Academic Support Center

In addition to advising students, the Academic Support Center coordinates various programs and services to serve the entire MTSU community. In coordinating these programs, the ASC strives to bring learning alive all over campus and in the residence halls. The goal is to offer programs that will help students succeed in their majors and offer experiences that will enrich their lives. This is currently accomplished through the Community Summer Reading Program, the Raider Book Club, and the Raider Learning Communities.

Community Summer Reading Program
MTSU’s Community Summer Reading Program was created in 2002 under the direction of Laurie Witherow, the Director of the Academic Support Center. The objectives of the program are to:

Provide a unifying experience for the entering class of students,
Partner with Murfreesboro community organizations,
Encourage intellectual interaction among students,
Provide students with the opportunity to read and personally interact with critically-acclaimed authors, and
Affirm the importance of reading for a successful and fulfilling life.

During CUSTOMS, all incoming freshman students receive packets that include a Summer Reading Guide, information about the author, and a list of course sections using the book selection for the Fall. In its first year, over 100 different course sections from three different academic colleges participated, along with six reading groups from the local community! More than 7,000 people attended last Fall’s University Convocation where our guest author was invited to speak.

The book selection for 2008 is Three Cups of Tea, by Greg Mortenson & David Oliver Relin. The Distinguished Lecture Committee will bring the author to campus to speak at Convocation and attend the President's luncheon on Sunday, August 24, 2008. On Saturday, August 23, 2008, Mortenson will attend a book signing at the Linebaugh Library, Murfreesboro's city library, and also speak to community book clubs who are reading the book. Mortenson will visit one of MTSU's classes during the first day of the Fall 2008 semester. For more information regarding the Summer Reading Program book selection click here.

For more information about the Community Summer Reading Program, contact Sumer Patterson at (615) 898-2339, spatters@mtsu.edu.

The Raider Book Club lives!! Each year selected faculty members and administrators are asked to suggest a book for students to read. Those faculty members and administrators are then invited to “host” a book discussion for the students. UNIV 1010 instructors are asked to participate, allowing their students to choose a book to read from a list and then have the opportunity to attend the discussion with the faculty member or administrator who recommended the book. Occasionally, the UNIV 1010 instructors opt to include the book as a class project for a grade or give extra credit to participating students. The books are made available in Phillips Bookstore and are on reserve at the campus library. Refreshments are served as well!!

Here is a list of the participating administrators and faculty members for Spring 2007, their book choices, and the discussion times:

On the Taboo of Knowing Who You Are by Alan Watts
Facilitator: Dr. Shapiro, Adjunct Instructor – Philosophy
Meeting: Tuesday, February 6th, 4:30pm – 6:00pm – BAS SunTrust Room
Dakota: A Spiritual Geography by Kathleen Norris
Facilitator: Mr. Lykens, Professor – History
Meeting: Tuesday, March 20th, 4:30pm – 6:00pm – BAS SunTrust Room
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
Facilitator: Mrs. Nicole Green, Career Coordinator – Mass Communications
Meeting: Tuesday, April 10th, 4:30pm – 6:00pm – BAS SunTrust Room

For more information on the Raider Book Club contact J. Michelle McDaniel (mmcdanie@mtsu.edu) or the Academic Support Center at 898-2339.

Raider Learning Communities
The Raider Learning Community Program (RLC) offer students an opportunity to experience classes at MTSU in a whole new way. The RLC program helps create a small college atmosphere within the large university environment. RLC students belong to small groups of approximately 25 and enroll as a group in courses available to that community. As an RLC participant, you will find that the experience builds a connection with a group of peers. Those relationships with your academic colleagues often lead to lasting friendships and provide a real enhancement to your studies and entire college experience.

MTSU offers two types of RLC experiences . . . residential and non-residential. Housing and Residential Life coordinates residential RLC options. These include the Aerospace and Give Me a Beat communities. Student opting to participate in these communities live together on campus and attend at least one major course requirement together. Contact Housing and Residential Life for more details. The Academic Support Center coordinates non-residential learning communities. Special sections of various general education courses have been paired together to offer all students the opportunity to experience the learning community concept. Offers are listed each semester on RaiderNet. For more information about the Raider Learning Communities please contact Byron Lightsy (blightsy@mtsu.edu).