Working with the SCAA

The Student Center for Academic Achievement’s history is deeply rooted in faculty involvement and support as it began as a faculty-driven written proposal in 1999. Established in 2001, “the SCAA” is a university-wide comprehensive learning center serving and employing students from all colleges. The SCAA serves as a one-stop-shop for academic support services on the third floor of the CORE Building, providing academic skills coaching as well as subject tutoring and writing tutoring for courses across the curriculum. Additionally, the SCAA offers embedded, collaborative support through its Writing Associates (WA), Supplemental Instruction (SI), and Peer Academic Coaching (PAC) programs. The SCAA establishes and maintains collegial and reciprocal relationships with faculty whose feedback, insights, and promotion have been essential to the SCAA's success.

Sample Language for your Syllabus

"The Student Center for Academic Achievement (SCAA) at CSUEB provides individualized support to assist you at any stage of your coursework. The SCAA strives to cultivate adaptability, self-direction, and self-confidence through peer-to-peer support programs, all offered at no additional cost to students. SCAA services can help you set achievable goals, develop academic skills, and improve subject comprehension.

Services include tutoring for an array of subjects (in-person and online), support for college-level writing, peer-to-peer academic skills coaching, and Supplemental Instruction (SI) study groups. The SCAA is located on the Third Floor of the CORE Building (Room 343). For more information visit www.csueastbay.edu/scaa or contact SCAA@csueastbay.edu."

Five Common Faculty Partnerships with the SCAA


1. Promote the SCAA directly to your students.

Consider providing information about the SCAA and its services in your syllabus, during class announcements, and on Canvas. Essential information includes our service hours, our location on the Third Floor of the CORE Building, and our contact information such as our phone number, website, etc.

 

2. Invite the SCAA into your classroom.

There are multiple ways to engage with the SCAA.

  • Request an overview of our services. We can provide a 15-min presentation for you and your students, in-person or online.
  • Request an academic skills development workshop. SCAA Workshops are delivered in-person or online via Zoom for 45-minute, 60-minute, or 75-minute durations. They are typically facilitated by Peer Academic Coaches or Writing Tutors. They can also serve as a "Cover Your Class" option for faculty members who are unable to attend a class meeting. Workshop topics include:
    • Time Management
    • Planning and Prioritization
    • Campus Communication
    • Campus Resources
    • Study Skills
    • Self-Care
    • Writing Skills
  • Request an embedded tutor or coach for your course. SCAA Peer Leaders can offer active support for student learning during class, ranging in duration: for a one-off class visit, several visits, or to become part of the classroom community for the full semester.

Are you instructing an asynchronous course/section? Connect with us about support and materials needed for your students.
Do you have other ideas? We are happy to innovate and adapt our support for your specific course. Please contact a member of the SCAA Admin Team to schedule an exploratory conversation.

 

3. Describe your partnership with the SCAA positively.

SCAA services help students set achievable goals, develop academic skills, and improve subject comprehension. Consider asking a student in your course who has used SCAA’s services to provide a testimonial for your class.

Negatively associating the SCAA as a place solely for struggling students or remediation can cause a stigma in using our services. Explain the benefits of utilizing the SCAA without shaming students for their choices to visit/not visit.

Language to Avoid:

  • “The SCAA will fix your paper/assignment.”
  • “The SCAA will teach remedial math/writing so that you can catch up in this course.”
  • “If you fail, go to SCAA.”
  • “Go to SCAA if you missed a class.”

 

4. Nominate/Recommend students for SCAA Peer Leadership positions.

The heart of the SCAA’s work is a dedicated staff of "peer" educators. Accordingly, we have a rigorous selection process and expect our employees to complete intensive training. Your input and participation in our hiring processes is greatly appreciated. Please use the SCAA Student Employment Nomination/Recommendation Form to nominate or recommend students for SCAA student employment opportunities.


5. Refer students to SCAA services through The Bay Advisor.

Staff and faculty can "Issue an Alert" to notify the SCAA that a student may be in need of "Writing Tutoring" or "Subject Tutoring" or "Coaching" (3 alert reasons available). Once an alert is submitted, the SCAA Front Desk Team does outreach to the student in an effort to assist them in making an appointment. For more information please contact the SCAA Director, Rachel Brunson, or reference Bay Advisor resources available here.