Academic Health

The second QEP goal is to provide students with academic support programs to enhance their student experience and increase their sense of academic health. Academic health refers to student satisfaction, performance, and all-around relationship with their academic environment. Academic health is crucial because healthy students are better learners, and academic achievement has long-term benefits associated with health outcomes and well-being long after graduation. Academic health includes satisfaction in their programs, their performance, relationships with peers and instructors, and progression towards program completion. Some of the best strategies for promoting academic health in college environments involve a combination of study habits, mental health support, and overall well-being practices. 

Effective study habits include consistent study routines to manage time, reduce stress, and improve retention as well as understanding; active learning techniques like summarizing information, teaching others, and applying concepts to real-world scenarios to enhance learning and retention; and spacing out study sessions over time, which is more effective and leads to better long-term retention than cramming. The goal is to build an academic success program that will provide students with tutoring, writing skills, test-taking skills, time-management tips as well as evidenced-based learning strategies, such as those identified above.

 

 

Knack App

LSUHSC-NO will utilize the Knack tutoring platform, which allows students to connect with other students at LSUHSC-NO and obtain peer tutoring based on specific course requests. A student can use the platform to request peer tutoring for a specific course and connect with a student who has already completed the course. The technology platform for Knack includes a mobile app and web platform for connecting tutors and students, built-in scheduling and payment processing, search by courses, and tutor profiles and availability. For students seeking help, Knack provides a reliable learning experience since tutors have recently taken the same course, with the same professor, making it easier to ask questions and receive relevant study strategies. Student tutors benefit professionally and financially, gaining valuable teaching experience while earning money with flexible work hours that accommodate their schedule. LSUHSC-NO also sees a significant advantage as the program supplements existing tutoring resources, improves student retention rates, creates meaningful campus employment opportunities, and provides valuable data analytics to track student engagement.

 

 

Education Specialist

LSUHSC-NO will hire an education specialist to work closely with students, faculty, and staff to design, develop, and deliver educational programs, workshops, and resources to support students’ academic success, including metacognition, study skills, time management, and test-taking strategies. The education specialist will provide individualized support and advising to students, addressing academic, personal, and professional concerns. In addition, they will develop and deliver workshops and training sessions to faculty on topics such as instructional design, adult learning theory, and educational technology.

 

 

Navigate360 Platform

LSUHSC-NO will utilize the Navigate360 platform, which offers a suite of resources to support the entire student experience, from recruitment to career. Students can use it to keep track of deadlines, set up advising meetings, and find campus resources. Faculty and staff can connect with students, monitor students’ progress, and make referrals. Navigate360’s early alert function will allow the education specialist, as well as faculty and staff, to monitor academic and professional issues. The education specialist will collaborate with faculty and staff to identify areas of need and develop targeted interventions to support student learning.