SupportU: An Update on Solutions for Today's Learners

Audience Level: 
All
Institutional Level: 
Higher Ed
Special Session: 
Diversity & Inclusion
Abstract: 

The presentation provides the most current outcomes data for SupportU, a complementary menu of strategies to support today’s learners.  Outcomes indicate higher course pass and completion rates, more points earned in course, lower drop and fail rates, and higher course persistence for users.  

Extended Abstract: 

The presentation provides the most current outcomes data for SupportU, a complementary menu of strategies to support today’s learners.  Nontraditional students balance competing priorities such as family and employment while going to school.  Effective learning supports must be accessible 24/7, targeted, and effective.   From tutoring in writing, library, and key subject areas to embedded learning objects, examples and exemplars, outcomes indicate that those who use these supports demonstrate higher course pass and completion rates, more points earned in course, lower drop and fail rates, and higher course persistence rates than those students who do not engage SupportU.  

The session begins with an overview of today’s learners and continues with a review of SupportU strategies, outcomes, case studies, and participants apply strategies to specific “mock students”.  Key points include today’s learners deserve responsive strategies and they can succeed, despite competing priorities.  Strategies for today’s learners can be effective and those that help today’s learners can help all learners. 

This presentation is relevant other institutions, in that all universities engage today’s learners, effective strategies for today’s learners can benefit all institutions, and strategies that are effective for today’s learners can benefit all learners.

Anticipated learning outcomes are that participants will understand strategies to support today’s learners, analyze strategies to support today’s learners, and apply strategies to specific case studies.    Participants will review strategies to support today’s learners, create case studies, and apply strategies to specific case studies. 

This proposal directly addresses diversity and inclusion with a focus on today’s learners and the strategies that serve them.   The population of learners consists primarily of first-generation, single parent, working, adult students from various ethnic and cultural groups.  

Conference Track: 
Teaching and Learning Practice
Session Type: 
Conversation, Not Presentation
Intended Audience: 
All Attendees