Falcon Success Center
Supporting students in reaching their goals
Advising
Great Start
Learning Enrichment Center
Scholarships
Study Away
About
What makes a student successful at the University of Montevallo? Is it a high GPA? A sense of connection between personal and career goals and academic programs? Or maybe involvement in numerous campus organizations? In the Falcon Success Center (FSC), our goal is to provide student-centered, retention-focused services that empower students to define success and the process of attaining it. The FSC also explores how our student body, as a whole, persists and graduates from UM.
Mission, Vision, Goals
Mission
With a research and data-driven approach, the Falcon Success Center aims to improve the academic and liberal arts experience of our students and increase the University’s retention, progression, and graduation rates by offering a wide range of initiatives that focus on systems of support as well as identifying and addressing barriers to student success.
Vision
The Falcon Success Center aspires to support every University of Montevallo student as they achieve academic and personal success at UM and beyond.
Goals
- Foster an environment of student success that includes faculty, staff, and students–we are all a part of this
- Develop and promote programming, individual outreach, initiatives, and other systems of support for students to overcome barriers to success
- Provide data on student retention, progression, and graduation to the UM community to inform programming, policy, and curriculum decisions
- Support the liberal arts mission of the University of Montevallo by supporting students as they become informed citizens who will make strong additions to the ever-changing workforce
Staff
Heather Ammons – Senior Director hammons@montevallo.edu
Emili Alexander – Assistant Director eblanton@montevallo.edu
Brenda Knight – Director, Scholarships bknight1@montevallo.edu
Randi Tubbs – Director, Learning Enrichment Center tubbsrj@montevallo.edu
Stephanie Rudolph – Administrative Assistant srudolph1@montevallo.edu
Data Collection and Research
How do we know our students are successful? Identify students that may need a bit more support? Beyond working with students, individually and as a group, the Falcon Success Center is also charged with tracking students to uncover what leads to, and inhibits, progression at and graduation from the University of Montevallo.
Presentations & Conversations
To request a presentation for your class/student group, refer a student for a conversation, or to schedule a conversation please email falconsuccesscenter@montevallo.edu. For presentations, please submit a request at least two weeks prior to the presentation date.
Presentations
Academic Integrity – 30-45 minutes
Cut out the cutting and pasting! During this presentation, students will learn the value of academic integrity and what the ramifications are for academic dishonesty.
Active reading and note-taking skills – 30-60 minutes
What does it mean to actively read? And what does good note-taking look like? This presentation will introduce students to what it means to read with purpose and will help them find the note-taking style that works best for them.
BYOQ – 30-60 minutes
General open session for students to ask questions.
Faculty Interactions – 15-45 minutes
What up prof? Wait…is that right? To ensure students know how to interact with faculty, we will discuss how best to contact professors, what office hours are and the best way to utilize them, and more.
FSC/LEC services – 10-15 minutes
A member of the FSC staff will share with your students/group the services offered in the Center – LEC, Study Away, scholarship assistance, and more.
Goal Setting –30-60 minutes
This session will explore different avenues that students can take to help them set and achieve their goals. Avenues include setting S.M.A.R.T. goals, examining time on task, and keeping goals in sight.
How to embrace challenges and learn from failures – 45-60 minutes
What happens when it doesn’t all go to plan? This presentation explores mindset, locus of control, and transformational learning theory as a means to embrace challenges and learn from failures.
Learning Styles – 45-60 minutes
This workshop will provide students with the chance to understand their individual learning style while providing strategies to strengthen all styles of learning.
Managing Conflict – 30-45 minutes
Conflict is inevitable, but how we approach it can make all the difference. This presentation will cover the different types of conflict and conflict resolution styles to assist students in navigating those difficult conversations.
Paying for College – 10-15 minutes
This presentation will assist students in becoming proactive in paying for their education by informing them of UM’s scholarship application process and how to search for outside scholarships.
Preparing for advising – 30-45 minutes
How do I find my advisor? How to I use Degree Evaluation? These questions and more will be answered during this presentation which will assist students in understanding the academic advising process.
Study Away – 10-30 minutes
This brief conversation will expose students to opportunities to earn credit towards a degree while they study elsewhere. We will discuss options for study abroad and National Student Exchange, timelines, financial considerations, and scholarship options.
Study habits/skills and test-taking strategies – 30-60 minutes
Students mistakenly think they should only study before each exam, but this presentation will clarify what studying consists of and the different forms studying can take on, helping them understand how to achieve a deeper level of learning.
Successful first semester – 45-60 minutes
Students will learn the importance of seeking assistance, utilizing campus technology, and becoming involved on campus, as well as the value of self-care—all to help them achieve a successful first semester.
Tailored to class needs – 5-60 minutes
If one of the options listed here does not fit your needs or you would like to combine topics, please let us know. We’d be happy to tailor the presentation to the needs of your students/group!
Time Management – 45-60 minutes
So much to accomplish and so little time? This presentation will help students learn to prioritize, focus their energy on the task at hand, and organize their weekly calendars to ensure they are preparing for the work they have ahead of them each semester.
Understanding UM academic policies – 30-45 minutes
This session will assist students in locating academic policies and provide a clearer definition of each, including academic warning/suspension, transferring credits, understanding GPA, and more.
One-on-One Conversations: 30-60 minutes
Academic Action Plan
Are you on academic or freshman warning? Let the FSC assist you in creating an action plan to avoid suspension and return to good academic standing. Includes monthly check-ins with FSC staff.
Academic Integrity
During this conversation we will discuss the value of academic integrity, what the ramifications are for academic dishonesty, and ways to avoid it in the future.
Academic Needs Assessment
Are you struggling in your classes, but can’t figure out why? In the FSC, we can meet with you to discuss your academic needs. Perhaps you need a solid time management plan or maybe adding tutoring to your weekly schedule will help. We can also discuss your study habits and ways that you can improve upon them, helping you become a more confident student.
Conflict management
Having conversations about conflict can be difficult. This meeting will delve deeper into conflict resolution styles and explore which style may be the most beneficial to use as you look to resolve your conflict.
Finding Your Fit
Not sure how to make the most out of your college experience or just not sure where you fit in the UM community? This conversation will focus on you – your goals, passions, concerns – while helping you identify the opportunities at UM that best fit your needs.
Goal Setting
We will explore different avenues you can take to set and achieve your academic and personal goals.
Paying for College
During this one-on-one, the FSC will assist you in becoming proactive in paying for your education by discussing UM’s scholarship application process, options for outside scholarships, campus job opportunities, and financial planning for future semesters.
Returning from suspension action plan
Returning from suspension? The FSC can assist you in creating an action plan designed to meet your academic and personal goals. This conversation will focus on goal setting and improving GPA, identification of academic success resources, and in-depth information on policies regarding suspension. Includes bi-weekly check-ins with FSC staff.
Time Management
There’s so little time in the day…. Let’s discuss the best ways to manage your time, ensuring you have enough to complete all of your assignments while still meeting your other obligations.
Study Away
Interested in earning college credit while you study elsewhere? Our staff would be happy to assist you in exploring your options for study abroad or national student exchange, creating a timeline, and determining financial considerations.
Study habits and skills
You are told to study course material…to study for upcoming tests…to make sure you study enough hours each week. During this meeting, we will discuss what your current study habits are and ways to strengthen them, helping you develop a solid plan to study for all of your courses.
Programs
Learning Enrichment Center
The Learning Enrichment Center (LEC) assists students in identifying their academic needs and provides them with support that will strengthen their academic skills, helping them become more confident students. The LEC staff also offers guidance for students as they begin to navigate their way through their college experience, leading them to the most helpful resources on campus.
Services provided through the LEC include the following:
- Individual Tutoring
- Drop-In Tutoring
- Small Group Tutoring
- Assessment of Academic Needs
Ms. Randi Tubbs, Director
Carmichael Library, Lower Level
(205) 665-6113
tubbsrj@montevallo.edu