Questions?

If you have questions about anything relating to ASP, please contact the ASP office at 828-227-2554 or by email at asp@email.wcu.edu.  Also be sure to check the Frequently Asked Questions.

Purpose of the Academic Success Program

Western Carolina University offers the Academic Success Program (ASP) as an opportunity for students to begin their college experience early and to prepare them for success in college and beyond.  This program is designed to provide a complete first year experience to students and to help them develop skills to make their college career more successful.  It helps motivate students to set higher goals in school and in life and helps hold students accountable for demonstrating attitudes and behaviors that coincide with reaching their goals.

Who Is Eligible To Attend

Although ASP is primarily for students who are identified through the Admissions office as needing additional support in their transition into college, the program is available to any incoming freshman who has been admitted to WCU as a means to start college early and receive the support and resources that the program offers throughout their first year.

Summer Program Components:

The 2009 summer session will begin with move-in on Sunday, June 28.  All students and parents are required to attend Orientation on Sunday and Monday (June 28 & 29) and classes will begin on Tuesday, June 30.  During the summer session, students are enrolled in three classes for a total of seven hours of academic credit.  The classes meet each day, Monday through Friday.

The focus the program is on developing the students’ reading and writing skills in order to enhance and support their successful transition to the rigors of college-level requirements and expectations.  Therefore, the students will take the following courses:

ENGL 190: First Year Seminar in Literature; 3 hr. credit (all students)

EDRD 150: College Reading OR a Liberal Studies Course; 3 hr. credit (placement is based on verbal SAT or ACT scores)

A one-hour credit college success seminar (all students)

The three classes are paired together to form a Summer Academic Theme.  This allows the instructors to work together to relate the classes and provide a collaborative learning experience.  These classes are small, approximately 15 – 20 per course section, so that the students receive personal attention from their instructors.  Each Summer Academic Theme includes field trips and a service learning component to involve the students and engage them in becoming responsible and active participants in learning.  Descriptions of the Summer Academic Themes will be available on the ASP website once they are available.

The students are also required to meet with their faculty mentor during the summer program.  The mentor develops a personal connection with each student and begins exploring their academic and life goals.  This connection also provides a foundation from which the mentor can work with each student in order to identify areas of weakness that may need to be addressed as well as any personal issues that may be occurring.  If students are eligible to participate in Student Support Services, then they are assisted in making contact with that program and encouraged to use their services.  Additionally, the faculty, mentors, and resident staff meet together on a weekly basis to discuss individual student issues and concerns.  Individual follow up and intervention are made with students as needed. 

ASP students are held to a high standard of student conduct at all times during their enrollment in the program.  They are expected to engage in behaviors that promote an environment conducive to active teaching and learning.  Students are encouraged to become confident about themselves and enthusiastic about their future.  Seminars to prepare them for their transition to college life are also included in the program. 

During the summer, ASP students live together in a residence hall with their classmates and a team of experienced Resident Assistants who are carefully trained as mentors to work with first-year college students.  The Resident Assistants (RA) aid these students in making a successful academic and social transition to college.

Special events such as socials, rafting trips, hiking, and canoeing will be held during the students’ free time.  They have the opportunity to plan and participate in special activities in which they have an interest.  These activities may include trips around the area, special sporting events, and other regional attractions.  Students are also encouraged to use their leadership and creativity skills to plan additional activities to make their time at WCU enjoyable.

Participating in the Academic Success Program, passing their summer courses, and being in good academic standing (2.0 GPA or higher) allows students to continue at Western Carolina University in the fall with improved skills and confidence.  At the end of the summer, students are recognized in a special closing ceremony and receive awards for their participation and academic achievement.  The summer session ends on Friday, August 7.

First-Year Program Components:

In addition to the summer programs and activities, ASP students are also supported and monitored throughout their first year of enrollment.  Academic advisors are assigned to work with the students throughout their first year and serve as their primary resource and support person.  Additionally, all ASP students will live in Scott  or Walker Halls as part of Western PEAKS, WCU’s freshman learning experience.  This offers ASP students continued support and programs throughout the academic year.  

ASP students are registered in one of our first year college transition courses.  The purpose of the course is to provide ASP students with enhanced support throughout the Fall semester.  It is meant to assist with their continuing transition to college and will help to motivate them in successfully completing their college education as well as developing leadership and other skills.

In the fall semester, ASP students are also assigned to a Peer Mentor.  The mentors are upperclassmen who have become successful students.  Mentors serve as a role model and a supportive peer educator for the ASP students and assist them by providing information and guidance throughout their first year.

Throughout their first year, ASP students’ academic progress is monitored through the use of a progress reporting system.  Each semester, the faculty for each student are notified that the students are participating in the program and are asked for feedback throughout the semester.  The faculty are asked to give information detailing the student’s grades, participation, and attendance in addition to other comments about their progress in each course.  This information is shared with the student’s advisor so that follow up can be made with the students and appropriate interventions can occur.

In the spring, ASP students who have not yet declared a major may choose to enroll in COUN 150: Career and Major Exploration.  This one-hour credit course is intended to assist students in exploring their possible career and related majors.  It helps students learn about themselves and what they want out of a major and/or career, discover opportunities in the world-of-work, and to learn the process of career decision-making for use throughout their lives.

Student Costs and Financial Aid for the Academic Success Program

Costs for the 2009 Academic Success Program are not yet determined.  This information is usually available by the end of January and will be posted on the ASP website. As an estimate, the total summer costs from last year were approximately $2400.00 for in-state students and $2600.00 for out-of-state students.  This year’s costs are expected to be the same or slightly more. Textbooks are provided through WCU’s textbook rental program which is covered by tuition and fees; however, there may be supplemental textbooks or other materials required that are not included.  This additional cost does not usually exceed $100.00.  In addition, ASP offers activities on weekends and evenings that may involve being away from campus. Although the costs of the trips are included in the above price, students may need spending money when attending functions off campus.

Financial Aid Information

Students participating in ASP are eligible to apply for federal financial aid to cover the cost of the program.  Students wishing to apply for federal aid should complete the 2008-2009 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the summer session in addition to completing the 2009-2010 FAFSA for the regular academic year.