As director of the office of Multicultural Services, I am excited to be a part of bringing new tutorial and mentor program to our students. I’m sure that they will be a positive factor in helping students adjust to life on campus while they achieve academic success.
With all of our residence halls going on line this fall, as well as our students’ high rate of computer literacy, what better way to provide tutorial assistance than by going ‘high tech’.
Andra P Madkins
Director, Multicultural Services
With retention and graduation as clearly stated goals, students are offered a variety of programs, including orientation, blocking scheduling, Duck Camp, PASS/PASSPORT, tutoring and mentoring, These programs help students adjust to campus life, make them comfortable in their surroundings, and help them achieve academically.
After studying these programs, the Task Force indicated that more effort is needed in the areas of tutoring and mentoring. In response to its recommendations, Tarleton is committed to expanding both efforts.
The newly expanded programs will be housed in the Office of Multicultural Services (OMS). They will address the academic development needs of all students with special attention given to African-American and Hispanic-American freshmen and sophomores. Based on current retention statistics, these students, particularly those coming from larger cities and urban areas, have the greatest challenge in adjusting to campus life and, therefore, are more apt to leave before graduation.
The new Tutorial Program will utilize a non-traditional approach. The concept integrates technology with traditional tutoring practices to offer students help via email, internet, and television.
The new Mentoring Program will focus on the intellectual and personal growth of the first-year freshmen student. This program pairs students with a faculty or staff mentor who shares their academic and social interests. Such programs have demonstrated great success by providing a familiar face and a “safety-net” for students.