• Partnership (Admissions, THINK TANK, Financial Aid & Math department)

• Students placed below college algebra based on ALEKS assessment exam

• Based on past students and research• Scoring below college algebra is an indicator for

attrition.

• 28% nationally test below college algebra; 30% of UA incoming freshmen class

• Low math scores ≠ low success in college

• Previously students went to Pima Community College• Last year, UA offered MATH 100AX & SAS 100AX but

it did not include current components of the program• Reviewed previous cohorts and found what impacted

students’ attrition:• Financial• Transition into college

• S4S Goals• Proactive, organized, self regulated, problem solving

students = retention

MATH 100AX• Students choose how they want to progress

through ALEKS• MATH 100AX (Beginning Algebra) in the Fall, MATH

100B (Intermediate Algebra) in the SpringOR

• Both MATH 100AX and MATH 100B in the Fall semester.

The ALEKS Pie

A sample problem from ALEKS

The ALEKS Pie

Elluminate• Virtual Classroom• Students can talk, and listen, to a UTA • Work problems on a “tablet”, and

share with other students and instructors

SAS 100AX• Support class that meets twice a week• Two objectives

1) Help students progress through their present MATH 100AX class

2) Prepare students to be successful in future "lecture” based classes like

College Algebra

Topics Include• Math Anxiety• Note Making• Understanding math textbooks• Effective approaches to homework• Strategies for preparing and taking tests• Reducing and managing test anxiety

SAS 100AX• The key to success is not in high

intelligence, but in an intelligent approach

What we do as Learning Specialists• Meet one-on-one with students five times during semester• Assess study habits • Identify how students allocate their time • Develop academic and personal goals (Student Learning Outcomes)• Academic Skill Building • Learning Strategies (Test Taking, Note Taking, etc.)• Help students learn their study cycle and how to self-monitor • Academic Coaching • Using framework of Student Development and Choice Theory• Help students become self-advocates and better navigators of campus

resources• Track student’s use of THINK TANK resources via TutorTrac software

What we do as Learning Specialists• First Appointment: Build rapport

• Dual partnership• Get to know students through Student Self Awareness

Inventory (SSAI)• Establish goals• Guide students to start utilizing campus resources• My Inspiration Board

• Help students find and connect to their purpose as college students

• Personalized service based on individual needs

What we do as Learning Specialists• Student Self-Awareness Inventory (SSAI)• 50 item iPad questionnaire (provides both quantitative and

qualitative data): Uploaded into Campus Labs. • Informs us about academic and personal habits in high school• Other things that may potentially affect the student in college• Informs us about family, work and other life commitments

and networks of support• Provides background information for establishing Student

Learning Outcomes

What we do as Learning Specialists

• Student Learning Outcomes • Provide challenge and structure• Negotiation • Respectful• Doable• Provides something we can build on

Tapping and Building Characteristics of a Successful Students

• Proactive• Organized• Self-regulated learners• Problem solvers

Contact UsMary Venezia: S4S Project Manager

venezia@email.arizona.edu

Larry Kull: Math Support Serviceslpkull@email.arizona.edu

the THINK TANK thinktank.arizona.edu(520) 626-0530