As demand grows for student accountability groups, Purdue's Academic Success Center looks toward expanding the program

Last updated: February 8th, 2022

While it may be normal for college students to struggle with imposter syndrome and finding connection with their peers, the ongoing pandemic seems to have heightened both of these challenges by a noticeable degree.

Katie Dufault, director of the Academic Success Center (ASC), and her staff regularly hear students say things like “this material is easy for everyone but me.” Students also tend to compare their lowest moments with the “academic success” of their peers, which fuels feelings of isolation and loneliness. During their one-on-one consultations with ASC staff members during the pandemic, many Purdue students expressed feeling alone in their academic struggles. Several were looking for accountability to help motivate them in completing independent tasks, such as homework and studying.

ASC Graduate Assistants Laurie Sites and Marquetta Strait worked with Mary Kirk, ASC assistant director of the Peer Success Coaching Program, to produce a solution: the accountability groups program.

Accountability Groups launched in fall 2021, and the ASC experienced immediate and high interest in the program. ASC staff originally planned for one accountability group, but by the end of the semester, they had three groups established. When the spring 2022 semester began, the ASC went from three groups to seven, with each group holding 6-10 students.

“To be honest, it gained so much more traction than I thought it would,” Kirk said.

Students gather at one of the ASC's Spring 2022 Accountability Group meetings in Wiley

Among these newly added groups is the Executive Functioning Skills Development group. To create a more inclusive environment for all students at Purdue, the ASC collaborated with the Disability Resource Center (DRC) to create a group for students with disabilities. While students are not required to join any specific group, they may wish to connect intentionally with peers who have similar experiences. A single facilitator leads most groups; for the Executive Functioning Skills Development group, ASC Graduate Assistant Laurie Sites takes the lead on all things academic success, while DRC Access Consultant Jackie Heymann helps find ways to adapt the material for students with disabilities.

In addition to normalizing struggles students experienced during the pandemic, these groups also allow the ASC to share academic success information that will help students excel in their courses.

“For many Purdue students, this may be the first time they are feeling this challenged by academics, and imposter syndrome can set in,” Dufault said. “We want to provide a place where students can share and grow together. Where they can normalize the challenges, form a peer network that supports their academic growth, and reminds them that they belong at Purdue.”

The accountability groups program focuses on giving students what they need, whether it be support, connection or simply a quiet place to work. Accountability groups meet for 90 minutes once a week. Each group has a facilitator, either a graduate student or a student leader. Students have time to work on whatever tasks they may want to complete, though there is some structure to the meetings that help meet their connectivity and accountability goals.

One of the best parts about accountability groups is the diversity of students in each section. Groups are open to undergraduate students across majors, years, and standing. Dufault and the staff of the ASC want students to understand that their struggles are not unique to them. Accountability groups provide a safe place for students to feel included, where they can say they may not know how to study, or they don’t understand a topic, without feeling judged.

“Ultimately, the goal of each session is to provide a small group environment that promotes peer connection, accountability and skill development as students navigate the demands of college learning and life,” Dufault said.

Accountability Groups offer a chance for students to listen and learn from their peers

Each group session begins with goal setting. Students set an intention for their time, like completing an assignment or mastering a topic for an upcoming exam. This gives students a roadmap for the coming hours, helps get students in the habit of setting study goals, and encourages them to use this skill outside of their accountability groups. Much of the time is set aside for students to work while facilitators monitor activity and provide guidance. Facilitators also carve out time to teach students various academic success skills, such as time management or prioritization, and inform students about available resources on campus. At the end of each session, facilitators have students set goals for what they want to have accomplished by the next meeting. Facilitators also have personal check-ins to build connections between the students in their group.

Staff and faculty at Purdue are encouraged to refer undergraduate students to accountability groups. To sign up, students can visit the accountability group page on the ASC website for the current schedule and application.

There are only a few spots left in the current groups; however the ASC still encourages students who are interested to, fill out an application. The application demand and student availability responses will help staff determine if new groups should be added and at what times.

As far as the next steps for the program, Kirk hopes to increase the number of groups available so more students can get involved. Although the ASC may not be able to expand the program this semester, they want to prepare for growth by hiring more student leaders to act as group facilitators. Faculty can help by spreading the word about the program and encouraging students to apply.

To learn more information about the Academic Success Center or accountability groups, visit the ASC website.


Contacts:

Molly Gilbride, Communications Assistant for Student Success Programs, mgilbrid@purdue.edu

Andrea Mattingly, Communications Director for Student Success Programs, andrea@purdue.edu

Mary Kirk, Assistant Director of Academic Success Center, mkkirk@purdue.edu

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