2026-2027 Catalog > Student Learning Resources > Department of Academic Success

Department of Academic Success

Sarah Bowdin, Associate Vice President for Academic Success 

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

Academic Advising at UT Tyler is a student-centered partnership designed to empower students as they navigate their academic journey, develop meaningful goals, and progress toward graduation and future success. Through proactive, holistic, and data-informed advising practices, advisors help students make informed decisions, overcome barriers, and connect with the resources needed to thrive. 

Housed within the Department of Academic Success, University Advising provides leadership, resources, training, and professional development to support a collaborative advising community across colleges and departments. Together, professional advisors, faculty advisors, and academic leaders share a commitment to delivering a consistent and high-quality advising experience for every student. 

Students can learn more about academic advising, including how to identify and connect with their assigned advisor by visiting Department of Academic Success

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/.

Office of Military & Veterans Affairs (MVA) 
The Office of Military & Veterans Affairs (OMVA) serves military-affiliated students across all UT Tyler locations, including veterans, service members, and military-connected family members. OMVA provides comprehensive support designed to promote student success, including assistance with connecting with university resources, understanding academic and administrative processes, and accessing federal, state, local, and campus-based opportunities available to military-affiliated students.

Students are encouraged to connect with OMVA early in their academic journey to learn about available services, engage with the military-affiliated community, and receive support from admission through graduation. Contact the Office of Military & Veterans Affairs at 903.565.5972, military@uttyler.edu, or visit www.uttyler.edu/military for additional information and resources. 

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. Supplemental Instruction supports many freshman- and sophomore-level courses, particularly in math and science, while also extending to key courses critical for degree progression across colleges. Sessions are led by an SI leader—a current UT Tyler student who partners with the course instructor and has successfully completed the course with demonstrated expertise. SI leaders are extensively trained to facilitate effective study sessions that emphasize both course content and the development of study skills essential for student success and progression to independent learners. Historically, UT Tyler students who participate in SI achieve course outcomes that are half to a full letter grade higher, with data showing that attending at least five sessions per term can help elevate grades (e.g., C to B, B to A) compared to peers who do not participate. SI is a voluntary, free service offered through the Office of Academic Success. 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. 

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