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Academic Support Programs

Academic support programs can elevate learning outcomes for at-risk students. They augment your core curriculum with developmental resources, modules, and strategies for student success.

These programs also close the learning gap with the foundational knowledge and skills needed to thrive at your institution. See below for the different approaches, models, and Pearson solutions to use in an academic support program.

Academic remediation, acceleration, and intervention

The best academic support strategy depends on the problem it's solving. Three common approaches are remedial education, accelerated learning, and intervention.

Remediation

Teaching what the student should know, but does not
Includes core math and English skills for new students
A less-popular term due to its negative, reactive tone

Acceleration

Any strategy that speeds up the learning process
Includes modular, compressed, and corequisite courses
An efficient, proactive approach to academic support

Intervention

Response to Intervention (RTI) method is academic
Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) is holistic
Often reserved for individual, at-risk students

"We compressed our Elementary Algebra course into eight weeks … the student pass rate increased by 40 percent."

- Assistant Professor, State College of Florida

Academic support models

Modular model

Compressed model

Compressed learning can fast-track program completion by spending less time on the subject matter. It helps educators cover 16-week classes in as little as four weeks. And while it isn’t recommended for at-risk students, the compressed model is an ideal solution for summer classes and scheduling conflicts.

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Corequisite model

Corequisite courses blend acceleration and remediation. With this approach, students combine a credit-bearing course with an academic support program to finish both at the same time. It’s an equitable way to improve learning outcomes and ensure your students get the college credit they’ve earned.

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Applied or contextual learning model

The applied learning model engages students with coursework they care about. It connects core reading, writing, and math skills to other disciplines, providing a more relevant and effective learner experience. Healthcare majors, for example, can solve word problems about prescription dosages to hone their math skills.

Explore applied learning solutions

Pathways model

Much like applied learning, the pathways model provides a personalized learning experience based on each student’s field of study. This approach often differentiates math coursework for STEM majors and non-STEM majors. It emphasizes the right content and adds or removes more advanced topics as needed.

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Integrated reading & writing model

Non-course-based remediation (NCBR) model

Student success is more than academic achievement. Non-course-based remediation (NCBR) happens outside of a semester-based course and includes boot camps, bridge programs, and Massive Online Open Courses (MOOCs). These resources cover career readiness, ESL skills, placement test prep, and more.

Explore NCBR solutions

Solutions for academic support programs

Educators can choose from a range of print and digital resources for student success plans. Some options are ready to go, designed for quick adoption and proven results. Others are custom-built, providing more flexibility and control over course timing, sequence, and content.

Pearson offers prebuilt and custom solutions for academic support programs. If you’re tasked with boosting learner outcomes, consider the options below — or contact your rep to learn more.