The UNMC Office of Academic Success is building strong supports for students in the early phases of its New Student Experience initiative, meant to enhance the educational journey of UNMC students from their initial acceptance through graduation.
The office, part of the division of student success, coordinates resources and develops tools to enhance university-wide student learning objectives, retention and student academic performance. Academic success was founded in the 2019-20 academic year. Tymaree Sing, the academic success coordinator, oversees the department.
The New Student Experience (NSE) launched in Summer 2021 in preparation for fall orientation activities and represents the culmination of academic success’ investigations into how best to support UNMC students academically.
As part of the NSE, academic success developed a comprehensive outline of steps for new students to complete before arriving on campus. With the assistance of academic technologies and facilitators across UNMC, new student orientation activities emphasized the development of campus community and student wellness. Academic success also published an online collection of e-Learning modules in partnership with e-Learning to support the development of positive learning habits.
Along with coordinating new student orientation activities and e-Learning modules, the academic success office has launched a new program this semester aimed at developing self-directed student learners: Peer and Academic Wellness (PAW) Mentoring.
PAW Mentoring pairs students with a peer mentor to address common areas of difficulty in students’ lives, such as managing time effectively, developing study habits and prioritizing wellness.
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Carmen Pavlik |
Carmen Pavlik, SPT, has found her experience as a PAW mentor to be fulfilling because it benefits a wide range of students on topics both in and out of the classroom.
“PAW mentoring is a wonderful program for students who are struggling with being a successful student in general,” Pavlik said. “We are here to help meet any needs of students, and when we can't, we can connect them to people who can.”
Any student can create an appointment to meet with a PAW mentor. Appointments are currently offered both in-person and online. UNMC faculty and staff are encouraged to direct students who are experiencing academic troubles, diminished wellness or a decreased sense of belonging to the academic success office for support. Visit the UNMC Office of Academic Success website for more information or email academicsuccess@unmc.edu.