Stephen F. Austin State University

The National Association for Developmental Education has honored the Academic Assistance and Resource Center at Stephen F. Austin State University with the John Champaign Memorial Award for Outstanding Developmental Education Program. The award recognizes excellence in developmental education programs.

To qualify for the award, a center must be recognized as a quality program by peers and campus administrators, and must demonstrate effective tutoring methods and best practices through ongoing qualitative and quantitative assessments.

The center is the only university-affiliated learning center that has received distinguished certification by the National Association for Developmental Education. The center also received the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board’s Star Award, which recognizes exemplary contributions in addressing the state's higher education challenges

“The AARC has been recognized by NADE as the best learning assistance program in the nation, in part, because of our consistent, continued focus on improved student outcomes in both grades and retention,” said Robin Redmon Wright, director of the center. “We are proud of the fact that the AARC is the most accredited learning center in the nation, with the highest level of certification from both the College Reading and Learning Association and the National Association for Developmental Education, the two professional entities that certify centers and their training programs.”

The Academic Assistance and Resource Center offers SFA students free one-on-one and small-group tutoring, workshops and study groups for a wide range of subjects, including writing, mathematics, political science, and Spanish. Tutors assist students with improving note-taking skills, integrating text and lecture notes, and preparing for exams.

The late John Champaign directed the developmental education department at Finger Lakes Community College in Canandaigue, NY. Champaign chaired several National Association for Developmental Education committees and was chairperson of the association’s Future Directions Task Force. The winning program is invited to present a session highlighting its strategies at the association’s annual conference.