First boot camp for Freshman Academy successful

Faculty and staff members involved in the first academic boot camp for Freshman Academy students said they enjoyed watching participants build community connections.

The Academic Success Institute ran August 17-22, prior to the 50 participants attending Transitions. Sulari White, director of Freshman Academy, said students spent their days working in groups of 10 that were led by a faculty member.

Sessions throughout the day led by faculty members focused on study skills, math, reading and writing, White said. The institute’s curriculum comes from Pacific Crest, and its founder Dan Apple was on campus to help facilitate.

Apple’s pre-semester boot camp has been used for several years by the Meijer Honors College. Jeff Chamberlain, director of the Honors College, said the program for honors students helps first-year students acclimate quickly to the campus community and feel less intimidated about approaching faculty members.

The goals were similar for Freshman Academy students, White said. Housed in the Student Academic Success Center, Freshman Academy supports students who demonstrate potential for academic success and who come from underrepresented high schools, or are the first in their families to attend college.

White received a Presidential Teaching Initiative Grant from the Pew Faculty Teaching and Learning Center to host the institute; support also came from Brooks College of Interdisciplinary Studies.

Ayana Weekley, assistant professor of women and gender studies, served as a primary faculty member; she had 10 students and four faculty members who served as assistant coaches in her group.

The students’ ability to break down large projects and focus on tasks will serve them well into the semester, said Weekley. “When they’re feeling overwhelmed and, say, can’t read every word assigned to them, they’ll remember the skills they learned and how to effectively read texts,” she said.

Weekley experienced benefits, also. She said,“I was able to expand my own community of faculty who I work with.”

Danielle Henry, a first-year student from Southfield, said while the institute was intense, she appreciated the hands-on mentoring from faculty members. “They worked so closely with us and taught me how to be more precise in my writing and how to be an efficient reader,” Henry said.

Faculty members involved included Gordon Alderink, John Bruni, Margery Guest, Jennifer Jameslyn, Jamie Langlois, Hazel McClure, Medar Serrata, Scott Stabler, Rik Stevenson, Ayana Weekley, Joel Wendland and Wendy Wenner.