More Students Utilize Academic Enhancement
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 20, 2010) − Academic Enhancement, located in The Study, is off to a tremendous start this year. More than 1,400 students participated in the Peer Tutoring Program in the first seven days The Study was open for the fall semester. This is a 64 percent increase over the first seven days of the Fall 2009 semester and a 74 percent increase compared to the first days of the Fall 2008 semester.
The Study, on the third floor of the Complex Commons building, is open 3-10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 6-10 p.m. Sunday for Peer Tutoring. The Peer Tutoring Program offers a free, proactive, preventive, model tutoring program available on a walk-in basis. Peer Tutors are available for more than 50 introductory level courses in math, chemistry, biology, Spanish and many more. Research by Academic Enhancement has shown that students who access the Peer Tutoring Program do better in a given course than those who do not use the service.
More than 85 undergraduate staff and 10 graduate staff are employed in Academic Enhancement, both significantly increased to respond to student need. Jim Breslin, assistant director of Academic Enhancement, says the department is in the process of hiring more Peer Tutors in response to the increasing number of students utilizing the program. An average of one student comes in for Peer Tutoring every two minutes The Study is open.
“Even though it is busy in The Study, keep coming in," said Breslin. "We want students to take advantage of the programs offered, because these programs are here for them."
Academic Enhancement averages about 10 Individual Academic Consultations a day with undergraduate, master’s and Ph.D. students. Individual Academic Consultations are with a learning specialist, generally lasting one hour, and available to all UK students free of charge. Consultations are by appointment and students may return as often as they need. Consultation topics may include study skills, time management, critical reading strategies, exam preparation, academic stress management and more.
“This is a significant increase in consultations compared to last year," Breslin said. "With our increase in graduate staff, made possible by support from the Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education and the Provost, we are providing more than 100 hours of consultation availability each week.”
In addition, more than 300 students have registered so far for the Study Smarter Seminars offered by Academic Enhancement. These are intensive, non-credit seminars offered in several evening sessions throughout the semester. The department also offers prep courses for both verbal and math sections on the GRE and GMAT exams for students interested in attending graduate school. An ACT Prep Course, offered on various Saturdays during the fall, is available for high school students as well. To register for any Academic Enhancement course, visit www.uky.edu/UGS/study.
For more information about Academic Enhancement, go online to www.uky.edu/UGS/study or call Amanda Graff-Karls, Outreach Coordinator, or Jim Breslin, Assistant Director of Academic Enhancement, at (859) 257-1356.