Academic Language and Learning Support Services in Higher Education

Book excerpt: Registering for courses, securing financial aid, developing strong study skills, and mastering difficult course material are just a few of the wide variety of obstacles that college students must overcome on their path to graduation. Beyond inadequate academic preparation, first-generation college students may not be able to rely on family or friends for advice about higher education and thus face the additional burden of constructing a support network of mentors and advisors. Without suitable advice and counseling, these students may make decisions that adversely affect their circumstances—and thus, their education. Academic Language and Learning Support Services in Higher Education is an essential scholarly resource that examines the quality, organization, and administration of academic advisement and academic support systems for college and university students that connect them to the academic community and foster an appreciation of lifelong learning. Featuring a wide range of topics such as enrollment services, professional developments, and service learning, this text is ideal for academicians, academic advisers, mentors, curriculum designers, counsellors, administrators, higher education faculty, policymakers, researchers, and graduate students.