and
Supplies
$3,000.00 $ 12,000.00 $ 5,000.00 $ 5,000.00 $ 5,000.00 $ 5,000.00
Professional
Development.
Workshops &
Conferences
$10,000 $ 15,000.00 $ 15,000.00 $ 15,000.00 $ 1 5,000.00 $ 10,000.00
G2C Cohort,
Gardner Institute
& DXtera Data
Management
$60,000.00 $ 80,000.00 $ 80,000.00 $ 10,000.00 $ 10,000.00 $ 10,000.00
Annual Totals $ 115,971.00 $ 1,037,251.25 $ 1,025,251.25 $ 955,251.25 $ 955,251.25 $ 948,251.25
46 | JAGS – Journey to Achieve Greater Success
12. Appendices
Appendix A: JAGS QEP Glossary
Appendix B: JAGS QEP Link to Southern University and A&M College Strategic Plan 2018-
2023: Imagine 20K, 2018
Appendix C: General Education Program of Excellence (GEPE) Learning Outcomes (LOs)
Appendix D: Dr. Roberta Mathews – Itinerary and Profile
Appendix E: Division of Student Success – Office of First and Second Year Experience
Appendix F: Division of Student Success – Center for Student Success
Appendix G: Division of Student Success – Center for Student Success, Workshop
Evaluation Form
Appendix H: Writing Center Feedback Form
Appendix I: Faculty Focus Group Survey – Biology Survey Summary of Results
Appendix J: Faculty Focus Group Survey – English Survey Summary of Results
Appendix K: Faculty Focus Group Survey – Math Survey Summary of Results
Appendix L: JAGS QEP Director – Position Vacancy Announcement
Appendix M: JAGS QEP Data Manager – Position Vacancy Announcement
12. Appendices
47 JAGS – Journey to Achieve Greater Success |
12. Appendices
Appendix A: JAGS QEP Glossary
Gateway courses are “any courses that are:
Foundational: These courses may be non-credit-bearing developmental education courses—
which often serve as initial paths to the gateway courses—and/or college credit-bearing,
generally lower-division courses.
High-risk: Such courses are identified by the rates at which D, F, W (for any form of withdrawal
on the transcript) and I (for incomplete) grades are earned across sections of the course(s).”
(Koch & Rodier, 2014; Koch A. K., 2017)
JAGS QEP gateway courses
JAGS QEP gateway courses catalog descriptions
BIOL 104. GENERAL BIOLOGY (Credit, 3 hours). Basic biological concepts as they
relate to man and his surroundings. Major emphasis on the nature of science, evolution,
the cell, heredity, reproduction, growth, and development.
ENGL 110/111. FRESHMAN COMPOSITION (Credit, 3 hours each). Emphasis on
writing as a learning, thinking process. Discussion of and practice in strategies used in
prewriting, writing, and revising expressive, informative, analytical and argumentative
essays. Special sections designated for honors students.
MATH 135. PRE-CALCULUS I: COLLEGE ALGEBRA (Credit, 3 hours). Topics include
a review of the real numbers and their properties; operations with complex numbers;
equations and inequalities; polynomial, rational, exponential, and logarithmic functions
and their graphs; and systems of equations and inequalities. Modelling is introduced
and applications are emphasized. Designed for students in the business, scientific, or
engineering programs. Graphing calculators recommended. Prerequisite: Placement
examination.
Freshman Seminar courses
Freshman Seminar courses catalog descriptions
12. Appendices
47
Appendix A: JAGS QEP Glossary
Gateway courses are “any courses that are:
Foundational: These courses may be non-credit-bearing developmental education
courses—which often serve as initial paths to the gateway courses—and/or college
credit-bearing, generally lower-division courses.
High-risk: Such courses are identified by the rates at which D, F, W (for any form of
withdrawal on the transcript) and I (for incomplete) grades are earned across
sections of the course(s).” (Koch & Rodier, 2014; Koch A. K., 2017)
JAGS QEP gateway courses
Pre-Consolidation
Catalog Title
Post-Consolidation
BIOL
104
General Biology
SBIO
101B
ENGL
110
Freshman Composition
SENL
101B
ENGL
111
Freshman Composition
SENL
102B
MATH
135
Pre-Calculus Mathematics I
College Algebra
SMAT
121B
JAGS QEP gateway courses catalog descriptions
BIOL 104. GENERAL BIOLOGY (Credit, 3 hours). Basic biological concepts as they
relate to man and his surroundings. Major emphasis on the nature of science, evolution,
the cell, heredity, reproduction, growth, and development.
ENGL 110/111. FRESHMAN COMPOSITION (Credit, 3 hours each). Emphasis on
writing as a learning, thinking process. Discussion of and practice in strategies used in
prewriting, writing, and revising expressive, informative, analytical and argumentative
essays. Special sections designated for honors students.
MATH 135. PRE-CALCULUS I: COLLEGE ALGEBRA (Credit, 3 hours). Topics include a
review of the real numbers and their properties; operations with complex numbers;
equations and inequalities; polynomial, rational, exponential, and logarithmic functions
and their graphs; and systems of equations and inequalities. Modelling is introduced and
applications are emphasized. Designed for students in the business, scientific, or
engineering programs. Graphing calculators recommended. Prerequisite: Placement
examination.
Freshman Seminar courses
Pre-Consolidation
Catalog Title
Post-Consolidation
FRMN
110
Freshman Seminar
FRMN
111
Freshman Seminar
Freshman Seminar courses catalog descriptions
12. Appendices
47
Appendix A: JAGS QEP Glossary
Gateway courses are “any courses that are:
Foundational: These courses may be non-credit-bearing developmental education
courses—which often serve as initial paths to the gateway courses—and/or college
credit-bearing, generally lower-division courses.
High-risk: Such courses are identified by the rates at which D, F, W (for any form of
withdrawal on the transcript) and I (for incomplete) grades are earned across
sections of the course(s).” (Koch & Rodier, 2014; Koch A. K., 2017)
JAGS QEP gateway courses
Pre-Consolidation
Catalog Title
Post-Consolidation
BIOL
104
General Biology
SBIO
101B
ENGL
110
Freshman Composition
SENL
101B
ENGL
111
Freshman Composition
SENL
102B
MATH
135
Pre-Calculus Mathematics I
College Algebra
SMAT
121B
JAGS QEP gateway courses catalog descriptions
BIOL 104. GENERAL BIOLOGY (Credit, 3 hours). Basic biological concepts as they
relate to man and his surroundings. Major emphasis on the nature of science, evolution,
the cell, heredity, reproduction, growth, and development.
ENGL 110/111. FRESHMAN COMPOSITION (Credit, 3 hours each). Emphasis on
writing as a learning, thinking process. Discussion of and practice in strategies used in
prewriting, writing, and revising expressive, informative, analytical and argumentative
essays. Special sections designated for honors students.
MATH 135. PRE-CALCULUS I: COLLEGE ALGEBRA (Credit, 3 hours). Topics include a
review of the real numbers and their properties; operations with complex numbers;
equations and inequalities; polynomial, rational, exponential, and logarithmic functions
and their graphs; and systems of equations and inequalities. Modelling is introduced and
applications are emphasized. Designed for students in the business, scientific, or
engineering programs. Graphing calculators recommended. Prerequisite: Placement
examination.
Freshman Seminar courses
Pre-Consolidation
Catalog Title
Post-Consolidation
FRMN
110
Freshman Seminar
FRMN
111
Freshman Seminar
Freshman Seminar courses catalog descriptions
48 | JAGS – Journey to Achieve Greater Success
FRMN 110. FRESHMAN SEMINAR (Credit, 1 hour). Course provides opportunity for
students to further develop cognitive skills and to adjust person- ally and socially to
the college environment. The development of group counseling activities facilitates
intrapersonal and interpersonal communication skills. Required of all freshmen unless
other- wise instructed by University College.
FRMN 111. FRESHMAN SEMINAR (Credit, 1 hour). The second phase of freshman
seminar designed to provide information necessary for career planning and to offer
a general overview of the world of work. Course offers the student the opportunity
to examine and evaluate self, interests, careers, abilities, and goals. Required of all
freshmen unless otherwise instructed by University College.
Developmental courses are designed to prepare students for successful completion of
gateway courses. These courses are not for college credit.
Developmental courses catalog description
ENGL 090. DEVELOPMENTAL ENGLISH (Credit, 3 hours). Focus on writing skills
considered essential for success in college-level courses. Review of standard English:
grammar, sentence structure, punctuation, capitalization, and spelling. Includes
practical application of these conventions through sentences and, ultimately, the
paragraph. Requires mandatory laboratory participation. (For students with a standard
score of 17 and below on the English area of the ACT and 440 and below on the English
area of the SAT.)
MATH 092. DEVELOPMENTAL MATHEMATICS (Credit, 3 hours). This course is
designed to prepare students for pre-calculus MATH 135. Topics include operations
on real numbers, variable expressions, linear equations and inequalities, polynomial,
and rational expressions, absolute value, functions, and graphs of functions. Students
placed according to ACT/SAT scores.
Co-requisite courses are courses in which students must enroll at the same time.
Academic Coaches are staff members in the Center for Student Success who serve as guides
to assist students in navigating academic choices, help student plan and provide support to
promote academic success.
12. Appendices
49 JAGS – Journey to Achieve Greater Success |
12. Appendices
Appendix B: JAGS QEP Link to Southern University and A&M College
Strategic Plan 2018-2023: Imagine 20K, 2018
The QEP is linked to and will benefit from the fulfillment of the following major components of
the SUBR Strategic Plan:
• Strategy 1.5.2 - General Education
• Strategy 1.5.14 - First Year Orientation
• Strategy 2.1.3 - Develop an Early-Alert System
• Strategy 2.1.4 - Culture of Teaching & Learning
• Strategy 2.1.8 - Culture of Student Success
• Strategy 2.1.9 - Workforce Alignment
• Strategy 2.1.10 - Faculty & Staff Development
• Strategy 2.1.12 - Gateway Course(s) Redesign
• Strategy 2.1.16 - Supplemental Instruction
• Strategy 2.1.18 - Academic Support Programs
• Strategy 2.1.20 - Counseling and Mentoring
• Strategy 2.1.26 - Student and Faculty Engagement
50 | JAGS – Journey to Achieve Greater Success
12. Appendices
Appendix C: General Education Program of Excellence (GEPE) Learning
Outcomes (LOs)
(Southern University and A&M College 2017-2020 Undergraduate Catalog, 2017)
12. Appendices
46
Appendix B: General Education Program of Excellence (GEPE) Learning
Outcomes (LOs)
(Southern University and A&M College 2017-2020 Undergraduate Catalog, 2017)
LO 1: Critical Thinking
Graduates will reason abstractly and think critically
and integrate new information with previously
acquired information to solve novel complex
problems and learn independently.
LO 2: Communication Skills
Graduates will communicate effectively using skills
that apply to English in general as well as to specific
English language modalities at the college level of
competence.
LO 3: Cultural Literacy
Graduates will demonstrate knowledge of various
cultures by studying the past and present through
language, literature, cultural artifacts, and social and
political systems.
LO 4: Mathematical and
Science Reasoning
Graduates will apply quantitative and qualitative
approaches to mathematical and/or scientific
concepts.
LO 5: Wellness
Graduates will identify and demonstrate
comprehension of human wellness and the
importance of physical activities in developing a
healthy mind and body.
LO 6: Ethical Behavior and
Values
Graduates will identify and demonstrate appreciation
of ethical issues implicit in their personal behavior
and those underlying the operation of social and
political systems as well as in the field of research.
LO 7: Information
Technology Literacy
Graduates will demonstrate information technology
skills that enable them to use computers, software
applications, databases, and other technologies to a
wide variety of academic, work-related, and personal
goals.
51 JAGS – Journey to Achieve Greater Success |
12. Appendices
Appendix D: Dr. Roberta Mathews – Itinerary and Profile
12. Appendices
51
Appendix D: Dr. Roberta Mathews – Itinerary and Profile
52 | JAGS – Journey to Achieve Greater Success
12. Appendices
12. Appendices
52
53 JAGS – Journey to Achieve Greater Success |
12. Appendices
Appendix E: Division of Student Success – Office of First and Second Year
Experience
Unit Mission: The Office of First and Second Year Experience strives to create a conducive
environment that assist scholars to engage in the campus community, strengthen
relationships, and empower the inner Jaguar.
Unit Vision: The Office of First and Second Year Experience will engage, strengthen,
and empower students to become independent, intentional, and active learners.
Strategic Goal: Objectives that are fundamental to an effective first-year at Southern
University and A&M College are to improve scholastic abilities, create profession plans,
participate in a network of students, and help with each full time first year, second year
and first time student from another school towards a fruitful progress from secondary
school to school to advance scholarly and social achievement.
A. Assist students toward a successful transition from high school to college level
academics.
B. Provide students with information about SUBR resources and opportunities
available on campus while establishing interpersonal relationships.
C. Encourage students to engage in civic engagement.
12. Appendices
47
Appendix C: Division of Student Success – Office of First and Second Year
Experience
Unit Mission: The Office of First and Second Year Experience strives to create a
conducive environment that assist scholars to engage in the campus community,
strengthen relationships, and empower the inner Jaguar.
Unit Vision: The Office of First and Second Year Experience will engage,
strengthen, and empower students to become independent, intentional, and active
learners.
Strategic Goal: Objectives that are fundamental to an effective first-year at
Southern University and A&M College are to improve scholastic abilities, create
profession plans, participate in a network of students, and help with each full time
first year, second year and first time student from another school towards a fruitful
progress from secondary school to school to advance scholarly and social
achievement.
A. Assist students towards a successful transition from high school to
college level academics.
B. Provide students with information about SUBR resources and
opportunities available on campus while establishing interpersonal
relationships.
C. Encourage students to engage in civic engagement.
OBJECTIVES AND PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
Major Objectives in Measurable Terms:
Anticipated Results to Measure
Success:
OBJECTIVE
PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
1. To attain a 1% higher passage rate in
Developmental Math and English by
offering intentional services and
collaborating with other academic support
areas on campus by the end of each
academic year.
1.1 Meet to avail self for academic
advisement for a minimum of three (3)
times per semester;
1.2 Decrease the class size in
introductory Math and English courses.
1.3 Attend Writing and Tutoring
Learning Centers at least 10 times per
semester.
1.4 Meet with assigned Peer Mentor at
least once a week. ( Weekly Logs)
2. To attain a 1% increase in fall-to-fall
retention rate of Emerging Jag students by
2.1 Meet with a Support Service team
member at least 3 times per semester.
54 | JAGS – Journey to Achieve Greater Success
12. Appendices
12. Appendices
54
collaborating with support areas under the
Division of Student Success to provide
exposure and opportunities by the end of
each academic year.
2.2 Participate in the Franklin Covey’s 7
Habits® of Highly Effective College
Students Experience.
2.3 Include instructor buy-in to foster a
sense of belongingness.
2.4 50% of student responses to survey
questions will be within the positive
range.
Objectives align with the following LAA
and SUBR Strategic Initiative:
LAA #6: Tutoring, counseling, and student
service programs designed to improve
academic success.
SUBR Strategic Plan: Objective II.1
Strategy II.1.1: Implement Degree Me
Now: 15 TO Finish in 4 Campaign
Strategy II.1.2: Implement Franklin
Covey’s 7 Habits® of Highly Effective
College Students
Emerging Jaguars Access Program
Our goal at Southern University and A&M College is to guarantee a successful
transition, persistence, and graduation. The Emerging Jaguars Access Program is
designed to provide opportunities for academic success to students who meet the
revised admission requirements of the University. Emerging Jaguars will accomplish
this goal through on going mentoring, academic support services and resources for
students during their entire first year at Southern University. The following requirements
to participate in this access program have been designed to help students make the
most of their first year at Southern University. As a participant, students must maintain a
2.0 grade point average or better per semester while enrolled in 15 credit hours of
course work. In addition, students are encouraged to complete the Free Application for
Federal Student Aid (FASFA) for the spring and fall semesters.
The Emerging Jaguars Access Program is an initiative that focuses on strengthening
the knowledge, skills, and professional dispositions of incoming freshman with specific
emphasis on mathematics and English. The goal of the Emerging Jaguars Access
Program is to provide students with the necessary foundation and fundamental
knowledge and skill base in order to be anchored and prepared to move to the next
level of learning and development.
Fulfillment of the student contract is a requirement of participants in the Emerging
Jaguars Access Program. The student contract is intended to help participants
effectively utilize the available services, while helping them to develop their academic
and professional skills. After the completion of the contract, students are highly
encouraged to register for New Student Orientation, which is housed in the Division of
Student Affairs and Enrollment Management. The Emerging Jaguars Access Program
Emerging Jaguars Access Program
Our goal at Southern University and A&M College is to guarantee a successful transition,
persistence, and graduation. The Emerging Jaguars Access Program is designed to provide
opportunities for academic success to students who meet the revised admission requirements
of the University. Emerging Jaguars will accomplish this goal through on going mentoring,
academic support services and resources for students during their entire first year at
Southern University. The following requirements to participate in this access program have
been designed to help students make the most of their first year at Southern University. As
a participant, students must maintain a 2.0 grade point average or better per semester while
enrolled in 15 credit hours of course work. In addition, students are encouraged to complete
the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FASFA) for the spring and fall semesters.
The Emerging Jaguars Access Program is an initiative that focuses on strengthening the
knowledge, skills, and professional dispositions of incoming freshman with specific emphasis
on mathematics and English. The goal of the Emerging Jaguars Access Program is to provide
students with the necessary foundation and fundamental knowledge and skill base in order to
be anchored and prepared to move to the next level of learning and development.
Fulfillment of the student contract is a requirement of participants in the Emerging Jaguars
Access Program. The student contract is intended to help participants effectively utilize the
available services, while helping them to develop their academic and professional skills. After
the completion of the contract, students are highly encouraged to register for New Student
Orientation, which is housed in the Division of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management.
The Emerging Jaguars Access Program fosters the development of an essential knowledge
base and skills, such as critical thinking quantitative and analytical reasoning, speaking, and
writing.
55 JAGS – Journey to Achieve Greater Success |
12. Appendices
It is expected that the Emerging Jaguars Access Program will increase student enrollment,
retention, and successful progression toward degree completion and hopefully lead to gainful
employment.
Peer Mentoring Champion Program
According to Knapp, Kelly-Reid, and Ginder (2012), 28 percent of full-time college students
at 4- or 2-year institutions do not return the following year. This can be from personal
experiences that first-years have little to no involvement academically or socially (Knapp, Kelly-
Reid, & Ginder, 2012). To address this issue, mentoring programs have been incorporated to
ensure students are well connected to campus resources and further engagement to campus
life. Peer mentors, according to Holt and Berwise (2012) are essential to mentees academic
and social integration, inclusive of building a sense of belonging, which aligns with Tinto’s
academic and social integration theory (Holt & Berwise, 2012).
The Office of First and Second Year Experience has steered the Peer Mentoring Champion
Program (PMC). This program enables new students to associate with sophomores, juniors,
seniors, graduate experts and alumni who share or have had a similar degree focus. The
PMC program also enables new students to become socially engaged at the university and
to become better acquainted with the campus community. Plaskett, Bali, Nakkula, and Harris
(2018) noticed that linking first year students with an experienced peers could encourage
first-year progress and help first year students to establish steadiness, trustworthiness, and
coarseness which are motivating factors when the school venture becomes challenging
(Plaskett, Bali, Nakkula, & Harris, 2018).
56 | JAGS – Journey to Achieve Greater Success
Appendix F: Division of Student Success – Center for Student Success
The Center for Student Success (CSS) supports the mission of Southern University and
A&M College and its commitment to the graduation of students. The CSS seeks to expand
support services in line with the Strategic Plan. To this end the CSS will focus on expansion
in two specific areas that promote student success – academic coaching and tutoring. The
CSS seeks to create an environment where every student feels supported by the University.
Creating this environment requires a commitment to communication with students and to the
accessibility of services designed to increase course completion, retention, and graduation
(Adams, 2001; Beasley, 1997).
Unit Mission
The Center for Student Success promotes self-efficacy and growth while providing
concrete strategies and support resources to foster critical thinking and facilitation of
academic success.
Unit Vision
To provide comprehensive learning support to ensure students are equipped with the
necessary tools for academic success.
Strategic Goal
Objectives that are fundamental to an effective Center for Student Success at Southern
University and A&M College are to put students first, clarify academic pathways, use best
practices to advance student retention and help students to prepare for academic and
career success.
Put Students First: identify and remediate administrative policies and procedures
that impeded student success by improving support services, programs and
access to courses they need to progress towards graduation.
Clarify Pathways: help students navigate their course work and move effectively
and efficiently toward graduation.
Use Best Practices: implement a supplemental instruction program at Southern
University and A&M College in traditionally difficult biology, English, and
mathematics gateway courses. Utilize the Navigate system to effectively monitor
Early Alerts for students.
Help Students Prepare for Academic and Career Success: Increase advising
capacity, revitalize advising systems and improve the visibility of student support
services.
12. Appendices
57 JAGS – Journey to Achieve Greater Success |
12. Appendices
12. Appendices
51
OBJECTIVES AND PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
Major Objectives in Measurable Terms:
Anticipated Results to Measure
Success:
OBJECTIVE
PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
1. Increase the pass rate of students
attending by 3% per year (when they
attend at least 3 tutoring sessions per
semester) over students not attending
tutoring. (Baseline 30% FY 2018)
1.1 Number of tutoring sessions
1.2 Midterm and final grades for courses
that have tutoring sessions
1.3 Professor Surveys (Navigate)
2. Increase the accuracy in degree
planning of First-Time Full Time Students
by requiring at least 4 academic coaching
meetings per semester.
2.1 Number of student visits.
2.2 Degree Maps
2.3 Student Satisfaction Surveys
3. Implement a supplemental instruction
program to support increased student
success in high failure rate courses
particularly initial gateway courses (i.e.
English, mathematics, biology, chemistry,
and psychology)
3.1 Number of supplemental instruction
courses
3.2 Number of supplemental instruction
leaders hired
3.3 Midterm and final grades for
supplemental instruction courses
3.4 Professor Surveys (Navigate)
4. Improve student support by
implementing an Intervention Team to
triage early alert referrals
through Navigate
and ensure appropriate services are
rendered.
4.1 Number of Early Alert Referrals
4.2 Report of services offered
4.3 Development of Intervention team
58 | JAGS – Journey to Achieve Greater Success
12. Appendices
Appendix G: Division of Student Success – Center for Student Success,
Workshop Evaluation Form
12. Appendices
58
Appendix G: Division of Student Success – Center for Student Success,
Workshop Evaluation Form
59 JAGS – Journey to Achieve Greater Success |
12. Appendices
12. Appendices
59
Appendix H: Writing Center Feedback Form
Appendix H: Writing Center Feedback Form
60 | JAGS – Journey to Achieve Greater Success
12. Appendices
60
12. Appendices
61 JAGS – Journey to Achieve Greater Success |
12. Appendices
Appendix I: Faculty Focus Group Survey – Biology Survey Summary of Results
12. Appendices
61
Appendix I: Faculty Focus Group Survey – Biology Survey Summary of Results
62 | JAGS – Journey to Achieve Greater Success
Appendix J: Faculty Focus Group Survey – English Survey Summary of Results
12. Appendices
12. Appendices
62
Appendix J: Faculty Focus Group Survey – English Survey Summary of Results
63 JAGS – Journey to Achieve Greater Success |
Appendix K: Faculty Focus Group Survey – Math Survey Summary of Results
12. Appendices
12. Appendices
63
Appendix K: Faculty Focus Group Survey – Math Survey Summary of Results
64 | JAGS – Journey to Achieve Greater Success
Appendix L: JAGS QEP Director – Position Vacancy Announcement
Position Title: JAGS QEP Director
Salary Range: $70,000
Brief Job Description: The duties of this position are (1) coordinate JAGS QEP activities in
collaboration with academic units and the Division for Student Success; (2) facilitate meetings
of JAGS QEP Advisory Team; (3) coordinate professional development and trainings for
faculty with respect to QEP activities; (4) facilitate the preparation of semester and annual
reports of JAGS QEP; (5) other duties as assigned.
Supervision: Reports to the Chief Academic Officer
Minimal Qualifications
Education
Required: Master’s degree in related field
Preferred: Doctorate in related field
Experience
Required: Experience in higher education; experience managing large projects
12. Appendices
65 JAGS – Journey to Achieve Greater Success |
Appendix M: JAGS QEP Data Manager – Position Vacancy Announcement
Position Title: JAGS QEP Data Manager
Salary Range: Release time and/or yearly stipend
Brief Job Description: The duties of this position are to coordinate JAGS QEP data activities
in collaboration with academic units and the Division for Student Success. Duties include the
collection, management, analysis and reporting JAGS QEP data.
Supervision: Reports to the Chief Academic Officer and the Office of Strategic Planning,
Policy and Institutional Effectiveness
Minimal Qualifications
Education
Required: Master’s degree in related field
Preferred: Doctorate in related field
Experience
Required: Experience with data management and presentation in reports
Preferred: Experience in higher education
12. Appendices
66 | JAGS – Journey to Achieve Greater Success
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Credits
Naville J. Oubre, III, Southern University Photographer, Office of Communications
Eric Cantrelle, Graphic Designer, Office of Communications
70 | JAGS – Journey to Achieve Greater Success
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Southern University and A&M College is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to
award baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral degrees. Contact SACSCOC at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, P (404) 679-4500.