Academic Excellence Program

 

Program Structure

There is an Academic Excellence Program (AEP) Team associated with each of the six Living Learning Programs at Cal Poly. This program was launched in fall of 1999. Each AEP team consists of the hall Coordinator of Student Development (CSD), and the following staff people associated with each specific academic college: career counselor; Student Academic Services college liaison; college reference librarian and the college academic advisors. The Academic Excellence Program creates strong partnerships to provide high quality services to students. The AEP teams also collaborate to provide academically supportive programming in the halls.

 

Academic Excellence Team Components

College Advisors

Cal Poly has an excellent system of academic advising specific to each college, so the role of each academic advisor is to assist each CSD in their understanding of academic policies and procedures of their college. As a result, the CSD is better able to provide academic assistance to residents. This partnership is exemplified following the fall and winter quarters, when CSDs offer academic assistance meetings to students on academic probation. In these meetings CSD's refer residents to College Advisors and assist students in understanding each college's policies and procedures.

 

Student Academic Services (SAS) offers a variety of programs to students, such as an online skill library, study groups, and Supplemental Instruction and Math Workshop courses. Through the Academic Excellence Program to link students to these services. CSDs not only make referrals to the SAS website to help students improve their academic skills, but with the Student Academic Services staff, study groups and Supplemental Instruction and Math Workshop courses are promoted within the residence halls.

 

Career Direction

Cal Poly's Career Services Department, like college advising, caters specific programs for each academic College. Additionally, most Career Services College liaisons are involved with the major change process at Cal Poly (students are required to enter the University with a major declared). Through the Academic Excellence Program, these programs are enhanced. For instance, résumé workshops and summer internship programs are hosted in the respective Living/Learning Program hall. Several Career Services advisors have hosted major changing workshops in collaboration with Academic College Advisors.

 

Connection with Library Services

Reference Librarians have been especially helpful in assisting the Housing and Residential Life staff in connecting students with Library Services, as well as assisting students with reference information relevant to their course of study for research purposes, etc. Reference Librarians assist staff in promoting online reference searches through the Library's web page, as well as on-site tours.

 

The Impact of the Academic Excellence Program

The effects of the Academic Excellence Program have been significant. Monthly meetings between Career Services staff, College Advisors, Student Academic Services staff, Reference Librarians and CSDs have assisted all five constituencies in keeping abreast of new development and ideas in their colleagues' departments. The sharing of departmental learning outcomes has led to innovative solutions that meet student needs.

The Cal Poly residence hall students benefit greatly from the AEP connection in the LLP halls. Coordination and collaboration among the four key players in the AEP ensures consistent information and a sense of confidence that all of these academic support centers and their staffs are viable information sources. For parents and students, the AEP adds an additional dimension to an already strong learning- and community-based housing program—an even better value for money.