The Contribution of Student Support Services to Academic Success and Graduation Rates

Student support services encompass a wide range of assistance, including academic advising, tutoring, mentoring, financial aid, and personal counseling. Student support services aim to help students navigate the complexities of higher education and achieve their academic goals.They enable a student to conquer all challenges in learning through individualized attention that helps them navigate the higher education maze so that they may accomplish their academic goals.

Recent studies have demonstrated student support services, in augmenting graduation rate and academic success. For example, effective student-athlete academic support programs have been seen to boost graduation rates by 200% in comparative terms (Gaston-Gayles, 2003). Students with learning disabilities who received services from academic support centers are reported to have higher grade point averages and graduation rates (Troiano et al., 2010). These services are not only relevant to specific groups of students. Several studies report that student support services help not only the general population of students, but also low-income students, first-generation college students, and students who have aged out of foster care. Such services provide essential resources and direct students in ways that keep them on course toward degree completion.

Components of Effective Student Support Services

Academic Advising and Counseling: Academic advising is a cornerstone of student support services. Effective academic advising involves providing students with guidance on course selection, career planning, and navigating academic challenges. Studies have shown that regular and proactive academic advising can significantly improve student retention and success rates. A study on advising programs found that continuous, personalized advising enhances student engagement and academic performance (Williamson, Goosen, & Gonzalez, 2014).

Tutoring and Supplemental Instruction: Tutoring services aim at providing students with more personalized academic assistance because a student may find some of the course material rather challenging. Supplemental instruction helps students understand hard class concepts by employing peer-led study sessions and review workshops. The use of tutoring and supplemental instruction results in better mastery of course material, which is found to be one of the means through which overall academic success for students is achieved. Students with disabilities benefit from such specialized academic support services. This may include personal tutoring, assistive technology, and accommodation in exams and assignments. A postsecondary study involving students with learning disabilities showed that the incidence of higher GPA and graduation rates was linked to frequent use of academic support centers (Troiano, Liefeld, & Trachtenberg, 2010).

Financial Aid and Economic Support: Financial constraints are among the most prevalent barriers that prevent students from achieving their academic potential. These obstacles can be alleviated through financial aid, scholarships, and economic support in general to enable the students to focus more on their studies. An article examining available support services for foster youth identified financial aid as a critical support in increasing graduation rates (Unrau et al., 2017). Economic support could include other things, such as housing, childcare, or even transportation that result in being able to continue in the learning process.

Emotional and Psychological Support: Emotional and psychological support services, such as counseling and mental health resources, are essential components of a comprehensive support system. These services help students cope with stress, anxiety, and other mental health issues that can impede academic performance. A study on low-income students highlighted the critical role of emotional support from family and institutions in fostering academic success (Roksa & Kinsley, 2018).

Peer Mentoring and Social Integration: Peer mentoring programs connect students to more advanced peers who will guide and support the students in question. This helps new students to settle into school life, feel like they belong, and develop necessary academic and social skills. Research has proved that peer mentoring is very effective in enhancing students' level of belonging and their academic engagement.(Picton & Kahu, 2021).

Utilization of Technology: Incorporating technology into student support services can greatly enhance its accessibility and efficiency. Online platforms and tools help facilitate academic advising, tutoring, and mental health services, making them more accessible to students. The integration of web-based systems has been shown to support the persistence of distance education students by providing cohesive and consistent support (McCracken, 2008). Other important online student services include scheduling, registration, counseling, and tutoring, all enhanced by emerging technologies (Modisette, 2015).

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References

• Gaston-Gayles, J. L. (2003). Advising Student Athletes: An Examination of Academic Support Programs with High Graduation Rates. NACADA Journal, 23(1-2), 50-57.
• Troiano, P., Liefeld, J., & Trachtenberg, J. (2010). Academic Support and College Success for Postsecondary Students with Learning Disabilities. Journal of College Reading and Learning, 40, 35-44.
• Roksa, J., & Kinsley, P. (2018). The Role of Family Support in Facilitating Academic Success of Low-Income Students. Research in Higher Education, 60, 415-436.
• Bennett, C. A., Hsiao, E., Dees, D. C., Kim, D., & Bochenko, M. J. (2020). The impact of TRIO Student Support Services on academic performance of non-traditional students at a public state college in Georgia. Journal of Adult and Continuing Education, 27, 157-174
• Unrau, Y. A., Dawson, A., Hamilton, R., & Bennett, J. L. (2017). Perceived value of a campus-based college support program by students who aged out of foster care. Children and Youth Services Review, 78, 64-73.
• Schmidtke, C. (2017). The Role of Academic Student Services in the Retention of American Indian Students at a Sub-Baccalaureate Technical College. Journal of Career and Technical Education, 31, 33-60.
• Williamson, L., Goosen, R., & Gonzalez, G. (2014). Faculty Advising to Support Student Learning. Journal of Developmental Education, 38, 20.
• Ludwig-Hardman, S., & Dunlap, J. C. (2003). Learner Support Services for Online Students: Scaffolding for Success. The International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning, 4.
• Picton, C., & Kahu, E. (2021). ‘I knew I had the support from them’: understanding student support through a student engagement lens. Higher Education Research & Development, 41, 2034-2047.