The life raft to keep students afloat: Early detection, supplemental instruction, tutoring, and self-directed...

To decrease delayed graduation and student dismissal, we developed a systematic process to identify and intervene with students with academic challenge across the first three years of the curriculum.

Four strategies were implemented to support student academic success: early identification of academic challenge, supplemental instruction, tutoring, and remediation. Outcomes were tracked through the number of students requiring remediation, academic performance during remediation, and changes in delayed graduation and academic dismissal.

The number of students requiring remediation has decreased each year since implementation in 2017 to 2020 (54, 36, 30, and 21, respectively). The rate of successful remediation has ranged from 72% to 87%. Strategies to support student success have resulted in decreased delayed graduation and academic dismissal.

Commitment to academic success was a culmination of resources to support students, including the investment in an academic performance specialist and paid supplemental instructors. A focus on student success has led to awareness of additional strategies that may be employed to enhance the student support program. These include creating a culture of no shame for receiving academic support and mandating some activities for students who do not maintain a minimum threshold.

A holistic approach to academically support students that included preventive and interventional strategies was successful in decreasing delayed graduation and academic dismissal.