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Contact: Melissa Peveto
News Bureau
Northwestern State University
Natchitoches, LA 71497
(318) 357-6466
3/27/98
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NATCHITOCHES - A program designed to increase retention rates for academically at-risk college students, first generation college students, academically underprepared students and those who have been on academic probation has been implemented at Northwestern State University under the acronym PASS, Programs of Academic Success Strategies.
The program is directed by the Coordinator of Academic Advising in the General College, Sandra Mixon, and is well into the first phase of implementation. "The program was developed in response to the fact that we lose a high number of students from their freshman to sophomore years," said Mixon. "We are inventing innovative programs in order to retain this particular group. We do a good job at Northwestern of recruiting first time students but are less successful at keeping them and hopefully this will put a significant dent in dropout rates."
With PASS, the students sign contracts which stipulate that they must complete mandatory study hours, attend tutoring sessions and enroll in academic study skills classes. In addition, many of the participating students are being directed to take career development courses and limit the number of hours they enroll in.
"We are trying to keep students as focused as possible," said Mixon. "Everything is going really well with PASS this spring and we have had good participation."
The second phase of PASS is designed to accept student referrals from faculty members. "We plan to enroll students who have been referred to us by professors," said Mixon. "These may be students who are not necessarily on the verge of dropping out, but those that simply need just a little extra help. Eventually, we hope to open this up campus wide next year."
PASS services are offered free of charge. Tutors are available for help in basic level classes including math, English composition, sociology and psychology.
"The success of PASS will become apparent very soon," said Dr. Sue Weaver, dean of the General College. "We will compare the grade point averages of the students currently participating in PASS to those who did this time last semester." Weaver says this program and others, such as the AcCent program in Rapides Hall and the General College's Academic Intervention Days, demonstrate that Northwestern is making good on its promise to help students who are academically in need.
"I am happy so far with the success of PASS," said Mixon. "The majority of our students have been participating and the faculty have been great to work with. Our hope now is that the program continues to grow and attract students from all over campus."