Norfolk State University News August 2013 Spartan Hope Academy Provides Freshman with Support Norfolk State University is working to ensure that freshmen are successful in their first year of college. The Spartan Hope Academy, funded by a $67,625 grant from the Hampton Roads Community Foundation, is a new residential learning community that will provide students with support services that include special advising, tutoring, mentoring, enrichment activities, service-learning and career development. Affiliated with NSU President Tony Atwater’s Spartan Crusade for Academic Success initiative, the Spartan Hope Academy will have an initial cohort of 60 first-time, full-time residential freshmen. Its goal is an 80 percent retention rate for the group between freshman and sophomore year and is expected ultimately to increase the University’s graduation rates. Students will engage in an intense eight-day session the week before the semester starts to get them ready for the academic year. Support will continue throughout the year. “NSU is initiating many programs to help improve student success,” said Dr. Sandra J. DeLoatch, NSU provost and vice president for academic affairs. “The Spartan Hope Academy will serve as a model for the launch of more innovative initiatives.” The University recently launched the Spartan Success Center, which has a goal of improving student achievement, improving retention and reducing time to degree completion. Additionally, NSU has named a University retention czar whose responsibilities are to retain students and get them to graduation. The czar, Dr. Eleanor Hoy, who was formerly the mentoring and retention director for the College of Science, Engineering and Technology, now works with all of the colleges and schools. SANDRA M. PHOENIX Executive Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> 800-999-8558, ext. 4820 404-702-5854 Skype: sandra.phoenix1 1438 West Peachtree NW Suite 200 Atlanta,GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (LYRASIS) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org<http://www.lyrasis.org/> Honor the ancestors, honor the children.