www.usi.edu/university-division
David Henriques, Ed. D., Executive Director for Student Success
Tim Fitzgibbon, Director of Advising, Center for Exploring Majors
Renee Rowland, Director of Advising, College of Liberal Arts
Cara Dunn, Director of Advising, Kinney College of Nursing and Health Professions
Jake Hansen, Interim Director of Advising, Pott College of Science, Engineering and Education
Anna Will, Director of Advising, Romain College of Business
Tina Munoz-Bryant, Director, TRIO: Student Support Services
The mission of University Division is to facilitate USI students’ academic success by helping students build a solid foundation for their college careers. University Division coordinates a variety of academic programs and services, including academic support services for all USI students and academic advising for first-year students in each academic college, as well as students without a declared major or classified as non-degree seeking, guest, or high school agreement.
The division is comprised of the Center for Exploring Majors, four undergraduate academic advising centers (College of Liberal Arts, Kinney College of Nursing and Health Professions, Romain College of Business, and Pott College of Science, Engineering and Education), the Academic Success Center, Career Counseling, and TRIO: Student Support Services. For additional information visit www.usi.edu/university-division.
Academic Advising Centers
Each college-based advising center provides academic advising to first year students, until they transition to a faculty advisor in their respective program of study. Advising helps strengthen connections between students and their major, their college, and the University.
Regular academic advising is particularly important for the long-term academic success of students. Each advising center is available to all students. Visit www.usi.edu/registrar/registration/academic-advising for general advising information, or contact an advising center for location information and hours of operation:
Center for Exploring Majors
The Center for Exploring Majors (CEM) provides academic services that enhance the connection between students and the University. Students who are undecided about a major enroll temporarily in the Center for Exploring Majors instead of enrolling in an academic major. Center for Exploring Majors academic advisors offer guidance to those uncertain about their academic, career, and personal goals. Located in Education Center Room 1142, advisors are available to students Monday through Friday. Call 812-465-1606.
Students are encouraged to declare an academic major as soon as possible. Students must declare a major before the first semester of their junior year. Transferring from the Center for Exploring Majors to an academic department can occur at any time during the exploratory period. However, some departments or programs may have additional requirements students must meet before declaration can be made. Students are also able to transfer into the Center for Exploring Majors if their first major choice is no longer an interest.
Regular academic advising is particularly important for the long-term academic success of students currently exploring multiple career options. Therefore, all Center for Exploring Majors students are required to see an academic advisor prior to registration each semester. Students in the Center for Exploring Majors receive specialized academic advising and are encouraged to participate in one or more career exploration experiences offered on campus. These services include individual career counseling through Center for Exploring Majors advisors, the course GENS 111 - Career Planning , Career Cruising (an online career guidance and planning system), and other resources, i.e. – SuperStrong Interest Inventory (SII), personality types (MBTI) and Indiana Career Explorer (ICE).
Like all baccalaureate degree-seeking students, Center for Exploring Majors students spend much of their first four semesters completing Core 39 courses, the nucleus of a liberal arts education. These courses help students become better problem solvers, better citizens, and more thoughtful human beings. These requirements and the special academic advice that Center for Exploring Majors students receive establish a strong foundation for advanced study and encourage students to use their curiosity and enthusiasm to inquire into many realms of knowledge. University Division seeks to help students become more flexible, to see relationships among disciplines of study, and to develop the basis for lifelong learning and work.
Academic Success Center
The mission of the Academic Success Center is to enhance student success and the educational process at USI by providing academic support services through classes and a variety of learning assistance programs. Peer tutoring and Peer Academic Coaching are both available at no cost to students. Located in Education Center, Room 1111. Hours of operation and tutoring schedules can be found at www.usi.edu/university-division/academic-success-center.
Tutoring
The Academic Success Center strives to provide the best services possible to help students succeed. Tutoring is available in a variety of academic subjects including accounting, biology, chemistry, economics, engineering, finance, geology, history, mathematics, physics, psychology, sociology, study skills, and writing (via the Writers Room). All peer tutors complete a comprehensive training program. The mathematics, subject-based, study skills, and writing tutors are all certified by the National Tutoring Association. Academic coaches can assist students with enhancement of study skills, including time management, note-taking, and test-taking strategies. No appointment is needed for most tutoring, although appointments are available with academic coaches and writing consultants. Students interested in becoming tutors should contact the Academic Success Center for more information or visit www.usi.edu/university-division/academic-success-center.
General Studies (GENS) Classes
University Division offers general studies (GENS) courses designed to prepare and enhance students’ ability to meet the demands of college-level work. GENS 151 - Academic Reading Strategies is a 3-credit hour elective course that helps students prepare for a university reading load. The Academic Success Center also offers one-hour elective credit courses that help students get off to a sound academic start.
Supplemental Instruction (SI)
SI is an academic support program that provides regularly scheduled, out-of-class review sessions to all students in a variety of courses. Facilitated by an SI leader (a student who has previously completed the course), the sessions provide an informal environment to review notes, discuss readings, and prepare for exams. By participating in SI study sessions, students can improve grades while learning effective study strategies that make efficient use of their study time, and, at the same time, make friends who also have strong academic goals.
Writers Room
The Writers Room provides in-person and online support for undergraduate writing assignments across campus. The Writers Room is located in Education Center Room 1102. Visit www.usi.edu/university-division/academic-success-center/tutoring for a tutoring schedule. Online submission is available 24 hours a day, via the OWL (Online Writing Lab). Feedback is typically available the next weekday. Online submissions can be emailed to owl@usi.edu.
TRIO: Student Support Services (SSS)
TRIO: Student Support Services is one of the eight grant funded TRIO programs offered through the U.S. Department of Education. At USI, the SSS Program helps motivate 140 eligible students to successfully complete their bachelor’s degree. The SSS Program provides students free comprehensive services through peer mentoring, academic advising, scholarship search support, student leadership opportunities, graduate school preparation, personal and financial aid counseling, and cultural experiences designed to enhance the collegiate experience on USI’s campus.
To receive assistance, students must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the U.S. and:
- Meet a limited income criterion and/or,
- Be a first-generation college student (neither natural parent residing in the household with the student has a four-year college degree) or,
- Have a documented learning or physical disability
Students must show academic need and be willing to take full advantage of all support services offered by the program. Student Support Services is located in ED 1142. The office is open from 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. If you are interested in participating in the program and meet the eligibility requirements, please call 812-465-1606 or visit www.usi.edu/university-division/trio for more information.
