HILLTOPPER ACADEMY

Hilltopper Academy is a week-long, residential, summer bridge program designed to increase college readiness among entering first-year students with at-risk pre-entry factors (i.e. substandard scores on the ACT or SAT, below average High School GPA).  In this week-long program, participants engage in skill-building activities related to academic disciplines (e.g. Math, Writing) as well as general areas for academic success (i.e. study strategies, time management, critical thinking).  Qualifying freshmen are invited to participate in the academy, but any student may choose to participate if they believe the program would be helpful.

Cost:  Traditionally, there is a $50 registration fee for the program.  This registration fee includes instruction, academic workshops, all meals, and activities.

Please visit our Hilltopper Academy Webpage for more information.

FIRST YEAR EXPERIENCE (COLLEGE 101)

College 101 is a ten (10) week long, two-hour seminar course offered each fall.  This course is designed to help you explore all that higher education has to offer, discover your own strengths, learn to be a good thinker, and develop the understanding and motivation you need to be a successful college student. Topics include making the transition to college, developing academic and life skills, and making the right choice for majors and careers.  Students who successfully complete College 101 will be able to:

• Identify and properly use available campus resources (e.g. campus directory, academic calendar, support service offices, administrative offices)
• Understand how to develop personal goals for academic achievement
• Demonstrate critical thinking skills through careful analysis and evaluation of information
• Develop a clear understanding of how your emotions affect your learning and success in college
• Demonstrate learning skills and strategies that will assist you in your academic success (e.g. active reading, study strategies, note-taking, time management)
• Develop essential technology skills for use in the academic environment (e.g. Sakai, WINS, campus email)
• Understand the importance of your academic success towards your financial aid and long-term personal financial health
• Understand how to calculate their term and cumulative GPA and this relation to academic status as well as Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

COLLEGE 103 STUDENT SUCCESS SEMINAR

This course is designed for first-time freshmen who have been placed on Academic Probation. College 103  is a one credit hour course which focuses on: student motivation, goal-setting, coping strategies, time management, and study strategies.  This course asks students to identify the factors they believe contributed to their academic challenges and develop a plan for academic success.  This academic success plan is developed by the student with input from appropriate Learning & Student Development Center staff and/or Departmental Advisors.

PARENT POWER NEWSLETTER

The PARENT POWER NEWSLETTER is an easy-to-read bulletin designed to keep parents informed about important dates, deadlines, and discussions they should be having with their student to promote academic and personal success.  Newsletters are sent out regularly during the academic year (typically once per month) and at least once throughout the summer months. 

Parents can also like/follow the Parent Power Facebook Page to receive day-to-day information about West Liberty University and other helpful posts for parents.

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