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Get to Graduation
Images courtesy of TROY University
Troy university: resources for success
With one third of college
students dropping out,
usually with a significant
debt load and no degree,
it is important that
families take steps to
find the best fit.
I
n addition to providing information
on touring campuses, we felt the need
to also share some ways to help ensure
that freshmen and sophomore college students
succeed.
According to the ACT review of College
Retention in Alabama, 72.9 percent of students in four-year colleges will continue on to
their sophomore year. In contrast, at two-year
colleges, only 55.7 percent of students continued after the first year. ACT has identified
several factors that help students succeed in
the college environment.
investing in your students
As we looked at the factors, we talked to
Dr. Hal Fulmer, Troy University’s Associate
Provost/ Dean Undergraduate Studies, to
understand how this university is tackling
this issue. “We consider Troy as having a big
university feel in a smaller, personal university
setting. We appeal to those students that want
the Greek life and college athletics, but need a
more intimate academic setting.”
Troy University opened the Center for
Student Success in 2008 to assist students in
acquiring the knowledge and skills needed
for success while at the school, in their
careers and throughout their lives. The
Center’s offerings reflect many of the factors
cited in the ACT study:
• Tutoring available in mathematics,
chemistry, physics, biology,
English language and composition
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• Seminars in career development and
study skills
• Academic counseling and adaptive
needs resources
• Troy 1101 course for freshmen to help
them transition to college life
• Learning Communities for students
to take classes and study together
• ACT COMPASS placement testing
With over 10,000 tutoring sessions provided by more than 10 tutors, Troy is offering
students the resources they need to attain success. Additionally, the career services program
works with freshmen to define a plan and
timeline that takes them through their senior
www.potentialmagazine.com
year to graduation. Many universities and
colleges offer some or all of these programs,
so remem