Our History
In 1997, Academic Support was formed under the leadership of Dr. Kathryn Jarvis. Primarily functioning as the home of undergraduate and graduate entrance exams, Academic Support was very different from what it is today.
The tutoring program, Study Partners, was the first section of Academic Support to form in the 1970s. Formerly located in the basement of Haley Center, Study Partners was highly popular among students seeking course assistance on a drop-in basis. However, as the program continued, it expanded into other disciplines that would benefit students.
A destructive fire in the basement of Haley Center left the Study Partners program without an office, initiating the relocation to the 0176 RBD Suite. Because of the generosity of the Provost, RBD Library, and several donors, Academic Support began operating on the ground floor of RBD Library. Study Partners transitioned tutoring services to the Learning Commons on the 2nd floor and Supplemental Instruction (SI) administration was moved to the Haley Building 2238.
Supplemental Instruction began in 1996 and quickly joined the Academic Support office. The ability to participate in active-review sessions with peers and a SI Leader has been invaluable to many Auburn students.
Another uniquely designed program, Study Smart, is available to students out of the Academic Support. Focused on developing successful study habits, Study Smart has benefited countless students since 1997. It also provided the foundation for Academic Coaching. What began as small group coaching to help students with academic issues, has grown to be an individualized, proactive service designed to empower participants to achieve their academic goals.
In collaboration with the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Academic Support launched Plainsmen’s Prep in 2016. Under the direction of the former director, Dana Jablonski. The Plainsmen’s Prep program provides qualified incoming first-year students the chance to review mathematics concepts in preparation for a math placement exam. By completing the program, students have an opportunity to increase their math course placement for the fall semester.
In 2018, the Academic Coaching program was granted the College Reading Learning Association (CRLA) certification level I. The office also organized an accessibility audit of physical and digital spaces in partnership with the Office of Accessibility that same year.
The Academic Coaching program earned College Reading & Learning Association (CRLA) International Peer Educator Training Program Certification (IPTPC) Level I in 2018 and was all three certification levels in 2020. The certification acknowledges a rigorous and comprehensive training model to prepare Academic Coaches for their work with AU students.
New partnerships were formalized by Academic Coaching program in 2018 to include the Tiger Excellence Scholars program (formerly the Provost Leadership Undergraduate Studies scholars program), Office of Involvement, and Student Financial Services.
In spring 2019, the office completed a program audit informed in CAS Standards for Learning Centers as a result of a Student Affairs program review expectation. The audit resulted in multiple ideas on how to improve programs and services for students. That same semester, two staff in Academic Support participated in the International Center for Supplemental Instruction SI Supervisor Training.
In May 2019, the office was awarded second place for the 2019 National College Learning Center Association Website Excellence Award (national award) and the Campus Partner Award in Student Affairs for partnership with the Registrar’s Office (campus award).
In March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic forced Academic Support services to remote delivery platforms, primarily Zoom. Academic Support staff worked to adjust all in-person offerings to remote within two business days, resulting in no delays of service to students the Monday after spring break. While this move to remote services was particularly stressful, the staff immediately sought to identify ways to delivery high-quality experiences via remote platforms to inform future programming.
In December 2020, Academic Support staff moved from the RBD Library to the Haley Center after a refurbishment of office space. This move supported goals to be more visible for students, signal helpful behaviors and practices to students walking by, and allow for all professional and graduate staff to be in the same office (which was not possible in RBD Library space).
In December 2020, the Study Partners (peer tutoring) program earned the College Reading Learning Association (CRLA) certification level I for student employee (tutor) training.
In December 2020, the Study Partners Peer Tutoring Program earned the Level I Certified Tutor designation to honor that the foundational concepts and curriculum for peer tutor training and preparation were built into the program.
