Comprehensive Student Success Prograrm

What is CSSP?

The Comprehensive Student Success Program (CSSP) is a State of Texas initiative designed to improve student success in higher education. TWU is one of eight universities to receive grants from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to implement CSSP on their campuses.  The focus at TWU is to increase the success rate in classes which, traditionally, have a high rate of Ds, Fs, and Withdrawals.  The primary focus of the grant is academic risk in specific classes. Introduction to Chemistry (CHEM 1013), Algebra (MATH 1303), and Statistics (MATH 1703) are the courses chosen for this study.

In sections of these courses chosen for the grant we include Course Assistants who provide peer mentoring, supplemental instruction, and tutoring outside the classroom. In addition to the Course Assistants, MAP-Works® is used in conjunction with TWU’s Early Warning System (EWS) to provide a holistic approach to identifying student risk factors and improve persistence and retention. The secondary focus of the grant is on persistence and retention. Persistence and retention mean entering TWU and staying at TWU until a student completes his or her degree.

What is MAP-Works®?

MAP-works® is a comprehensive tool used by the faculty, course assistants, and CSSP staff.  MAP-works® is primarily a persistence and retention tool; however, when academic updates, absence reports, and other information such as the EWS are entered into the system we are able to see overall risks as well as changing of risk-factors for students and can offer the appropriate support to mitigate these risks.

What are the Grant Requirements? 

For All Students:

• Complete two surveys at the beginning of the semester and two surveys at the end of the semester
• Attend 2 supplemental instruction sessions with a course assistant with the sessions conducted in a formal, organized class-like tutorial session
• Attend tutoring twice during the semester with a course assistant answering student specific questions
• Students identified as academically at-risk defined by when their grades drop below 70%:
• Will have contact with a Course Assistant bi-weekly (by emails, phone, or personal meeting)
• Must attend 4 additional supplemental instructions sessions per semester (total of 6 sessions)
• Will attend weekly tutoring
• Once identified as at-risk academically a student remains at risk until the end of the semester
• All students identified as at risk, academically or otherwise, must meet privately with Dr. Carlsen-Landy, CSSP Coordinator, at least once during the semester

CSSP Team Directory

TWU CSSP Co-directors

Don Edwards, PhD
Professor, Chair, Senior Associate Dean
Department of Mathematics

Eddy Lynton
Director of Academics Success
elynton@twu.edu

Students are what it is all about!  My teaching philosophy centers on student engagement and active learning so TWU is the perfect fit!  Here you Learn by Doing.  I believe in community and interconnection and I join a host of TWU champions in encouraging student growth as a part of the TWU community.  I’m a sociologist with a long love of education thus prompting my study at Texas Woman’s University (TWU), University of North Texas (UNT), Eastern New Mexico University (ENMU), New Mexico Military Institute (NMMI), and Albuquerque TVI.   I am part of your success team here at TWU.  Please don’t hesitate to contact me if I can be of assistance.

CSSP Coordinator

Bev Carlsen-Landy, PhD
bcarlsenlandy@twu.edu

 My research focuses primarily on student success in higher education, so I am very excited to be part of this team. I am a TWU graduate and my doctorate and master’s degrees are in sociology. I work at TWU part-time, and I teach sociology classes at UT-Dallas. I am usually in my office, MCL 408, Monday through Thursday from 7-2. I am also available other hours by appointment. Please feel free to stop by or make an appointment to discuss strategies for your success at TWU.

Graduate Assistant for CSSP

Christina Acosta
cacosta2@twu.edu

I received my bachelor's degree from Texas A&M – Kingsville in Civil Engineering in May 2000.  I am currently working on my masters in Mathematics and anticipate a Dec 2013 graduation.  I will be available to assist with students Monday and Wednesday from 8:30 - 12:30, in MCL room 408.

COURSE ASSISTANTS

CHEM 1013

Alexander Buxton (AlexanderBuxton@ymail.com)
I am a chemistry major and plan to start the master's program for chemistry at TWU in the fall.  I hope to help more students become more comfortable with chemistry.

Christina Alpiger (Calpiger@twu.edu) or by Skype: Clalpiger
I am majoring in Chemistry with a minor in Math.  I am looking forward to working with you this semester.

Erin Kirby (Ekirby86@hotmail.com)
My professional goal is to teach chemistry at a university.   I will be starting my Ph.D. in the fall. I have been tutoring and teaching for TWU since 2008.  I received my bachelor’s in Biochemistry in 2010.  Currently, I am seeking a master’s in Chemistry with a research emphasis on Biophysical Chemistry, and I will be graduating in August.

Ilene Whitt (Iwhitt@mail.twu.edu)
This is my second semester working as a tutor for Chemistry (associated with the grant).  I really enjoy chemistry and look forward to getting to know you.

Kathryn Padgett (kpadgett@twu.edu)
This is the last semester of my senior year here at Texas Woman’s University. I am a biochemistry major and am currently in the middle of my application to pharmacy school. I was also a student of Dr. Gill and have been a TA for the lab section of this class for him and other professors multiple times since spring of 2010.

Samar Kolailat (Samarkolailat@gmail.com)
I received my bachelor's degree from University of North Texas–Denton in Chemistry minored in math in December 2010. I am currently working on my masters in Chemistry and anticipate a May 2013 graduation. 

MATH 1303

Manny Carreon (mcarreon@twu.edu)
I am a math major with a minor in business.  Feel free to contact me with any questions you may have regarding the course.

Bree Green (agreen10@twu.edu)
I am a sophmore at TWU and my major is math education.  I plan to teach 8-12 grades then further my education to teach college.  I am interested in helping students understand and comprehend math and I am looking forward to doing so.

Cari Vincent (cvincent27@gmail.com)
I am a senior studying math at TWU.  Upon graduating this May with my bachelor's I plan on pursuing a master's degree and possibly a PhD in Mathematics.  I have tutored in the Math & Technology Success Center (MTSC) for over a year and have many other experience teaching and tutoring mathematics.

MATH 1703

Bobby Nye Brown
I am a senior at TWU. I am majoring in Mathematics with a minor in Education. I received an Associate’s Degree in Music from Collin College before pursuing mathematics.

Celena Lipscomb (celena.lipscomb@gmail.com)
I am a math major at TWU and a Mechanical and Energy Engineering major at UNT.  I also work in the MTSC as a tutor.

Cynthia Bravo (cbravo@twu.edu)
I am a third year student here at TWU and I am a general studies major with concentrations in math and English along with a nutrition minor. I have worked as a tutor in the MTSC since August of 2012.  I will try my best to provide plentiful help and resources to you all. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns. Best wishes for this semester!