Student Academic Support Services

General Education Building, Room BB9
448-5056 (phone) * 448-1451 (fax)

The Student Academic Support Services (SASS) has a primary goal promoting of student progress in the various programs offered by the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. To that end, it offers a variety of services designed to facilitate learning and to enhance student performance. Services of the Student Academic Support Services include assistance in the areas of time management, test taking, reading efficiency, note taking and note using, information retention, organization for learning, and board preparation.

All student conferences with Student Academic Support Services staff are confidential. Services are provided on an individual or group basis without charge to students. The focus is not on remediation but rather on adjusting study habits to the density of the health science curricula and the time constraints of daily schedules. Efforts are devoted to helping students adjust to the problems and pressures of the health science learning environment.

SASS also maintains a library of review and board preparation books, a twelve- station computer lab, and an audio/visual room as well as material on learning strategies for student use. In addition, the following equipment is available for student use: variable speed tape recorders, a computer screen enlarger, a controlled reader, a reading machine, a FM Frequency System, and other equipment to facilitate students' learning.

The center is located in the basement of the General Education Building and is open Monday - Friday 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM, closed every weekday between 1:00 - 2:00 PM.  Evening and weekend hours of operation are posted on a weekly basis in the SASS.

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Workshops

Workshops on specific learning strategies are available every semester and as requested by individual colleges or student groups. SASS Staff work with both faculty and students in developing practical integration of learning strategies into the specific curriculum.

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Student Coaching and Consultations

Students can meet individually with educational specialists to develop personalized learning strategies designed to enhance success. Areas of consultation/coaching include:

Consultations and Coaching focus on assisting individuals to maximize their learning strengths and discover more effective strategies. All consultations are confidential. No information relative to the consultations and coaching can be released without the written permission of the individual.

Consultations can be scheduled between 8 AM and 5 PM, Monday through Friday. Early morning. late evening, and weekend appointments can be arranged with the educational specialists if needed. 

To make an appointment, please call 448-5056 or e-mail kgibbs@utmem.edu.

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Assessments

Students can be assessed to discern areas of learning strengths and weaknesses. Group assessments in reading comprehension and rate, study skills, writing, problem solving, and mathematics can be administered.

Also available for administration are a Teaching Style Inventory and a Test Anxiety Inventory.

Psychoeducational assessments are not administered in the SASS. Referrals are available in the SASS office.

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Services for Students with Disabilities

Services and accommodations are coordinated through the SASS Office for students with physical, learning, psychological and other disabilities.  The nature and scope of these services is based upon the documented need of the student as it relates to the specific curricular expectations of individual courses, as well as those services that are needed to provide equal access to the educational experiences at The University of Tennessee Health Science Center.  All students must provide current and relevant documentation.  Documentation guidelines are available in the SASS Office, GEB, BB9, or on the Student Orientation Web Page. Documentation will be reviewed for the provision of reasonable accommodations.  Students should make an appointment by calling 448-7746 or e-mailing kgibbs@utmem.edu to discuss accommodation needs as early as possible in order to facilitate the timely acquisition of appropriate services.

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Labs

Skill-specific labs can be set up each semester as requested to assist small groups of students in strengthening the following skill areas: Critical Thinking, Verbal/Communications Skills, Vocabulary, Grammar, and Reading Rate/Comprehension.

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Computer Software

PC and Macintosh computer stations with learning strategies software including reading comprehension and rate, statistics, APA formatting software, readability, and anatomy and physiology (ADAM) are available in the SASS.

Also, CDs are on reserve for use with board review and preparation for Parts I and II of the USMLE. These CDs are helpful for Dentistry and Pharmacy Board exams also. Timed and untimed practice examinations, pre-testing and post-testing, and item analysis can be set up for students individually and/or in groups by contacting Kathy Gibbs or Becky Saulters in the SASS.

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Videos and Tapes

The audiovisual area in the SASS can be used to view videos and listen to tapes related to courses and study skills areas such as relaxation, time management, etc. A cassette duplicator is also available.

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Learning Resources Library

Resources in the SASS include review, preparation, reference, practice questions, and study skills materials for checkout or for use in the SASS library and reference areas.

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Peer Tutoring

The SASS coordinates confidential peer tutoring programs for the Colleges of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmacy. In addition, individual or group consultations are available related to Effective Peer Tutoring and How to Start and Maintain Efficient Study Groups.

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Staff

The SASS Staff includes masters and doctorate level educators and counselors experienced in curriculum design and implementation, learning and reading strategies, counseling, student personnel services, psychometry, and school psychology.

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