Mission Statement

Support 4 Success

The mission of the Support 4 Success (S4S) program within the Student Retention and Success Office at California University of Pennsylvania is to prepare students for success in their future pursuits, including but not limited to furthering their education, career development and personal growth. We will do our absolute best to benefit our students and to give them the resources they deserve in order to become successful individuals. 

Our goal is to support our students in their academic, career, personal and social development upon entering college. In accordance with the University, the curriculum is in place to prepare our students to facilitate success in their futures. Our students will acquire the skills needed to succeed in educational, career and personal growth, in order to be effective students, make beneficial career choices and gain the interpersonal skills needed to understand and respect themselves and others.

S4S:

Support for Success (S4S) is a program for new students identified by the Admissions Office as those who would benefit from initial academic support.  The program consists of weekly workshops, open study time and one-on-one meetings.  The workshops include such topics as setting goals and identifying campus resources, time management, learning skills and study habits, faculty interaction, etc.  There will also be time for walk-in assistance with academic issues, study time, D2L assistance, etc. The graduate assistants for the S4S program are an important resource for new students.  For assistance, contact the graduate assistants in Noss Hall, Room 104/105 or by email at support4success@calu.edu.

Mission Statement

Academic Healthy U

The mission of the Academic Healthy U (AHU) program within the Office of Student Retention and Success at California University of Pennsylvania is to help students learn the necessary skills to undertake academic endeavors. The Academic Healthy U program models their mission after the University’s strong emphasis on creating a caring and scholarly learning environment in which character and career building can take place. This mission is achieved by giving students information, resources, and tools in order to achieve the highest level of success.

The Academic Healthy U program is designed to address student academic needs and identify both short-term and long-term academic and personal goals.  It is important for students to understand their maximum potential in order to achieve their goals.  The goal of Academic Healthy U is to ensure students understand the efforts necessary to be in good academic standing. Through participation in the program, the student will be informed how academic standing also affects financial aid, grants/scholarships and further education and career options. 

AHU:

Academic Healthy U (AHU) is a program designed to assist students on Academic Warning (have a cumulative GPA of less than 2.0 for the first time).  AHU focuses on improving overall GPA and regaining good academic standing.  The program consists of weekly sessions, open study time and one-on-one meetings.  Graduate assistants assist students in setting goals, identifying campus resources, developing time management and learning skills, and improving study habits and study skills.  AHU will help the student create a personal plan for academic success and to keep focused and on track during the semester.  For assistance, contact the graduate assistants in Noss Hall, Room 104/105 or by email at academichealthyu@calu.edu

Mission Statement

Probationary Assistance

The mission of the Probationary Assistance (PASS) program in the Office of Student Retention and Success, at California University of Pennsylvania, is to provide students on academic probation with effective learning strategies, quintessential academic information about university policies and standards, a welcoming and comfortable atmosphere to learn and the necessary skills to accomplish their academic goals. In accordance with the university’s standards, this program strives to help students in their academic excellence and promote career exploration and community involvement.

The primary objective of the PASS program is to help students increase their academic performance to match or exceed the university’s standards, while showcasing the importance of personal responsibility. The PASS program is specifically designed to help students recognize their academic strengths and potential obstacles in their college career and to provide them with the tools to reach their full potential. PASS provides the students with an environment dedicated to individualized goal setting, personalized learning and specific plans for each student. 

PASS:

The Probationary Assistance (PASS) program provides the additional structure and support that may be necessary for all students on academic probation and those students readmitted after dismissal.  PASS offers small group sessions with graduate assistant leaders.  The program is designed to help the student build a foundation for success through relevant information, activities and discussions. The small group sessions allow the leader to tailor the meetings to more closely meet the needs of each group. PASS provides an opportunity for each student to create an academic/personal plan for success based on individual goals.  For assistance, contact the graduate assistants in Noss Hall, Room 104/105 or by email at pass@calu.edu.

Mission Statement

Peer Lead Undergraduate Studies (PLUS)

The mission of the Peer Lead Undergraduate Studies program (PLUS) within the Office of Student Retention and Success at California University of Pennsylvania is to assure each student enrolled in a faculty requested PLUS course, are provided with the tools and skills needed to better further their education at the collegiate level. Furthermore, the PLUS program aims to ease the transition from high school level work to successful college level work, by providing tools, skills, resources, and most importantly, peer support to each student who elects to utilize the program.

Our specific goal is to help students maintain or better their performance in classes by providing peer-led sessions outside the classroom where students are able to ask questions, make use of their peer’s knowledge, and gain a different perspective of the learning process. Within the guidelines of the University, the PLUS program will keep the confidentiality of each student who decides to use the program. This program will not only help students in their academic endeavors but open a window to learning about and pursuing a career appropriate to them. Through participation in PLUS, the student will learn different styles of learning and study strategies that can carry over into any class taken at the University which will not only allow them to excel in class, but in their entire academic career.

PLUS:

The Office of Student Retention and Success offers the Peer-Led Undergraduate Study (PLUS) program.  This program is available for any course with the interest and approval of the faculty member offering the course.

PLUS leaders are students who have successfully completed the course offering PLUS.   PLUS leaders work closely with the faculty member, attend all classes, take notes, and hold study sessions with students.  The sessions meet three times per week to cover course concepts, improve understanding of course material, provide students ways to study effectively, get a better perspective of presented material, work in a group setting utilizing group learning, discussions and comparing of notes, and to prepare for exams.  The sessions are voluntary.  Data indicate that students who participate in PLUS achieve one-half to one letter grade higher than those who do not participate.