Academic Success Center

100 Wagner Hall
1005 Asp Avenue
Norman, OK 73019
Phone: (405) 325-3521
FAX: (405) 325-7383
asc@ou.edu
www.ou.edu/academicsuccess/

Administrative Officers

Lillian D. Miller, M.Ed., Associate Provost
Christal Thomas, Director of Operations
George Bogaski, Ph.D., Director Assessment & Analytics
Jonathan Vann, M.Ed., Director First-Year Learning & Engagement and Center for Student Advancement
Janel Russell-Pendergraft, M.Ed., Director Academic Advising Operation
Josephine Kim, Ph.D. Director Student Learning Center

General Information

Programs & Facilities

First Year Learning & Engagement

Peer Teaching Assistant Program

Center for Student Advancement

First-Year Student Mentoring Program

The First-Year Student Mentoring Program matches entering students and experienced faculty mentors to help create nurturing and personal relationships, thus easing the transition from high school to college.

This program provides students opportunities to build connections with faculty and gain valuable life experience. It is a chance to become acquainted with someone who is personally interested in the student's success, and who can guide a student through the complexities of university life. The minimum expectation of the mentoring program is that the student will meet with the mentor twice during the fall semester. To participate, a student will enroll in UNIV 1210. This is a zero-credit course, which costs nothing. A student who participates throughout the semester will receive a grade of “S” (satisfactory). 

Crimson Compass

Crimson Compass focuses on helping sophomore students feel supported and successful during their second year at the University of Oklahoma. Our program helps students navigate the unique demands of college by connecting them to campus resources to support their major selection, financial needs, and overall academic success. Crimson Compass students will receive a tuition waiver, one on one academic support meetings, and a variety of ways to build community to help them feel connected and equipped to find long-term success at the University of Oklahoma. For more information on the Center for Student Advancement and its programs, call 405.325.2574 or go to Wagner Hall 150.

Assessment Center

The Assessment Center provides assessment and course placement services for new and transfer students to give them the best possible chance of success in attaining their academic goals. All new students at the University of Oklahoma will be assessed in three areas: reading, English, and mathematics. The American College Test (ACT) or the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) will be used as the preliminary screening instruments for English and reading.

The Math Offers Model (a placement generated by OU’s Assessment Center) will be the preliminary screening for mathematics. Students will be placed in the appropriate course based upon their assessment scores and choice of major. Those not placing into the needed class will use a secondary assessment for placement--Accuplacer for English and Reading, and ALEKS for mathematics These assessments are used to provide academic advisors with information on students’ current skill levels. If the test results indicate a need for improvement in any of these areas, an academic advisor can help students select courses designed to develop or enhance skills. 

Math Placement Assessment

The University of Oklahoma requires all first-time OU students or transfer students who need to enroll in a math course to first use the Math Offers Model to see if they can place in the desired class without taking a test.  Those that are not placed in a class via the Math Offers Model will take the ALEKS Mathematics Placement Assessment to determine their proper math course placement. The ALEKS Placement Assessment covers material from basic math through pre-calculus and will provide an accurate indication of a student’s math skills and a recommended course placement. See Math Assessment for more information.

Reading Placement Assessment

All incoming OU students with an ACT reading sub-score of an 18 or less are required to take a Reading Placement Assessment to determine whether they must take a developmental reading course before moving on to higher reading leveled courses. There are no enrollment restrictions for students with an ACT reading sub-score of 19 or higher. If a student is admitted Test Optional, our predictive models will determine if a person needs to take the Accuplacer assessment. See Reading Assessment for more information.

English Placement Assessment

All incoming OU students with an ACT English sub-score of an 18 or less are required to take an English Placement Assessment to determine whether they must take a developmental English course before moving on to ENGL 1113. There are no enrollment restrictions for students with an ACT English sub-score of 19 or higher. If a student is admitted Test Optional, our predictive models will determine if a person needs to take the Accuplacer assessment. See English Placement for more information.

Student Learning Center

The Student Learning Center offers free tutoring and peer learning sessions through the ASC Action program, which includes Action Appointments, Action Centers, and Action Tutoring, as well as, Supplemental Instruction, and Study Nights. This nationally certified program offers walk-in sessions, small group appointments, online tutoring, and/or faculty directed sessions to help students take action towards their own academic success. The SLC also offers one-on-one study skills consultations on topics such as time management, effective note taking, and study strategies. For schedule information and to book Action Appointment Study Skills Consultations, visit our website: Student Learning Center.

Action Appointments

Action Appointments are course-specific tutoring that is available by appointment on iAdvise. Meet virtually or in person with a PLA—individually or in groups of up to six. 

Action Centers

Action Centers are faculty-led sessions for select courses. Each year, over 30 faculty members participate, contributing to more than 12,000 hours of academic support.

Action Tutoring

Action tutoring sessions are led by Peer Learning Assistants for courses including sciences, math, languages, and more. Each year, 65+ PLAs support over 5,000 student visits.   

Supplemental Instruction

Supplemental Instruction sessions are sessions for select courses that are led by peers (SI Leaders) who previously excelled in the course and attend lectures to guide collaborative review and practice.

Undergraduate Students

Admission to a Degree-Recommending College

A student may be admitted to one of the degree-recommending colleges on the Norman campus if they have declared a major and achieved an overall grade point average required for entrance into that college. Admission to the degree-recommending colleges at the OU Health Sciences Center requires a separate application process and is governed by requirements unique to each college or program.  

Academic Success Center Enrollment Policies

All-University Writing Requirement

All University of Oklahoma students must complete a university writing requirement consisting of six hours of English Composition and/or Expository Writing (ENGL 1113 and ENGL 1213 or EXPO 1213). Any student who has not fulfilled the requirement is encouraged to enroll in English and/or Expository Writing.

Pass/No Pass Option

First-year students in the Academic Success Center may not enroll in courses on a P/NP basis. Students in the Academic Success Center who are above freshman standing may enroll in courses on a P/NP basis only if they have a declared major and the approval of that major department.

Forty-Five Hour Rule

Students who have attempted 45 or more semester hours, based on grades of A, B, C, D, F, I, P, NP, S and U, may enroll or continue to enroll in the Academic Success Center only with a 2.00 or higher grade point average in their last OU enrollment period or with a 2.00 or higher OU retention grade point average

Academic Probation

Students on academic probation must be advised by an academic advisor in the Academic Success Center before they may enroll for the next semester.

Student Responsibilities

All colleges and universities have requirements that must be met in order to earn a degree. These include coursework in both general education areas and courses in a specific major, as well as compliance with academic standards and policies. Although academic counselors and departmental advisors are available to help students plan their programs of study, students have an individual, three-fold responsibility in this regard:

1. to know their academic standing relative to published standards;
2. to understand the published degree requirements; and
3. to know and observe academic deadlines, as established in the University’s Academic Calendar.

Opportunities

Awards/Honors/Scholarships

Provost's PACE Awards

Provost's PACE awards represent outstanding accomplishments in four areas of student performance during the fall semester only.

The Provost's PACE acronym is interpreted as:

• Participation in recognized campus clubs and activities
• Academic achievement with a minimum of 3.5 in 14 hours
• Community service either on campus or in the metro area
• Excellence in leadership positions on campus including residence life

First-year students may be nominated by faculty, staff, academic advisors, organization sponsors, student organization presidents, and housing resident advisors, or students may self-nominate. A committee composed of the Academic Success Center administrators and staff reviews all nominations and then selects up to one percent (1%) of the total number of entering freshmen in any given year as Provost's PACE recipients. All applications must be completed by February 1st each year.

McLaughlin Balch Awards

These awards honor Mr. Dennis McLaughlin, a long-time benefactor of the Academic Success Center, and his grandmother, Ann Balch, who greatly valued education. The awards are given to several of our top students in the Academic Success Center. Recipients are selected from PACE Award applicants.

Myrna Carney Award

The Myrna Carney award is a special Academic Success Center Award, established to honor Dr. Myrna Carney for her 24 years of service as Assistant Dean in the Academic Success Center. Recipients are selected from PACE Award applicants.

Sylvia Corwin Education Award

This award seeks to honor the most promising first-year student pursuing a career in Elementary Education. Recipients are selected from PACE Award applicants.

Dan Tankersley "Boot Strap" Award

This award, presented by the Center for Student Advancement, assists and rewards students who have overcome life obstacles and demonstrated academic perseverance to progress toward graduation. Recipients are selected from PACE Award applicants.

Milton V. Brown Scholarship

The Milton V. Brown Scholarship was established in 1986 by the Milton V. Brown Foundation. The scholarship honors a student with a strong work ethic, who is earning their way through college. Mr. Brown writes: "I seek a student who, despite obstacles and difficulties, has managed to overcome them and qualify for a college education." The scholarship continues for a total of six semesters. 

Alpha Lambda Delta National First-Year Honor Society

The national first-year honor society, Alpha Lambda Delta, is sponsored by the Academic Success Center First-Year Learning and Engagement Office. Students must have completed a minimum of 12 letter-graded semester hours during their first fall term with at least a 3.5 fall OU GPA and no grades of I, N, D, F, or U for fall semester. They must also accept the invitation sent by email in early January and pay the required dues online by the posted deadline date.

Courses