Academic Success

The faculty and staff of The University of Tennessee Southern want every student to have a successful experience and are committed to providing them the best academic advisement possible.

First-time entering freshmen are required to participate in the First Year Experience Program, which begins just prior to the start of the semester and continues through the term. During FYE, students are introduced to the campus community, the academic program, and student life. Placement testing occurs during this time to help identify strengths and weaknesses in prior academic training. Based on these results, students may be advised or required to take one or more courses designed to help them overcome prior academic deficiencies or accelerated to reflect academic strengths. First Year Experience (FYE) covers a variety of topics designed to promote a successful transition to UT Southern. First year students are mentored by their FYE instructors. The typical first year student will enroll in 13-16 hours per semester.

Generally, new first-time freshmen or transfer students are advised and may register during summer orientation. During the initial semester of enrollment, all students are assigned a faculty mentor or advisor. All students are encouraged to meet regularly with their mentor throughout their stay at UT Southern. Should there be a need to change advisors, students may contact the Registrar’s Office. Effective academic advising is vital to the success of students; however, the ultimate responsibility for enrolling in appropriate classes lies with the student.

The First-Year Experience courses are taught by instructors who also serve as their FYE students’ faculty mentor/academic advisor for their first year at UT Southern.

• Pat Ford, Coordinator of FYE; Instructor of Business, pford10@utsouthern.edu
• Laura Morefield, Assistant Coordinator of FYE; Instructor of Human Performance and Physical Education, lmorefie@utsouthern.edu
• Dr. Jennifer Adam, Assistant Professor of Music, jadam3@ussouthern.edu
• Dr. Elizabeth Badolato, Assistant Professor of English and Physics, ebadolat@utsouthern.edu
• Dr. Stanton Belford, Associate Professor of Biology, sbelfor2@utsouthern.edu
• Felicia Dailey, Instructor of Nursing, fdailey@utsouthern.edu
• Dr. Randi McElhaney, Instructor of Nursing, rmcelha1@utsouthern.edu
• Brandie Paul, Head Softball Coach; Athletic Director, bpaul6@utsouthern.edu
• Claire Paul, Instructor of Education, cpaul11@utsouthern.edu
• Dr. Melissa Ryckman, Associate Professor of History, mryckman@utsouthern.edu
• Dr. Daniel Scherr, Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice, dscherr@utsouthern.edu
• Harli Standish, Adjunct Instructor of English, hstandis@utsouthern.edu

The mission of the Student Resource Center (SRC) is to help students achieve academic success throughout their time at The University of Tennessee Southern. The SRC offers free tutoring for all classes offered at UT Southern with particular attention given to those of the freshman and sophomore levels. Besides tutoring, the SRC functions as a computer lab complete with Microsoft Office 2016 and other essential programs for classes at UT Southern. Additionally, the SRC serves as a library of textbooks, which students can use at their leisure within the center. It also serves as a testing location for UT Southern’s students and supports those with academic accommodations. 

Writing/English – We offer tutoring in grammar and mechanics, as well as stylistic and organizational methods. Tutors are also versed in MLA and APA.

Math – We provide assistance for all mathematics courses: developmental math through calculus (including HAWKS Learning).

Science – We are equipped to assist with all science courses offered by UT Southern We also offer lab report writing workshops.

History – We provide assistance for all history courses offered by UT Southern. Tutors can help with exam preparation and paper-writing.

Business/Accounting/MIS – We offer tutoring for all business and accounting courses. Tutors can assist all levels: introductory courses through senior-level.

ESL – We help with any aspect of second language acquisition: grammar, reading comprehension, pronunciation, and conversation.

Please Note:
If the discipline you are seeking tutoring for is not listed above, please contact the SRC by phone, email, or just drop in, and we will work to find a suitable tutor for your needs. If you have any questions please contact:

Barry Rich

Telephone: 931.363.9888
e-mail: brich2@utsouthern.edu

Computers/Internet – We offer computers equipped with the Microsoft 2016 Office Suite, as well as Internet access. For your convenience, we are also wireless.

Text and Reference Books – We have a library of current textbooks and reference manuals, including all freshman-level texts and the most recent MLA and APA editions.

Located in the Bill and Rosemary Starnes Student Union Building (under the cafeteria, just past the mailboxes).

Monday -Thursday: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Friday: 10:00 am – 2:00 pm

If you  have any questions please contact:

Barry Rich

Telephone: 931.363.9888
e-mail: brich2@utsouthern.edu

Access the following link to provide further nursing resources for study. The Nursing Resources are located on the library page under Special Collections.