Empowering Every Learner

Connected Support, Collective Success

Through individualized advising, tutoring, coaching, and care, the Academic Programs and Student Life team helps UMSI students build confidence, connection, and resilience.

Through individualized advising, tutoring, coaching, and care, the Academic Programs and Student Life team helps UMSI students build confidence, connection, and resilience.

At the School of Information, student success is a shared commitment—one that extends beyond the classroom and into every aspect of a student’s experience. The Academic Programs and Student Life (APSL) team within the Office of Academic and Student Affairs plays a crucial role in this effort by providing personalized resources and comprehensive support to help students overcome challenges, achieve balance, and reach their full potential. Through student-driven academic advising, peer tutoring, individualized student success coaching, and support for navigating academic accommodations, our team ensures that each student is empowered to successfully navigate their academic journey. 

Student-Driven Academic Advising: Leveraging Student Self-Authorship

Our residential academic advisors are using a student-driven advising model that encourages self-authorship, helping students take an active role in shaping their academic paths, making informed decisions, and defining success on their own terms. Rather than simply delivering answers, advisors guide BSI, MHI, and MSI students in constructing their own academic paths—helping them evaluate options, clarify goals, and define personal measures of success. This approach transforms advising into a collaborative partnership, where students are equal participants in the decision-making process. Whether choosing elective courses, pursuing engaged learning experiences, or identifying meaningful extracurricular opportunities, we foster student autonomy and growth through scaffolded support in advising conversations, resources, and programming that reflect the core values of self-authorship: autonomy, efficiency, and support. This approach nurtures students’ critical thinking and reinforces that there isn’t one single “right” path—there is a unique path that’s right for them.

Peer Tutoring: Building Confidence and Community

The UMSI Peer Tutoring program offers students the opportunity to strengthen their academic skills while fostering a sense of connection and community. Peer tutors—current UMSI students who have excelled in UMSI coursework—provide one-on-one support that helps their peers clarify complex material, develop effective study strategies, and build confidence. This model of peer-to-peer learning benefits both sides: Tutors gain leadership and mentoring experience, while students participating in tutoring receive personalized guidance from someone who understands their coursework and academic journey. Through in-person study tables offered on both North and Central Campus, and 1:1 virtual options, we continue to evolve to support student needs. 

Student Success Coaching: Holistic Student Support

The APSL team takes a comprehensive, wraparound approach to student support, understanding that academic success is closely connected to well-being, access to resources, and a sense of belonging. When you notice a student who could benefit from additional support, submitting a UMSI Student Care Referral allows our team to connect with them early and provide the guidance, resources, and care they may need. Through this process, students receive individualized assistance through success coaching and proactive outreach that addresses both academic and personal challenges. They are also encouraged to set goals, strengthen academic skills, and develop personalized strategies for success.

In addition to helping students manage time, workload, and stress, we connect students to campus resources that promote wellness and uphold the values outlined in UMSI’s Culture of Care framework. For students experiencing disruptions to their education—such as illness, personal hardship, or unforeseen challenges—we offer steady guidance, coordinate emergency funding, facilitate communication with instructors, and ensure access to supportive services. This proactive approach reflects UMSI’s commitment to caring for the whole student, promoting success both inside and outside of the classroom.

Supporting Accessibility: Ensuring Equitable Access to Learning

We also collaborate closely with the university’s Services for Students with Disabilities, among other campus services, to help students understand and navigate the academic accommodations process. Faculty and staff are essential partners in this process. By working together to implement accommodations thoughtfully and effectively, we reinforce UMSI’s dedication to providing equitable learning experiences for all students.

Thriving Together

At its core, the work of the Academic Programs and Student Life team is about empowerment—helping students discover their strengths, navigate challenges, and take ownership of their success. Through personalized academic support, compassionate coaching, and intentional collaboration across the UMSI community and broader campus, our team ensures that every student has the opportunity to thrive.