Today we’re featuring a program specifically for students in academic jeopardy – Students in Transition to Success, or SITTS. Here to tell you about it is advisor Lyllye Parker in the Office of Multicultural Academic Success (OMAS).
Who can participate in SITTS?
This program was originally developed to help students of color who are in academic jeopardy. We invite all students of color who are on academic warning, probation 1 and probation2 to participate. However, it is my dream that the program assist all U of O students, and so I welcome ANY student interested in the SITTS program to call 541-346-3479 and make an appointment with one of our advisors.
How does the program work?
SITTS offers the students holistic advising. It is also a program that provides accountability. The students go through an intake process, and an assessment is made of the student’s needs. Then an advisor sits down with the student to draw up a plan. It is important to empower the student to think critically, and be in charge of his/her own education.
The advisor’s responsibility is to guide, be a sounding board, recommend resources, and be a resource. The student signs a SITTS Contract with the advisor, which terminates when the student is back on solid ground. However, in my experience, most SITTS students continue to work with the advisor as needed.
Ms. Parker in her warm & welcoming office
What makes this program inspiring for you as an advisor?
There have been several success stories regarding SITTS students. I will share a story that pre-dates the program, but was the inspiration to create it.
At the end of spring term freshman year this particular student was academically disqualified. As a member of the Scholastic Review Committee I advocated for the student to get one last chance to prove that a 2.0 term was possible. We signed a Contract agreeing to work together until the cumulative GPA was back to a 2.0.
We met on a weekly basis. Most of our meetings were used to discuss time management, homework, and campus climate. However, the most valuable component of our meetings was the trusting relationship we were able to develop. The student had external issues that affected her ability to focus solely on academics, and as a result of the relationship we built, she shared these issues and I was able to recommend resources that provided the support system necessary to deal with those issues .
It didn’t take long for this student to get on the right track, even though more than 20 hours of “B” was required to get back to a 2.0 cumulative GPA. From the first term after we signed the Contract until the last term before graduation, the student received no less than a grade of A-in all of her classes. When graduation day arrived, the cumulative GPA was above a 3.0, and an acceptance letter to graduate school was in the student’s hands.
Any final thoughts?
Once again let me state that any student interested in the SITTS Program should call 346-3479 and make an appointment with one of our advisors.
