Skip to Main Content

Scholastic Enhancement Program

Program Information

Each SEP student is assigned an RLC staff member as an Advisor. The success of the SEP program is demonstrated by the fact that SEP was honored with a Retention Excellence Award from USA Group Noel-Levitz ®, a nationally recognized consulting firm specializing in higher education enrollment management, financial aid and student retention.

SEP advisors meet with students weekly to work on such topics as:

  • Transitioning to College
  • Time Management and Organization
  • Selecting Classes
  • Creating Course Schedules
  • Major Selection and Degree Planning

Goals

The Scholastic Enhancement Program (SEP) is intended to achieve the following goals for Miami University, as well as students admitted through the program:

  • Provide special admission for targeted students on the conditional agreement that they participate in the scholastic enhancement program and satisfactorily follow through on that commitment.
  • Provide early contact with faculty, staff, and successful upperclass students who can provide personal support, advice and assistance.
  • Require the completion of the Learning and Study Strategies Inventory (LASSI), an assessment of students’ previous academic practices and current learning and study behaviors.
  • Offer peer group activities that are designed to build social and personal friendships that will serve the student in times of stress.
  • Provide early advising and offer special course selection that will build academic skill levels and abilities.
  • Provide supplemental instruction in specific courses using faculty and/or selected and trained upperclass students.

Components of SEP

Students who are admitted to Miami through the Scholastic Enhancement Program (SEP) are allowed to take advantage of all of the resources and classes that Miami has to offer. In addition, SEP students are granted access to additional resources to help ensure their success at Miami, including the following:

Academic Advising

Each SEP student has an RLC staff member assigned to them as an SEP Advisor. SEP Advisors serve as the primary academic advisor for first-year SEP students, and assist them with course planning, registration, and career counseling. as an assigned Academic Advisor to assist them in course planning, registration, and career counseling. All first-year SEP students are required to meet with their SEP Advisor to create a class schedule prior to registering for courses.

EDL 260: Undergraduate Research Option

This course introduces students to the Undergraduate Research Option (URO). URO provides students with the opportunity to partner with a faculty member on a research project. This partnership allows students to learn more about their subject area and about scholarly research, while also potentially building a mentoring relationship with a faculty member. If you are interested in becoming involved with undergraduate research, contact RLC staff member Chasity Dittmann at dittmac2@miamioh.edu.

Midterm Academic Evaluations

A detailed academic progress evaluation is distributed to all SEP students' professors/instructors midway through each semester. This evaluation allows the coordinators and students to monitor their academic progress.

Tutorial Assistance

Tutors are available, free of charge, to all SEP students. Tutors may be obtained for most courses in groups or on a one-on-one basis. Students are encouraged to make use of this outstanding support service.

FAQs

How is a student selected to participate in the Scholastic Enhancement Program (SEP)? 

Students are selected based on their application materials. The criteria used to select students includes ACT/SAT test scores, class rank, high school grades in academic subjects, involvement in extracurricular activities, work experience, high school academic program, essay, recommendation from high school counselor/teacher, and declared major. Some or all of these factors contribute to students' selection into the program.

What are the requirements for participation in the program?

Based on a student's admission status to the University, participation in the Scholastic Enhancement Program is mandatory. Students will be required to work with the Scholastic Enhancement Program for a minimum of two years. SEP Advisors will meet regularly with SEP students and assist them in the development of an educational plan that will position them for academic success at Miami University. As an SEP student, you are required to attend weekly meetings with your SEP Advisor. During these meetings, you can expect to discuss course selection and degree planning, as well as reflect upon your study habits and academic practices and develop strategies to improve upon them. Your SEP Advisor is eager to help you transition successfully to Miami University and attain academic success, and is available to discuss a variety of academic questions and concerns.

Who else will know that I am participating in this program?

Outside of the Learning Center, the only other individuals who will be made aware of your status in the program will be faculty, staff, and those individuals who may provide you with additional services. These services may include academic advising, tutoring, peer mentoring, etc.

Will participating in the Scholastic Enhancement Program mean I will be separated from other students?

No. One of the unique features of this program is that it is structured to assist you through the established services already in place at the University. As a first-year student, you will live and study alongside other incoming Miami University students. The only distinction is that you have an advisor through the SEP program with whom you will be meeting regularly to plan for your academic success.

Will participating in this program prevent me from participating in extracurricular activities such as sports, Greek life, student government, and other student activities?

No. The Scholastic Enhancement Program is designed to bridge academics and extracurricular activities. We encourage you to talk with your SEP Advisor about activities you wish to become involved in; they may be able to help you proactively plan and manage your time, so that you can be successful academically while still pursuing activities that interest you.

Will I be able to take regular academic classes?

Yes. You are eligible to take the same courses all incoming Miami University students take. Your SEP Advisor will help you through this process by working with you to select classes and create course schedules that position you for academic success and allow you to fulfill requirements for your degree. Additionally, if you would benefit from additional instruction in some of your classes, your SEP Advisor can help connect you with free tutoring and/or supplemental instruction.

What will happen to me if I do not adhere to the program guidelines once I am enrolled?

If you disregard the requirements of the Scholastic Enhancement Program, you will be violating the terms of your admission to the university. As a result, evaluations will be made to determine whether a registration hold should be placed on your account. This hold will prevent you from registering for future Miami courses, and you will need to meet with your SEP Advisor to have the hold removed.

Mission

The Rinella Learning Center and the Scholastic Enhancement Program provide academic and personal guidance for targeted students to ensure their completion of a degree through coordinated programs and services in cooperation with faculty and staff campus-wide.

Contact Us

Bernard B. Rinella, Jr. Learning Center

306 Shriver Center
513-529-8741