The goal of the Department of Athletics’ Academic Service area is to provide a comprehensive support program for all student athletes at Roger Williams University that promotes both academic success and a positive athletic experience. Student-athletes receive support from the Assistant Director of Athletics for Academic Services by linking the athletic and academic communities at Roger Williams University. The Assistant Director for Academic Services works closely with coaches, faculty and academic services on campus to help student athletes balance the demands of their academic responsibilities and athletic endeavors.
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Monitoring the progress of student athletes is a collaborative effort between the student athlete’s Faculty Advisor, coach and Assistant Director of Athletics for Academic Services.
Matriculating first year and transfer students are assigned a faculty advisor. Should a student change majors, they will be reassigned a new faculty advisor. Students looking to change their advisor assignment should speak with their academic dean’s office. Professional advisors are also available for consultation in the Center for Student Academic Success’ Advising and Peer Mentorship Office (2nd floor Library). Exploring students (students who haven’t selected a major) are assigned an advisor in the Advising office. All undergraduate University faculty serve as academic advisors. Although students are responsible for knowing and complying with academic regulations, faculty advisors are available on a regular basis to review academic regulations and requirements, career planning resources, counseling and tutoring services.
In order to track the progress of student-athletes, freshmen will be required to submit academic progress reports to their professors twice in their first semester at Roger Williams, the last week of September and the last week of October. Coaches will assess progress reports to determine who may be in academic danger. If a returning student athlete is not meeting their academic potential, they may be required to submit academic progress reports throughout the year. In the event a problem is discovered, the Assistant Director of Athletics for Academic Services will work closely with the coach and student athlete, finding the necessary support on campus to achieve academic success.        Â
Any student-athlete who is not meeting their academic potential as shown by their progress reports or prior semester’s GPA, will be required to meet with the Assistant Director forAcademic Services. This will include all student athletes who fall below a 2.25 GPA and all first year student athletes as indicated by their progress reports. A support plan will be put in place to include:
- Regular meetings
- Academic progress reports
- Referrals to all University resources
Regular class attendance is essential to academic success and will be reflected in final grades. Make sure class attendance requirements are known when the semester begins. Most attendance policies are specific to each class and are outlined in the class syllabus; therefore, it is important to consult professors ahead of time when a class is going to be missed. If a scheduled competition conflicts with class, or a class will be missed because of competition, it is important not to miss for any other reason, no matter what the professor’s attendance policy may be.
Student-athletes must review competition and travel schedules with coaches in light of academic schedules at the beginning of each semester, using the student-athlete travel notification form, provided by the coach. This review should include potential post-season play through the last possible play date. Once travel schedules have been discussed with coaches, it is the responsibility of student-athletes to meet with professors in the classes where there is a conflict. Conflicts must be addressed with professors immediately in a face-to-face meeting and a completed student-athlete travel notification form should be given to the professor. If it is then decided by the professor that it is acceptable to miss class, arrangements must be made to obtain notes and make up any work that was missed from that class. A letter can be obtained from the Assistant Director for Academic Services confirming the contest date and time of departure one week prior to the competition date, if requested by the professor. Please note, this letter is not to be used as an excuse to miss the class but confirms to the professor that the competition is taking place on that date. If the conflict cannot be resolved it must be brought to the attention of the coach who will then meet with the Assistant Director for Academic Services and the Faculty Athletics Representative, regarding the situation.
If a conflict arises regarding an exam, student-athletes must meet with coaches immediately, who will then meet with the Assistant Director for Academic Services and the Faculty Athletics Representative regarding the situation.
Coaches need to remind student-athletes that scheduling classes around potential athletic conflicts, when possible, is important to academic and athletic success. The following steps should be followed in order to obtain the best possible academic schedule in light of athletic competition. Know your faculty advisor and meet with their regularly throughout the semester. Please note students cannot register for classes for the upcoming semester until a meeting with their faculty advisor has taken place during the advising period. Therefore, it is recommended that student-athletes have an appointment set up with faculty advisors as soon as the advising period starts for each semester. Student-athletes should explain to faculty advisors that it is important to craft a schedule, which allows for athletic competition without interfering with academics.      Â
Center for Student Academic Success is comprised of The Advising and Peer Mentorship Office, The Tutoring Center, and Student Accessibility Services
Advising and Peer Mentorship – Main Library, 2
nd floor, 401-254-3456
Office Hours:Â Monday-Thursday 8:30am-4:30pm, Friday 8:30am-4:00pm
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The office serves the entire undergraduate population with an emphasis on first and second year students. The Office’s trained and experienced staff of professional advisors and peer mentors promotes student success in the following ways:
- Provide guidance around choosing the right major for ALL students, with an emphasis on exploring students and students who are questioning their major. All exploring students receive a faculty advisor and a professional advisor and are expected to meet with BOTH before registering for classes.
- The Advising Office reaches out to all exploring students during the first semester. Staff meets with students to open up the conversation around their strengths/weaknesses, academic interests, and potential majors for exploration. Â
- Direct students to various resources and information to help them determine the right major and create a four-year plan for graduation and career readiness.
- Consult on academic skill development and coach for improved resiliency and skill development.
- Facilitate a comprehensive peer mentorship program for all new RWU students.
- Meet regularly with students to help keep them on track academically.
- Offer variety of tailored retention programs that aim to assist students in making academic progress.Â
- Provide referrals for students with personal, financial and academic issues and serve as a resource on University policies and procedures.
- Assist students who have questions about RWU matriculation processes, such as Withdrawals, Leave of Absences, and Reinstatements.
- Oversee placement processes (Math, Writing, Foreign Language).
Contacts:
Elizabeth Niemeyer, Director, Advising and Peer Mentorship,
eniemeyer@rwu.edu
Valerie Wolstenholme, Senior Academic Advisor,
vwolstenholme@rwu.edu
Sarah Mayer, Senior Transfer/Pathways Advisor,
smayer@rwu.edu
Angela Raymond, Academic Advisor and Placement Coordinator,
araymond@rwu.edu
Main Library, 2
nd Floor, 401-254-3219
Office Hours:Â Monday-Friday 8:00am-5:00pm
Tutoring: Monday through Thursday 9am-8pm; Friday 9am-3pm; Sunday 2pm-8pm.
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The Writing, Math, and Science Tutoring Centers offer curriculum-based peer tutoring on a walk-in basis at no charge to students. Students can go to http://rwu.edu/go/tutoring to check the peer and faculty tutoring schedules for all of the centers.
The Tutoring Center also provides tutoring for select courses in Languages, Economics, Accounting, Computer Information Systems, Engineering, Computer Science, and Construction Management. Please stop in the Tutoring Center if you have any questions and to check tutoring schedules.
The Math, Writing and Science Centers also provide faculty tutoring. Students may make appointments with faculty tutors in the Tutoring Center office using the TracCloud system. Students can make appointments for one session or for regular meetings for the duration of the semester.
All of the services offered through The Tutoring Center are provided free for students.
Programmatic Tutorial Support
The Tutor in the Classroom Program places a team of tutors in most Math classes. The tutors attend class, take notes, and are available in the Math Center so that students can meet with tutors who are familiar with their assignments and class discussions. Math tutors schedule and conduct group review sessions prior to tests. MathX offers weekly study groups for Math 136, 207, and 213.
In addition to in-center tutoring for the introductory Biology, Chemistry, and Physics courses, Science Center tutors conduct review sessions for Physics and Chemistry tests. The ChemX program provides workshops several times per week for Chemistry 191 and 192. The BioX provides weekly case study discussions for BIO 103 and 104. The Center also offers tutoring for a number of higher-level Science courses.
The Writing Center provides tutoring for any writing-related assignment. The Writing Center also posts a “Tutors by Majors” chart, which lists all of the tutors, their majors, year in school, and hours in the tutoring center. Students can then access a tutor for major-specific writing assistance.
Contacts:
Karen Bilotti, Director, Tutoring Center and Writing Center: kbilotti@rwu.edu
Tracey McDonnell Wysor, Assistant Director, Tutoring Center and Coordinator of Math and Science Centers: twysor@rwu.edu
Wendy MacDonough, Administrative Assistant, Tutoring Center: wmacdonough@rwu.edu
Jeremy Warnick Center for Student Accessibility - Main Library, 1st Floor, 401-254-3841
Website:
http://rwu.edu/go/sas
E-mail:Â Â Â
sas@rwu.edu
- SAS is a self-generated service for students with disabilities (including physical/physiological, learning, psychiatric, and chronic health/medical conditions) to utilize as a support mechanism to assist in their educational process.
- SAS is available to all students with documented disabilities that substantially limit a major life activity such as: learning, hearing, seeing, reading, walking, and speaking.
- The most successful students are self-advocates who identify their own needs and take personal initiative in problem-solving and decision-making.
- The most commonly requested accommodations are: extended time for test-taking, testing in the SAS Testing Center, note-taking assistance and requests for alternate/electronic texts and student/SAS staff meetings.
- SAS offers a strategy-based learning skills service provided by SAS professional and peer staff.
- SAS outreach to faculty and family is generated ONLY by a student via written request.
- Disability-related information is confidential and is never shared outside the SAS office without a student’s permission.
- Temporary support for students with injuries, including concussions.
- Students who are interested in being evaluated for a potential learning difference may inquire about the process for being evaluated, what is needed for documentation, and the process afterwards to initiate services.
There are many resources for students with concussions in addition to the Athletic Trainers. Students can make use of Health Services, Counseling, and Student Accessibility Services (SAS). Students diagnosed with a concussion are eligible for temporary services through SAS, which can be extremely helpful during their recovery. If the diagnosis is post concussion syndrome, students are eligible for services for the remainder of their college career and are strongly encouraged to meet with professional staff to determine their needs. Students with serious concussions that may require extended time for recuperation or accommodations to be made in classes, are strongly encouraged to meet with Associate Dean of Student Success, Allison Chase Padula, who can assist with discussing their needs with faculty. Appointments with Dean Chase Padula can be made by contact the Center for Student Academic Success at 401-254-3456.
Contacts:
Laura Choiniere, Director, Student Accessibility Services: lchoiniere@rwu.edu
Kathryn E. Zimmerman, Assistant Director, Student Accessibility Services: kezimmerman@rwu.edu
Patsie Almonte, Administrative Assistant, Student Accessibility Services: palmonte@rwu.edu
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