At Southern, student success is top priority. With a variety of resources available, it’s easy to see that staff are ready to help students in need. One specific class dedicated to student success is called “University Enrichment.”
Cheri Durst is one of the professors who teaches the course. I had the chance to interview her and ask a couple of questions that explore, “Does University Enrichment really help students?”
Q: What is University Enrichment?
“University Enrichment is a class that teaches students to increase self-awareness and practice self-management by making wise choices. Students also learn about time management, critical thinking, goal setting, emotional intelligence, learning styles and reading strategies.”
Q: How many students per semester are on academic probation?
“This semester there are about 85 students on academic probation. In many instances it's a struggle adjusting to university life, but once they figure it out, they're fine students. Other times there is a significant life event that impacts academic performance for a period. Whatever the case is, we are here to help.”
Q: How many students come off Academic Probation after taking University Enrichment?
“Last semester, one of the students in my University Enrichment class graduated. He is included in the 30 percent that were able to come off academic probation. Several others remain on probation or conditional standing but have made good progress toward raising their GPA.”
Q: Do you believe that all students should take University Enrichment?
“The skills we discuss and practice in these classes are life skills that everyone can benefit from. It's all about setting students up for success, so who wouldn't benefit from that?”
Durst concluded the interview saying, “The best advice I can give is to seek assistance early and often. If we don't know you're struggling, we can't help you. Even if you can't identify what your specific need is, come see us so we can help you develop a plan of action and point you in the right direction. I often tell students to come see me because ‘I know stuff, and I can help you.’”