Learning Excellent Academic Practices 2009 - 2010

What is LEAP?

LEAP is an academic support program designed to identify, support, and evaluate students before and during their first year at Winthrop University.  The components of the program are based on national best practices and Winthrop’s own successful history of academic support programs.

LEAP students are expected to work harder – to achieve more!

·    LEAP has a limited number of spaces.

·    Candidates who do not meet Winthrop University’s standards for full admission may be offered provisional admission. A requirement of provisional admission is successful participation in LEAP.

·    Other candidates for LEAP may be recommended by Winthrop’s Director of Admissions in consultation with the LEAP Director.

·    Participation in LEAP is open to any first year student if there are additional spaces available.

·    There is a program fee of $450 to help defray the costs of the program. This fee does not cover the full cost of the program to the University.

Why am I considered for LEAP and not fully admitted?

The standards for admission to Winthrop University are reviewed and approved by the executive officers of Winthrop University. Standardized test scores such as the SAT and ACT and a candidate’s high school grade point average are among the criteria for admission. Candidates whose test scores or class rank fall outside Winthrop University’s approved range of scores can be offered provisional admission if they agree to participate in LEAP.  Winthrop University believes that each candidate who is offered provisional admission by the Office of Admissions is capable of gaining full admission into Winthrop University by participating successfully in LEAP.

What does "Provisional Admission" mean?

The State of South Carolina allows up to 15% of freshmen to be admitted provisionally but allows each institution to define “provisional” – especially since all GPAs and test scores (SAT and ACT) of incoming freshmen must be included in reports/averages.

Students who are fully admitted to Winthrop University must meet minimum academic requirements (1.75 GPA after 24 credit hours) to avoid being placed on academic probation or suspension.  Students who are provisionally admitted must:

·    Meet those same requirements in order to become fully admitted (even if being admitted means they are admitted and placed on academic probation or suspension at the same time); AND

·    Participate successfully in LEAP.

What does "Participate successfully in LEAP" mean?  

1. All LEAP students are required to attend either Orientation Session II (June 22-23) or Orientation Session III (June 25-26).  Each student will be academically advised through LEAP during Orientation.  Students and families will meet with the LEAP Director and LEAP faculty during special sessions.
    

2. Each student will participate in the Early Launch component of LEAP.
    

3. Each student must enroll in and successfully complete one of the designated sections of the course ACAD 101: Principles of the Learning Academy.
    
4. Each student must attend all classes and all required LEAP study sessions.  Only the LEAP Director may excuse an absence.  Each student must be on task and use time effectively in all study sessions.
    
5. Each student must complete a minimum of 24 hours of credit in their first year at Winthrop.  Each student must register for no less than 12 and no more than 15 hours of credit per semester.  A student may not drop a course without permission from the LEAP Director.
    
6. Each student must attain a GPA of 3.0 or higher for the fall semester to be considered for waiver of participation in LEAP study sessions and other LEAP activities in the spring semester.  Waiver of participation in spring LEAP activities for students achieving a 3.0 GPA or higher in the fall semester is at the discretion of the LEAP Director.

At the conclusion of the spring semester, the LEAP Director and the Dean of University College will review each student’s academic performance and their participation in LEAP in consultation with the Admissions Director and the Dean of Enrollment Management.  The Dean of Enrollment Management will then make the decision on whether a student should be fully admitted to Winthrop University.

What is the Early Launch component?

LEAP participants arrive two days early, moving into their residence halls on Wednesday, August 19, 2009.  Early Launch will begin at noon on August 19th and continue through 10:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 20. During Early Launch, LEAP students will be engaged in programming designed to assist LEAP students in preparing for the rigors of university work.

What happens in the fall component of  LEAP?

LEAP students are required to attend and participate in specially designed study session labs three nights per week (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.   Each study session lab group will consist of approximately 15 students.  Each group will have access to tutorial help in the core areas of writing, history, and mathematics.  All students will have reading summaries and class notes graded by LEAP and ACAD faculty to ensure that all LEAP students are on task in their courses and current in their reading assignments.  Attendance and engagement in study sessions is a significant component (30%) of the grade assigned in the ACAD 101 course for LEAP students.

What happens in the spring component of LEAP?

In the spring, required study session labs will meet on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Students who, at the discretion of the LEAP Director, are not required to attend these study sessions are invited to participate in them if they choose to do so.

University College
Suite A Bancroft Annex
Rock Hill, SC 29733
(803) 323-3900
(803) 323- 3910 - Fax

Dr. Frank B. Pullano
Associate Professor of Mathematics
LEAP Director
pullanof@winthrop.edu
(803) 323-4569