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Student Success

Academic support at SHSU is designed to meet students where they are and help them rise to greater. From tutoring and advising to mentoring and recovery programs, Bearkats have access to the tools they need to succeed.
Male and female students working together.

Personalized Support for Bearkats!

At Sam Houston State University, academic support is more than a service—it’s a commitment to student success. Through the Academic Success Center, SAM Center, and a range of specialized programs, SHSU provides personalized guidance, tutoring, coaching, and mentoring to help students thrive academically and personally. Whether you're mastering STEM concepts, refining your writing, navigating your major, or recovering from academic challenges, our support network is here to empower you every step of the way. We believe in meeting students where they are and helping them build toward something greater.

Academic Support

  • Who Is My Advisor?
  • Drop-In Sessions
  • Schedule Checks
  • Major Changes
  • Quick Questions
  • Advising Appointments
  • 30 minute Course Advisement Sessions
  • 60 minute Prospective Student (Pre-Transfer) Advisement Sessions
  • Contact – samcenter@shsu.edu
  • The Academic Success Center (ASC) at Sam Houston State University is a premier student support center to provides indispensable success resources for every Bearkat. We meet students where they are in the learning process and empower them to achieve academic success.
  • The Academic Success Center provides virtual and face-to-face tutoring in STEM courses, Writing, World Languages, and the College of Business Administration (COBA). The ASC supports students through faculty collaboration with embedded tutoring, writing fellows, study workgroups, workshops, and presentations.
  • The Academic Success Center supports students through our learning coaching program by providing intentional academic skill development, such as study preparation, accountability and time management.
  • The Academic Success Center supports students on academic probation and suspension through academic recovery programs geared to promote student development and academic growth.
  • The ASPIRE Program is a student success program for master's level graduate students of SHSU. The program offers comprehensive support for scholars’ personal growth, professional development, and academic success. ASPIRE supports and encourages its scholars to pursue and finish graduate school, improve educational experiences, and prepare them for careers.
  • ELITE (Establishing Leadership In & Through Education) is an academic success program designed to support and empower multifaceted students from various backgrounds to achieve academic and personal success in college. Our program provides a range of services and resources aimed at addressing the unique challenges faced by students.
  • Evolve is dedicated to empowering all incoming transfer students at Sam Houston State University to thrive in their undergraduate journey. Our mission is simple: to support transfer students in evolving as scholars and professionals.
  • The Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program is designed to provide talented undergraduate students with effective preparation for doctoral study. The McNair program at Sam Houston State University encourages graduate studies by providing opportunities for undergraduates to define their goals, engage in research, and develop the skills and faculty mentor relationships that are critical to success at the doctoral level.

The mission of the Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) is to promote equal access for students with disabilities to the educational programs, services, and activities at SHSU.

SSD affords students with disabilities the opportunity to reach their full potential by providing academic adjustments and auxiliary aids and services; promoting independence and self-advocacy; and making referrals to support services on campus and in the community.

SSD seeks to foster a supportive and inclusive environment for students with disabilities by building and maintaining partnerships with faculty and staff; promoting disability awareness on campus; and providing consultation services and outreach programming on student disability issues for the SHSU community.

  • The Global Engagement Center (GEC) is responsible for all international students and scholars once they arrive at Sam Houston State University. GEC is located in the Farrington Building, room 116. Connect with is via email at gec@shsu.edu or call us at (936) 294-4737.
  • SHSU's Study Abroad Programs offer students the opportunity to engage in an educational and cultural learning experience. Students have the opportunity to study at one of our Exchange universities, on an Affiliated Transfer Credit program, or a SHSU Faculty-Led summer/winter term program. Students who meet the requirements may be eligible to receive study abroad scholarships. Students’ enrollment in a program of study abroad approved for credit may be considered enrolled at SHSU for the purpose of applying for assistance under the Federal Student Aid programs. Connect with us via email at studyabroad@shsu.edu or call us at (936) 294-4737.
  • UNIV 1101: Bearkat U. Come Teach with us and foster a sense of mentorship and community with new students. Establishing great professor and student relationships in the first year is a student success initiative at Sam Houston State University. Building a strong community of belonging happens with faculty in the UNIV 1101 classroom.
  • SHSU Forward Program Initiative for former foster, orphans, wards of the court, or homeless students attending SAM. We have a dedicated committee of faculty and staff professionals who collaborate to find resources and support for these students.
    Contact: forward@shsu.edu
  • Adopt the SHSU Common Reader book in your courses
          • Build community in your classroom and be part of creating a shared academic/intellectual experience and facilitate a campus-wide cross-disciplinary conversation. The program is supported with co-curricular events and scholarships.
          • Adoption process
          • Interested in being on the annual SHSU Common Reader book selection committee?
        • Contact:
    commonreader@shsu.edu

At Sam Houston State University, we want all students to succeed from the time you enroll to the time you graduate. To help prepare you for the fall semester, we are offering a special program for a limited number of incoming freshman - Jumpstart@Sam!