Starting this semester, it is mandatory for students with a grade point average of 2.0 or lower to attend a workshop series that teaches everything from time management to study skills, an academic success coach said in an interview Wednesday, Feb. 7.
Gaining Resources and Opportunities While Learning (G.R.O.W.L.) is a series of free academic support workshops offered throughout the semester in modular 101 B, behind the Central Academic Building at Texas A&M University-San Antonio.
The workshops, which began in fall 2016, are for all students, regardless of their academic standing. They are presented by university staff and faculty, and share advice to help students succeed.
D’Andrea Davila, academic success coach with the Student Academic Success Center, said students with a GPA under 2.0 must meet with a career coach. The student will receive an email from Davila or Michelle Anguiano, academic success coach, and should schedule a coaching appointment, or “restart session.” The student can schedule the appointment through the email that the coaches send.
The student can choose one G.R.O.W.L. topic that interests them and would be the most beneficial. The student needs to attend at least one session, but can attend as many as they would like.
“We are trying to catch those students that are on academic warning, but have not moved over to scholastic probation and coach them in skills so that they can succeed,” Davila said.
Students receive an academic warning when their GPA falls below 2.0; they are placed on scholastic probation if it remains under 2.0 for two consecutive semesters.
If a student misses a topic in the G.R.O.W.L. series, which is done every month except summer session, they can set up an appointment and meet with a coach to learn about the topic.
“We are not going to do a cookie cutter approach for students,” Anguiano said. “If they cannot attend a G.R.O.W.L. session, it is not a program to be punitive; we work with our students, are supportive of our students and their needs.”
Davila and Anguiano are two of five academic success coaches offering academic support that includes coaching, reading comprehension, time management, goal setting, note taking, test taking, motivation, budgeting and study skills. Their main caseload is students who are on academic warning or probation.
“We wanted to provide a way for students to build academic skills, be in a supportive environment and get back on the path to success,” Anguiano said.
Juniors and seniors who fall into academic probation find it is not due to their study skills, but rather family issues, divorce, death in the family, financial struggles or work responsibilities, Anguiano said.
The academic enhancement series is part of the Student Academic Success Center. Anguiano said the concept and G.R.O.W.L. acronym were devised by Kimberley Nañez, director of the center on the third floor of the Sen. Frank Madla building.
Davila said students have responded favorably to G.R.O.W.L, an acronym that reflects A&M San Antonio’s mascot, the jaguar.
“At the end of the session the student participates in a survey about the session, which has given immediate insight into what was good, what needs to be changed and if it was helpful for the student,” Davila said.
Anguiano added: “We started this as a way to help our students so that they have other means to build their strategies for success and to get the kind of support that they need.”
The program has been beneficial for students, she said. Last week G.R.O.W.L. held a note taking session and Anguiano received feedback on this session.
“Part of the feedback in the post survey is what would you change or recommend and I had students say they loved it, don’t change anything, it was really great. Many students were very thankful and had walked away with some new strategies for note taking,” Anguiano said.
The excitement about the series is catching, she said.
“Adding an extra tool in the students’ toolbox of study skills, strategies and goals is what G.R.O.W.L. sessions are about,” Anguiano said.
This month’s remaining G.R.O.W.L. sessions plus March and April sessions in modular 101 B are:
“Studying for the Sciences!” — 3 p.m. Feb. 22
“The Writing Process: Where do I begin?” — 4 p.m. Feb. 23
“Study Skills & Strategies for Success” — 5 p.m. Feb. 27
“Managing Your Time in College” — 4 p.m. March 6
“Sex and Your Health” — 2 p.m. March 9
“Managing Test Anxiety” — 4 p.m. March 19
“Inside Out: Emotional Intelligence” — 2 p.m. March 20
“Tackling Textbook Reading” — 3 p.m. March 22
“Mindful Communication in the Classroom” — 3 p.m. March 28
“Choosing a Degree Path” — 1 p.m. April 3
“You are What you Eat” — 1 p.m. April 4
“It’s Your Money! Budget Wisely!” — 4 p.m. April 11
“Managing Your Time in College” — 10 a.m. April 17
“Finals Prep! Tips and Strategies!” — 2 p.m. April 23
“Finals Prep for Math and Science!” — 3 p.m. April 30
For more information, email the Student Academic Success Center at student.success@tamusa.edu for G.R.O.W.L. topics and times or to speak with a career coach. Students also can visit the center’s webpage.
