Academically Committed to Excellence Program (ACE)

ACE (Academically Committed to Excellence) is an academic cohort model designed to engage residential students holistically through interactive learning and programming in an effort to enhance their academic performance.

In support of students' academic success, any student sophomore level or above who are below the academic standards will be automatically assigned to the ACE program.

Inclusive Practices in Cohort Programming

Inclusive practices in cohort programming address the needs and interests of adult learners for persistence, satisfaction, and degree completion. Cohorts offer more than just convenience for institutions and students; they provide intense learning experiences through culturally-diverse interactions. Cohorts positively influence student values, increase student interaction, and secure interdependence. This is achieved through team building, mutual support, and collaboration. As a result, students develop a sense of respect and appreciation for the members of the group.

Benefits

The goal of a cohort is to build an environment that emphasizes collaboration and team-building over competition; a valuable asset in today's workplace. Compared to a proceed-at-your-own-pace model, cohort programs invite student participation, foster creativity, build leadership skills, generate a sense of community, and proceed at a predetermined pace. The model offers many benefits including:

• A shared learning experience that features enriching discussions of real-world issues among diverse disciplines.
• Collaboration, leadership, and teamwork skills, that is necessary for success in today's workplace.
• Interactive learning that enables students to think independently and develop their own conclusions and ideas.
• Cultivation of professional and personal networks that may continue long after the degree has been awarded.
• A clearly-defined timeline and format allowing students to engage in healthy transdisciplinary practices.

Below are some of the services that will be provided in ACE:

1. Dedicated Tutoring Services
2. One on One Academic Consultations
3. Note and Test Taking Strategies
4. Time Management Workshops
5. Collaborative and Peer learning
6. Transdisciplinary networks
7. Long term and short term goal development

References

1. Opacich K. J. (2019). A Cohort Model and High Impact Practices in Undergraduate Public Health Education. Frontiers in public health, 7, 132. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2019.00132
2. Ramapo College of New Jersey (2016) A Cohort MBA Program: What Is It and What Are the Benefits? Adapted from https://www.ramapo.edu/articles/cohort-mba/
3. Wawrzynski. M & Jessup-Anger. J (2010). From Expectations to Experiences: Using a Structural Typology to Understand First-Year Student Outcomes in Academically Based Living Learning Communities. Journal of College Student Development. 51, 2.