The University of Louisiana at Lafayette has a large number of academic support resources for students to utilize when they return to school this semester. Students can find the help they need from places around campus, such as the Edith Garland Dupré Library and other academic sources, including the Academic Success Center and The Learning Center.
The Edith Garland Dupré Library offers students access to information from databases, archives and other sources. The librarians are there to assist students with navigating the enormous amount of information accessible and find exactly what they need.
Dean of University Libraries Brian Doherty, Ph.D., explained that there are faculty and scholars who are authorities on certain subjects and conduct an immense amount of research to write about. Students can consult these documents on a particular topic for research papers.
“There are many processes that one has to learn in order to be able to understand the types of writing and types of thinking and scholarship that’s produced in the educated world and certainly in higher education,” Doherty said.
UL Lafayette is now an R1 university and the databases have become important in research and areas such as the sciences. The library is working to provide more computer programs such as statistical software that students can access and use across many different disciplines. This will prepare students to enter the workforce having this knowledge.
The Academic Success Center focuses mainly on assisting freshman and sophomore students who have less than 60 hours with academic support. When it comes to financial aid, buying books, lifting a hold or dropping a class the advisors are available to help.
Another role of the Academic Success Center is to provide academic counseling for students to assist in scheduling the right classes, changing majors and meeting the requirements for TOPS or Satisfactory Academic Progress.
According to Lana Rodriguez, assistant director of the Academic Success Center, students will ask questions about how to check email or how to use Moodle and they can guide them through the process.
“We are trying to help them identify what would get them on track to be successful,” Rodriguez said.
Students can meet with peer advisors in the Academic Success Center as well. Peer advisors are students who have first-hand experience with the registration process that can offer their support to fellow students in the role of an advisor.
The Academic Success Center provides walk-in services with no need for an appointment to meet with an advisor. There are virtual appointments that students can schedule online as well. The Academic Success Center partners with other support services on campus such as the Learning Center and Career Major Exploration Center to meet students’ needs.
The Learning Center is the first place to find tutoring for difficult classes on campus such as math, chemistry, biology, physics and accounting. The Learning Center offers one-on-one tutoring in these subjects. Students in need of tutoring can schedule an appointment by phone, chat on Microsoft Teams or go to Lee Hall Room 202.
Tutoring will be offered in a study group setting for the first time since the pandemic. Academic strategies coaching is also available to students to teach students correct note-taking, time management and better study skills. Students are encouraged to contact tutoring services and start studying with them before they start falling behind or failing a class.
The academic support system at UL Lafayette works in partnership with each other. The Learning Center may refer a student to the Writing Center or Math Lab for more help.
The Writing Center offers tutoring which can start with brainstorming or planning an outline for papers. Students can work with tutors to discuss revisions of their papers before they submit the final draft. Tutors also offer lessons that are used to teach skills such as grammar.
Director of The Writing Center Nichole Stanford, Ph.D., explains that students can work with tutors to improve the structure of their papers.
“We are going to look at ‘Does your argument make sense?’,”Stanford said.
The Math Lab is available to all students needing help in mathematics or statistics classes. No appointment is needed and students may drop in for tutoring.
The location of the Math Lab has now moved to Lee Hall Room 201 next to The Learning Center. The location of the Writing Center is moving to the library starting this semester.
The Office of Disability Services provides accommodations to students with disabilities. Students are offered assistance such as extended time on tests, volunteer notetakers, sign language interpreting or enlarged print.
Students seeking accommodations can fill out an online application found on ULink. To receive help students will need to provide supporting documentation from a medical professional.
From the library to the Academic Success Centers, students can get the answer to any type of question they have and be directed to the correct department for assistance. Academic support services are paid for in the fees included in tuition and students are encouraged to use what is available to them.