The Academic Advancement Center:           
            Celebrating 35 years of helping students!

            About Us

            The Academic            Advancement Center (AAC) offers support services that assist Ohio            University undergraduates to reach their academic goals.  Through            credit courses, individual and group study sessions, our staff is            here to guide students to academic success.

            A Brief History

            In 1969, the            Ohio Board of Regents established funding for academic support            services .  At OU, University College was designated as the unit            responsible for administering these funds.  Tutoring and reading lab            were the initial services offered.  Writing and study skills            components were added in 1972.  The four components were moved into            a new facility on the first floor of Alden Library and were given a            title of Student            Development            Center.  In 1981, a new name of Academic Advancement Center was            adopted to reflect the academic mission of the center.

            In 1979, The            University Curriculum Council approved UC 110, “Learning            Strategies,” and UC 112, “College Reading Skills,” which created for            credit instructions for these skill areas..  UC 106, the one-credit            “Academic Computing Class” was added to the center in 1998.

            Also in 1979,            the center successfully competed for a Student Support Services TRIO            grant from the U.S. Department of Education.  The College Adjustment            Program (CAP) continues to the present time, providing comprehensive            support services and in recent years offering small scholarships to            students enrolled in the program.

            Supplemental            Instruction was initiated in 1989 as a program that teaches the            process of learning and content for high risk courses (rather than            high risk students).  The program expanded in 1991 with grant            funding and then UPAC funding.  With the addition of these funds,            trained Student Leaders now deliver group tutoring to thousands of            students in traditionally difficult courses each year.

            Since 1990, the            AAC has provided free tutoring services to students with verified            disabilities (registered with the Office of Institutional Equity),            offering academic support for private course tutors for up to four            hours per week per course.

            In response to            the growing need for undergraduate students to have technological            proficiency for academic success and to have access to a            technologically based program, the AAC successfully sought 1804            funds to establish and develop the Learning Center Computer Lab.             The lab opened in 1996.

            A Timeline

            1969

                        ·                                        Ohio Board of Regents established funding for academic support            services under budget line item entitled Development Education.                        

                        ·                                        University College was designated as responsible for administering            these funds.

                        ·                                        Began offering tutoring and reading lab.

            1972               

                        ·                                        Writing and study skills support added.

                        ·                                        Four components (tutoring, reading lab, writing and study skills)            given the title Student Development Center and moved into first            floor of Alden Library.

            1979

                        ·                                        University Curriculum Council approved UC 110, “Learning            Strategies,” and UC 112, “College Reading Skills.”

                        ·                                        Awarded TRIO grant from U.S. Department of Education to establish            College Adjustment Program (CAP).

            1981               

                        ·                                        Student Development Center renamed Academic Advancement Center.

            1981-1991            

                        ·                                        State gradually reduced and eliminated support for Developmental            Education Services.

                        ·                                        UPAC awards and contributions from the Provost and University            College replaced lost funds.

            1989

                        ·                                        Supplemental Instruction (SI) initiated.

            1990

                        ·                                        AAC began offering free tutoring to students with verified            disabilities (registered with the Office of Institutional Equity).

            1991

                        ·                                        SI program expanded with grant funding and UPAC funding.

            1996

                        ·                                        AAC Computer Lab opened thanks to 1804 funds.

            1998

                        ·                                        UC 106, “Basic Academic Computing Skills,” added to center.