CARES Mission

The mission of the Center for Academic Retention and Enrichment Services (CARES) is to increase retention and graduation rates by enriching the academic progression of academically at-risk students. CARES assists students with identifying and overcoming personal concerns, academic deficiencies and life difficulties that could continue to impair their chances of succeeding in college, while helping them develop good study habits, self-management, and decision-making skills that increase retention and graduation rates for college students. The Center for Academic Retention and Enrichment Services "CARES" about the academic and personal well-being of students and exists to partner with them in reaching their academic goals.

CARES Initiatives

Intrusive Counseling

CARES Counselors provide retention counseling, academic advisement and other academic support services for CARES students.  These services include course scheduling, retention support, and other academic enrichment services that are designed to enhance the academic success of college students.  CARES Counselors work closely with faculty and departments to refer students to the University's support services as appropriate to student needs.

Academic Support

CARES maintains study and computer labs to provide academic enrichment and support to students to augment classroom instruction.  CARES students are strongly encouraged to spend time in the CARES support labs as part of their academic requirements. In addition the CARES support personnel counsels and/or refers students to other campus services for assistance.

Academic Success Seminar (ACAD 2200)

Students who are on Academic Probation are required to enroll in a one hour course, ACAD 2200: Academic Success Seminar, and work with a Retention Counselor from the Center for Academic Retention and Enrichment Services. The goals of these activities are to help the student introspectively identify the barriers to their success and to help the student avoid Academic Suspension. The course is taught by CARES Retention Counselors.

Early Intervention Reporting

The Early Intervention Program at The University of Memphis is committed to the success of all students. It was instituted as a means to inform and focus on students who may be experiencing academic or personal difficulties and provide available campus resources to help ensure their best chance for success in their coursework. An integral part of the Early Intervention Program is the facilitation of a communication loop between divisions, departments, programs, advisors, and faculty to effectively intervene when a student is at risk of failing their academic courses. The Center for Academic Retention and Enrichment Services is responsible for administrative oversight of this program.

Academic Fresh Start

An Academic Fresh Start is a plan of academic forgiveness provided for undergraduate students who have gained maturity through extended experience outside higher education institutions and have demonstrated better than average academic performance following their return to the University of Memphis. It allows for the calculation of the applicant's grade point average and credit hours toward graduation to be based only on work completed after returning to college. This Tennessee Board of Regents policy is administered at The University of Memphis by the Center for Academic Retention and Enrichment Services.

High School Deficiencies

The Tennessee Board of Regents specifies specific high school units, or courses, that a student must have earned in high school before being admitted to one of its colleges and/or universities. If a student did not take that course in high school, they will have an admission deficiency.
Although a student may be admitted to the University, if they are admitted with a deficiency, the admission is conditional. CARES Counselors provide students with options and plans to successfully remove the deficiencies during the first few semesters of enrollment. The Center for Academic Retention and Enrichment Services acts as a liaison between the student and the Tennessee Board of Regents to insure compliance with the Boards standards.

Weekly Progress Reporting

Through various mediums, including personal meetings, e-mail reporting, SKYPE appointments, and telephone counseling, CARES Counselors interface with all students that are on Academic Probation or returning from Academic Suspension weekly to discuss academic progress, upcoming academic work, evaluation of study skills, and life situations that might potentially impede their academic success.