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Communication with Faculty
At Clemson, we have found that faculty-student interactions significantly
support academic success and performance. Faculty are excited about
their field of study and want to engage students in the field. Faculty also
administer the grades each semester, so a student who takes their time to
get to know their faculty member will stand out and become known to them.
PARENT TESTIMONIAL
“Encourage your student to
develop relationships with their
professors and/or adviser. This
has made a HUGE difference
for our senior! Let them know
professors welcome those
relationships, but most of
the time, it must be student-
initiated. Our senior had to
overcome the natural tendency
to be intimidated by the
professor and take the
first step to send an email
or make an appointment.
The relationships she has
developed as a result have
made her college experience
so much richer.”
Rhonda Barinowski
North Augusta, S.C.
How You Can Support
• Faculty members have office hours — encourage your student to go.
• As a student gets to know a faculty member, it will be easier to ask
for help if trouble is encountered.
• Many residential communities have strong faculty connections through
faculty-in-residence or faculty friends. Encourage your student
to connect with them, and to seek out guidance from the faculty
perspective.
Encouraging Students to Seek Help Early
One of the best ways to combat getting into trouble with grades is by
asking for help as early as possible. Encouraging your student to seek help
will not only help in their classroom experience, but likely in their personal
life as well. There are many places to look for help at Clemson: Resident
Assistants (RAs), academic advisers, faculty members, Student Affairs
staff members and Counseling and Psychological Services counselors,
among others. There is help all across campus. The best place to start
is by encouraging your student to seek help from someone if they need it.
ACADEMIC SUPPORT
Dr. Ted G. Westmoreland Academic Success Program
During their first semester of enrollment at Clemson, students may find
the academic expectations and rigor at Clemson to be higher than expected.
The Class of '56 Academic Success Center (ASC) building, located just
behind Cooper Library, is home to the Dr. Ted G. Westmoreland Academic
Success Program and features FREE comprehensive academic programs
designed for student success. These programs, offered to all undergraduate
students, include Peer Assisted Learning (PAL) sessions, tutoring, cross-
college academic advising and coaching, academic counseling and academic
strategy workshops. There’s something for every student at the ASC!
Course-Based Programs
Peer Assisted Learning (PAL) is a series of twice-weekly interactive study
sessions for students enrolled in historically difficult classes. Clemson’s PAL
program has been awarded international recognition for its effectiveness.
PAL sessions are led by an upperclass PAL leader who completed the course
at Clemson and earned an A. The PAL leader attends all class meetings and
guides their peers through the course material throughout the semester.
PAL leaders are trained to integrate course content (what to learn) and study
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