Department of Academic Success
Dr. Colleen Swain, Associate Provost and Dean of Undergraduate Studies
The UT Tyler Department of Academic Success offers programs and services to improve individual performance and academic achievement. Academic Success provides academic advising, academic onboarding, and academic support to undergraduate students across their degree program in collaboration with academic departments.
Academic Advising
The University Advising team is dedicated to providing data, resources, leadership, and professional development to all undergraduate professional academic advisors, faculty advisors, and college/departmental administration to ensure holistic academic advising is an institutional priority. The Department of Academic Success works to create an advising community that unifies academic departments and colleges and supports all undergraduate advisors, and through them, all undergraduate students. Students can learn more, including determining who is their advisor, by exploring https://www.uttyler.edu/academics/success-services/advising/.
Academic Support
Academic Support provides numerous free support programs designed to enable UT Tyler undergraduate students to be successful in their college careers. Our goal is to make available the tools and resources for undergraduates to become independent learners and succeed in their academic degree programs. This occurs though various resources such as Academic Coaching, Academics 101, Supplemental Instruction, the Pass Tutoring Center, Patriot Principles for Academic Success, Upswing, Knack, and programs designed for special student populations, such as dual credit, transfer, first-generation, and foster-care students.
Academic Coaching
Academic coaching allows a student to meet with academic success staff for individual discussions related to the needed knowledge and skills for academic thriving at UT Tyler. An individualized plan is co-developed between the academic coach and student. Progress is monitored at agreed check-in dates. UT Tyler students seeking individualized support in thriving in college are encouraged to use this resource.
Academics 101
Academics 101 is an on-demand comprehensive guide to enhance the academic journey of UT Tyler undergraduates. Each module covers essential topics to thriving at UT Tyler, such as what to do before the first week of classes, best practices for storing and retrieving information, effective semester planning, what to do if you earned a poor grade, and more. The Canvas course includes mini-tutorial videos, direct links to the Academic Success website, and informational handouts. Students can self-register by clicking on the Enroll Now button at https://www.uttyler.edu/academics/success-services/academics-101/.
Supplemental Instruction (SI)
Supplemental Instruction (SI) is a series of weekly peer-assisted study sessions designed to support students in courses which have consistently proven to be difficult for undergraduates. Many freshman and sophomore level classes, especially in the math and science areas, are among those supported through SI. The weekly study sessions are guided by an SI leader who is a current UT Tyler student and has been successful in the class he/she is supporting. These leaders are given extensive training to be able to lead effective study sessions for the students they serve. The goal of every session is to focus not only on what students need to learn but also on learning the study skills that are necessary to succeed. UT Tyler students who participate regularly in SI have higher grades and course completion rates than those who do not participate. SI is a free service to UT Tyler students. Please visit us at https://www.uttyler.edu/si to see our complete listing of available sessions as well as the meeting days and times. For questions, please email supplementalinstruct@uttyler.edu.
PASS Tutoring
The PASS (Patriot Academic Success Services) Tutoring service is a free tutoring opportunity for current UT Tyler undergraduates. PASS Tutoring is distributed throughout the UT Tyler campus. Pass Tutoring subject areas, locations and hours for PASS Tutoring are posted on the website each term(https://www.uttyler.edu/academics/success-services/tutoring/). PASS Tutoring supports some of our most challenging lower-division courses at UT Tyler. For questions, please email tutoring@uttyler.edu.
Patriot Principles for Academic Success
The Patriot Principles for Academic Excellence seminar (UNIV 1002) is a credit/no credit course for any undergraduate who wishes to implement research-based best practices and success strategies for academic excellence. The seminar comprises crucial lectures and activities covering cognitive learning theory, critical thinking, growth mindset, stress and time management, and more. Students are also connected with UT Tyler resources. Academic programs may require students to take this course if they are experiencing challenges.
UpSwing
PASS Tutoring provides students with even more ways to succeed in classes! Online tutoring for undergraduate UT Tyler courses is now available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. Through Upswing, an online tutoring platform, students can connect with professional tutors without coming to campus. Upswing services are free to currently enrolled, undergraduate UT Tyler students.
For more information, please visit https://uttyler.upswing.io/. You can also contact PASS Tutoring at 903.565.5964 or tutoring@uttyler.edu with questions about Upswing.
University Libraries
Rebecca McKay, Dean of Libraries
Robert R. Muntz Library
The Robert R. Muntz Library collects, organizes, and provides access to an expansive array of electronic journals, electronic books, databases, and print materials to support the teaching, learning, and research activities of The University of Texas at Tyler. A knowledgeable and service-oriented staff provides assistance and instruction to users for their research and information needs. The Library building includes Wifi, computers and printers for student use, collaborative and quiet spaces for study, and a full-service Starbuck's coffee shop. The Library is open 105 hours per week during the long semesters. The University Archives and Special Collections Department of the library houses and preserves archival collections about the history of UT Tyler and East Texas, artifacts and rare books. The Library also hosts UT Tyler’s institutional repository, Scholar Works at UT Tyler. Scholar Works is a digital service that collects, preserves, and distributes the scholarly output of the UT Tyler community, including: theses, dissertations, faculty, and departmental publications.
Watson W. Wise Medical Research Library
The Watson W. Wise Medical Research Library serves UT Health Science Center at Tyler’s students and faculty (including the School of Medicine), the institution’s nurses, administrators, and other staff. The only professionally staffed, full-service health science library in Northeast Texas, the Wise Library maintains comprehensive periodical and book collections to support medical and health science education. Other available services include public-access computers for database and web searching, a photocopier for scanning, copying and printing, standard productivity applications, and more. Wifi access is available, as are private and public study areas. Library staff are available to provide reference, assistance, and instruction during normal business hours.
Mission Statement
The University Libraries support the University’s Strategic Plan. To accomplish this, the libraries will excel in collecting and providing access to quality educational and scholarly resources; supporting free and low-cost learning materials including open educational resources (OER); offering excellent and timely services and events; making available current technologies; and creating an inspiring and welcoming physical environment.
Vision
The Libraries aspire to be the university’s intellectual gateway, supporting the discovery, exchange, and advancement of ideas.
Goals
The libraries will:
- Support the scholarship and creativity of the UT Tyler community
- Develop and maintain a thoughtfully chosen, well-organized, and easily accessible array of resources that supports the curriculum and stimulates curiosity
- Enhance student learning and critical thinking through the integration of information literacy across the curriculum
- Sponsor opportunities that create a vibrant, safe, engaged student experience complementary to the university’s academic mission
- Provide an environment that promotes reflection, research, and collaboration
- Promote high operational, service, and ethical standards by conducting continuous evaluation of resources and services
- Create a positive and accessible work environment for a highly capable and service-oriented staff