Academic Success Center

About

The Academic Success Center (ASC), located on the third floor of the Cullom-Davis Library, brings together students, faculty and staff campus-wide to develop initiatives aimed at maximizing student potential. Resources such as tutoring, Supplemental Instruction, and academic coaching are centralized and delivered in a supportive environment that encourages students’ growth and development as learners.

The Academic Success Center is committed to empowering all Bradley students to achieve success by enhancing their lifelong learning skills in collaborative, inclusive, and supportive environments with peers and professionals.

Navigate

Bradley University has partnered with EAB to enhance student success through the Navigate360 application. This platform aims to improve retention and graduation rates on college campuses, including Bradley University.

Navigate360 combines technology, research, and predictive analytics to help instructors, advisors and administrators promote student degree completion and life success. The platform provides advisors and other pertinent departments with a software system that allows them to identify students who may need additional support. Students benefit from a coordinated and consistent platform to access academic advising and other student services.

Students

Bradley University students can access Navigate360 through Navigate360 Student or by downloading the mobile app through Apple or Google. Once downloaded, be sure to login with your @mail.bradley.edu and complete the short intake survey to get started.
Faculty and Staff

Faculty and staff can log in to Navigate360 using single sign-on credentials at https://bradley.campus.eab.com. Access to Navigate360 should be automatic for all advisors and instructors. Any employee who needs to request additional access should submit the Request for Access form. Note that permissions are based on employee position.
Need Help?

For assistance with login issues, process related questions, or training opportunities associated with Navigate360, please contact the Navigate Administrator at [email protected].

If you are seeing errors in the site or are unable to access Navigate360, you can check the Navigate Status page.

To request access for a new user or to expand access for an existing user, submit the Request for Access form.

For assistance resolving issues associated with Navigate, please contact the IT Service Desk at ext 2964 or visit the Service Desk in the Cullom-Davis Library.
For process questions about Alerts, appointment scheduling, or appointment campaigns, the Success Team representative(s) from your area may be able to assist. See Success Team representatives.
If you are seeing errors in the site or are unable to access Navigate, you can check the status of Navigate by following the Navigate Status.
To request access for a new user or to expand access for an existing user, follow the Request Access link.
Frequently asked questions and answers can be found in the Faculty and Staff Guide.

Academic Support Services

Tutoring is a free, peer-based resource available to Bradley students. The tutoring program focuses on providing support for many 100 and 200 level STEM courses. We invest a great deal of time into the program to ensure our practices are compliant with the standards set by the College Reading and Learning Association (CRLA). We work closely with the faculty across multiple academic departments to recruit tutors in subject areas where support is needed, and we contact students directly if they meet the criteria for an open position. Those messages are sent to your Bradley email if you fit the criteria for an opening at the time. We invite you to attend tutoring in the Academic Success Center on the third floor of the Cullom-Davis Library.

Tutoring Schedules

Language Tutoring

Located in Bradley Hall 310, the WLC – World Languages and Cultures Center offers space for student and faculty collaboration. It is equipped with a mobile TV and a region-free DVD player. We have a variety of materials for student instructional use including audio files, CD-ROMs, videos and DVDs, magazines, dictionaries and newspapers.

Monday – Friday | 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Monday
Julia Westmoreland
Mandarin
1:30 – 2:30 p.m.
BR 311

Wednesday
Payton Campbell
Spanish
12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
BR 311

Renée Bilsborough
French
2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
BR 310

Through academic coaching, students can identify and address barriers to academic success. Academic coaching takes the form of one-on-one meetings with ASC staff members who will work with students to identify strategies and resources that can be used to be a more effective learner. Academic coaching appointments are collaborative and intended to help students identify and maximize their strengths.

Professional Academic Coaching

To schedule a one-on-one appointment with an academic coach, please follow the instructions below:

Login to Navigate
Click “Get Assistance”
Select “Academic Coaching” from both of the first two dropdowns
Leave the date range as-is, or, if looking to book more than one week out, select the date you’d like to explore
Click “Find Available Time”
Select the date and time that work for you, or select “View individual availabilities” if you’re looking for a specific staff member
Select how you would like to meet (in person or virtual)
Add comments that will help your coach to prepare for your meeting
Click “Schedule”

You will receive a confirmation email. If you did not receive this email, your appointment is not confirmed.

Many students experience some form of academic difficulty during their college career. At Bradley, undergraduate students whose difficulty has resulted in first-time academic recovery are required to participate in the Turning Point Program (TPP). TPP’s mission is to assist first-time probation students as they work to regain good academic standing.

Program participants will complete the following mandatory steps:

Participants will be automatically enrolled into AEP 115 10. Shortly thereafter, students will also be assigned to a specific TPP Coach when they are added to a specific lab section of AEP 115 (these sections are designated with letters on your schedule visible in MyBradley, for example “AEP 115 A”).
Complete an online course that explains academic recovery and TPP requirements in Canvas.
Attend a required meeting with your TPP Coach within the first two weeks of class. During this meeting, you will identify goals that you would like to set for the semester, and your TPP Coach will also determine how often you will meet throughout the semester.
Submit your semester grade goals early in the semester to your TPP Coach through your University email.
Submit your post-midterm grade report to your TPP Coach through your University email.
Attend two Student Success Workshops during the semester. The first workshop attendance will be required before midterm, and the second workshop attendance will be required before the end of the term. Workshops are held in-person in the Academic Success Center, which is located on the third floor of the Cullom-Davis Library.
Meet with your TPP Coach each time an appointment is requested or at any point you would like to discuss your progress, questions, or concerns.

At the end of the semester, you will receive a Pass or Fail grade for this 0-hour course based upon completion of the required components above. This grade will become part of your academic record, but it will not factor into your grade point average (GPA).

TPP Coaches are meant to be additional resources for you. They will help you identify areas for improvement and strategies for being a successful college student. We recognize that the circumstances that affect students’ academic performance vary from student to student, so it is important that you meet with your TPP Coach to identify the resources and tools that will best assist you in your academic recovery. What does it mean to be on Probation?

All students with a Bradley cumulative GPA below a 2.0 are placed on some form of probation. Students in TPP must achieve a semester GPA of at least 2.25 or move their cumulative GPA to 2.0 or above to continue at Bradley. Please refer to the Undergraduate Scholastic Probation, Dismissal, and Forgiveness Policies section of the Undergraduate Catalog for more details. What happens if I am dismissed?

If you are dismissed, you must petition for reinstatement. Obtain a petition and get more information about reinstatement.

For more information regarding the Turning Point Program contact the Academic Success Center at (309) 677-2416 or [email protected].

The educational environment at Bradley is demanding, and developing good academic skills will result in academic success. From time management and goal setting, to test anxiety and preparing for exams, our workshops can help you establish strong habits that can enhance your learning and help you to balance the numerous demands of your varied coursework.

We also offer workshops and presentations in classes upon request from the instructor, pending staff availability to present during your requested time.

Please see the current term workshop schedule using the buttons to the right. Students must register to attend their chosen workshops. If faculty/staff require verification of attendance, please contact [email protected] with details.

RSVP Here

View Schedule Here

Supplemental Instruction (SI) is a peer-led academic assistance program meant to improve students’ academic performance and increase retention. SI Leaders facilitate a peer-to-peer learning environment in weekly study sessions.

Supplemental Instruction is different from tutoring in that it is an interactive group learning environment where challenging materials are reviewed. It helps students develop study habits while getting to know their classmates. Supplemental Instruction is available for select classes. Schedules are subject to change, so please bookmark the schedule linked above. Supported courses are subject to change on a term-to-term basis.

Session Schedules

APPLY Visit/TOUR request information Give

Additional Links

Cullom-Davis Library 320
(309) 677-2416
[email protected]
Monday – Friday
8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

View Supplemental Instruction Hours

Additional Academic Support Offices

Math Success Center

The Math Success Center provides essential resources needed to help facilitate the learning of mathematical content. We work in partnership with tutors we trust, tutors who support our commitment to helping students grow academically to their maximum potential.

The Math Success Center is currently available online.

The Math Success Center tutors are dedicated to helping students by providing clarification on mathematical concepts. Please keep in mind that tutors are available to assist students as they practice the content in their courses. It is expected that students who need assistance have course notes and any other pertinent information that has been given out in class so those resources are available.

Bradley ALEKS Math Placement Assessment

Bradley University requires an ALEKS Placement, Preparation and Learning (ALEKS PPL) Assessment to determine readiness for mathematics courses. All incoming first-year students are required to take the mathematics assessment, including students who have or will be receiving AP or transfer credit. Students can take the exam at a time that is convenient and should take 60 – 90 minutes to complete. Our goal is to give the best academic advice for mathematics placement for all students. The ALEKS Assessment MUST be completed as soon as possible. A hold will be placed on your account until you have completed the assessment, which will prevent you from registering for classes. Students who have questions about the assessment at any time should contact [email protected]. Success in math starts with taking the right course. It is important that you are placed in the appropriate math course so you do not waste time and money in courses that you are over- or under-qualified for. Students have additional placement assessment opportunities; therefore, students should take the math assessment as soon as it becomes available. If you would like to try to place higher, ALEKS offers an individualized Prep and Learning Module which can lead to higher placement prior to class registration.

Accommodations

Extended time accommodation is built into the placement assessment. Students who require vision accommodations for using the JAWS2019 reader should contact the Office of Student Access Services at [email protected].

Follow the steps below before beginning the process of taking your assessment.

ALEKS PPL is a web-based program that uses artificial intelligence to map a student’s math strengths and weaknesses. The Placement Assessment includes up to 30 questions and generally takes 60-90 minutes to complete. After the Placement Assessment, each student is placed into an individualized Prep and Learning Module. Students have access to the Prep and Learning module for 12 months after they complete their first placement assessment. Students are encouraged to take advantage of the opportunity to refresh their knowledge on forgotten topics. Students then have the opportunity to reassess and improve their placement.

ALEKS consists of three parts:

Initial Placement Assessment
The individualized Prep and Learning Modules, a self-paced online review
Access to 2 additional Placement Assessments

What is the purpose of placement testing?

The Placement Assessment results will be used to determine the most appropriate mathematics course. ALEKS PPL is a “Placement Assessment,” not a test. The difference is that a Placement Assessment is designed to determine what a student knows and what a student needs to work on. At the end of the ALEKS PPL Assessment, a student will have a much better sense of their strengths and weaknesses in math.

After taking a Placement Assessment, students are encouraged to practice and retest in the Prep and Learning Modules provided in order to refresh forgotten math skills before their first math course at Bradley. Students who want to improve their math placement score are encouraged to practice and retest.

Best effort. It is important that the Placement Assessment is taken seriously and that each student gives it an honest effort so that the Placement Assessment truly reflects their current level of knowledge and math preparedness.

Assessment, students should not consult any outside sources for help (friends/family, internet searches, textbooks, notes etc…). The purpose of the Placement Assessment is to give an accurate measure of a student’s current mathematical knowledge state so that he/she will be successful in mathematics courses.

Who takes the Bradley math placement assessment?

All incoming first-year students are required to take the mathematics assessment, including students who have or will be receiving AP or transfer credit. The assessment becomes available in mid-March and after the student’s enrollment deposit has been paid. The ALEKS Assessment MUST be completed as soon as possible. A hold will be placed on your account until you have completed the assessment, which will prevent you from registering for classes. Students who are have questions about the assessment at any time should contact [email protected] to discuss an alternate test date and follow up appointment. Transfer students are also required to take the Math Placement Assessment unless they have transferred an equivalent prerequisite course for the BU mathematics course they intend to take. If you think you have a course that you can transfer in, please check and use the Transfer Credit Guide. It is recommended that all students take the Mathematics Placement Assessment just in case their course does not count as an equivalent prerequisite.

Plan to complete the assessment in a single one-to two-hour sitting. Time accommodations are built into the placement assessment. Students with time accommodations will have up to four hours to complete the placement assessment.
You will answer up to 30 questions.
There are no multiple-choice questions.
You will be asked to download the Lockdown Browser.
Before you take the assessment, ALEKS PPL will present a short tutorial on how to enter answers, how to use the graphing utilities, and how to use the built-in calculator. TAKE YOUR TIME WITH THIS TUTORIAL.
Once you’ve begun the Math Placement Assessment, you have two hours to complete it. You cannot save your place and come back to the test.
ALEKS scores cannot be interpreted in the same way as exam grades. If you score lower than the College Algebra cut-score of 46, Bradley University has coursework appropriate for you (AEP115), or you can use ALEKS PPL Prep and Learning Module to review and retest.

Lockdown Browser is enabled when a student takes the test. Lockdown Browser will be enabled first and may take a minute to load to your computer if your internet is slow.

No outside assistance is permitted. Each student has a knowledge that consists of the math topics he/she knows, does not know, and is ready to learn. The ALEKS placement assessment determines the unique mathematical state of each student. The system can then properly place students into a course based on their math abilities. Other individuals are not to be in the room while you are taking the test.
No outside calculators are permitted. A calculator icon will appear on the screen when it is allowed to be used. Blank paper and a pen/pencil are allowed for students to work out problems, however.
No use of cell phones or other electronic devices is permitted.

Bradley University takes academic integrity very seriously and investigates all allegations of academic dishonesty. Integrity is a character-driven commitment to honesty, doing what is right, and guiding others to do what is right. Bradley University students and faculty are expected to act with integrity in their educational pursuits. Cheating on an academic evaluation or assignment is a violation of the academic integrity policy. If you are found to be in violation of the academic integrity policy, academic sanctions will be imposed. For more information, please refer to the academic integrity policy.

Real numbers (including fractions, integers, and percentages)
Equations and inequalities (including linear equations, linear inequalities, systems of linear equations, and quadratic equations),
Linear and quadratic functions (including graphs and functions, linear functions, and parabolas), exponents and polynomials (including integer exponents, polynomial arithmetic, factoring, and polynomial equations), rational expressions (including rational equations and rational functions
Radical expressions (including higher roots and rational exponents)
Exponentials and logarithms (including function compositions and inverse functions, properties of logarithms, and logarithmic equations)
Geometry and trigonometry (including perimeter, area, and volume, coordinate geometry, trigonometric functions, and identities and equations).

You will receive your score immediately upon completion of your Placement Assessment.
Your ALEKS score can be viewed by re-entering ALEKS using the same access link for which you took the Placement Assessment.
Your scores are automatically added to your student profile, which is accessible by your advisor.
Your academic adviser will help you select appropriate courses when you are building your schedule. For first-year students, please keep record of your test score for future conversations with faculty/staff that will be assisting you in appropriate math placement when you begin registering for classes.

As soon you complete your placement assessment, you will exit out of the Lockdown Browser. Select the Return to Homepage tab at the top of your screen to view your results. There is a link on the placement results page that will take you to this webpage to view the required courses cut-scores in the table below. Continuing on to the next page you will see a breakdown of your results by topic. The final page takes your Prep and Learning Module. You will have access to the Prep and Learning Module for the next 12 months. The Prep and Learning Module is where you will spend at least 10 hours in order to remediate and retest. If you are satisfied with your placement results,congratulations! You are encouraged to use the Prep and Learning Module to continue to build your math skills before your next math course begins.

Course placement is determined as follows:

Course	Name	Bradley Placement Score
MTH 109	College Algebra	46-60
MTH 112	Precalculus	61-75
MTH 114	Applied Finite Mathematics	61-75
MTH 115	Brief Calculus With Applications I	61-75
MTH 121	Calculus I	76-100

You must wait 48 hours between Placement Assessments. There is generally no benefit to re-taking the Placement Assessment immediately after completing a prior attempt. You cannot improve your results by simply re-taking the Placement Assessment without spending time in the Prep and Learning Module to refresh material that you may have forgotten. You may take up to 3 placement assessments. However, to make each attempt worthwhile, it is important that you spend time working in your ALEKS Prep and Learning Module between Placement Assessments so that you can improve your skills. A minimum of 10 hour in your Prep and Learning Module is required before attempting a retest.

One you have completed the minimum requirements of a 48 hour cool off and at least 10 hours in the Prep and Learning Module, a link will appear on the main page to begin a retest. If a retest has changed your course placement please contact [email protected] or contact your academic advisor to discuss your options.

Writing Center

The Bradley Writing Center is a free resource to all Bradley students. We are located on the 3rd floor of the Library, in Rooms 311 and 312 of the Academic Success Center. We offer in-person and virtual appointments, as well as asynchronous Assistance By Email Reviews and Quick Question help with writing tasks for all disciplines.

The Bradley Writing Center will be closed for the May Interim and Summer 2025 sessions. We will open for Fall 2025 on Wednesday, August 27. Have a great summer!”

Essays/Research Papers/Lab Reports (Undergraduate and Graduate-Level)
Scholarship Essays
Creative Writing
Technical Writing
STEM Writing
Group Writing Projects
Visual Texts/Visual Presentations
Formatting and Documentation Systems (i.e. MLA, APA, CMS, etc.)
Faculty Request for Classroom Commercials and In-Class Programming

Students can arrange to receive help from the Writing Center in the following ways:

Make appointments online through Navigate.
Use the Appointment Request Form
Email Us: [email protected]
Call Us: 309-677-3254

Check out the brand new Bradley Writing Center Online Resource Base (the ORB) for handouts, resources, and more information about who we are and what we do!

For assistance with job search materials (i.e. cover letters, resumes, and CVs), please reach out to the Smith Career Center, as they have specially-trained consultants to help with those documents.

Assistance By Email (ABE)

Need Writing Center help, but don’t have time for an appointment? Are you unavailable to meet during our regular operating hours? No problem!

The Writing Center is now offering asynchronous Assistance By Email (ABE). This option allows all Bradley students to submit writing assignment drafts and assignment sheets for writing consultant feedback without having to schedule an appointment.

ABE reviews will typically be returned within 24-48 hours, so be sure to plan ahead. In addition, please be aware that return times may be longer during high-demand points in the semester (including midterms and finals). If your wait for feedback will be longer, we will keep you updated on when you can expect to receive your review.

To submit your writing assignment for an Assistance by Email (ABE) Review, click on the Assistance By Email (ABE) link. Once there, complete the form and upload your assignment sheet and draft for review. Submit the form, and you’re all set!
Quick Questions Portal

Do you have a quick question about writing that may not require a full Writing Center appointment? Want to know how to format a resource in APA? Have a quick question about your thesis statement? Need to know if you’ve punctuated a sentence correctly?

We’ve got you covered with our new Quick Questions Portal! To submit your question, click on the Quick Questions Portal link and complete the online form. You will receive an emailed response to your question from one of our Writing Center Consultants, typically within 24-48 hours.
Other Important Writing Center Policies

The writing consultants at the Writing Center are committed to assisting as many students as possible. The following policies allow us to provide that service. These policies have also been altered to ensure safe social distancing practices. Please read through all policies before arriving for your appointment. We appreciate your understanding.

Students are encouraged to make appointments at least one hour in advance to ensure that we will be available to help. Walk-ins will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.
In accordance with current Bradley health and safety policies, masks/facial coverings will be worn based on the agreed-upon terms of the student and writing consultant. Students can also request that the writing consultant be masked, and the writing consultant will be happy to honor that request.
No hard copy drafts will be allowed. Please bring a laptop to share your draft electronically or email your draft to the Writing Center prior to your appointment.
Students are encouraged to make an appointment for at least 24 hours before their paper is due, as this will allow time for further revision after receiving feedback from the writing consultant. If this is not possible, no worries–we will still help you as best we can!
Please understand that we are writing consultants, not a proofreading service. We are here to help students improve their writing, not simply to correct their mistakes.
Writing consultants are available for live appointments only during the posted operating hours and won’t be able to meet, schedule appointments, or answer emails/phone calls outside these hours.
Students may schedule one Writing Center appointment per day. All Writing Center services are free of charge to Bradley students.

For further information about any of the services we offer in the Bradley Writing Center, please call 309-677-3254 or email us at [email protected].

Additional Resources

GPA Calculation Worksheet^* – use this tool to set GPA goals each semester (you must click “Make a copy” after clicking the link)
Grade Tracker – use this tool to track your progress in all of your classes as you receive graded work back, then see your predicted cumulative GPA in real-time based on grades earned (works best in Excel on a Windows computer)
Online GPA Calculator* – use this tool to calculate current and/or hypothetical GPA
GPA Calculation Tutorial

*These tools offer similar functionality; however, the GPA Calculation Worksheet is designed to be printed or saved as a PDF. Results from the Online GPA Calculator will not print or save to PDF correctly.