At Lone Star College-University Park, student success and the GradUP goal of achieving a 300% increase in graduation in three years continue to be paramount as faculty prepare for the start of fall classes. Despite the ongoing effects of a global pandemic in COVID-19, faculty are adapting and fine-tuning their coursework and classroom approaches to better serve students. For Dr. Christa Spears, associate professor of geology, flexibility, building relationships with students, relating material to students and active-learning are key in all teaching modalities.

Spears has been a part of the LSC-University Park faculty since 2015 and has taught online classes since 2016. Spears is a strong proponent of LSC-University Park’s GradUP initiative, which is consistent with her belief that all students deserve to be successful, and instructors need to deliver education in a way that is accessible and obtainable for all. She implements the spirit of GradUP in her classroom through a series of techniques that specifically target improving the classroom experience and instruction, both in-person and online.

“Once a student completes a semester implementing GradUP initiatives, they appear to be more excited about learning, actually wanting more. Yet, they’re less worried about overcoming their challenges,” said Spears. “They view the future as an exciting opportunity versus a challenge riddled with fear and barriers.”

Spears believes it is vital to maintain flexibility for unexpected challenges. When classes moved to an online delivery format for safety reasons due to COVID-19, Spears adapted quickly to employ more technology, like Webex sessions to develop and maintain relationships with her students. Spears calls her students regularly, offers more flexibility with certain assignments, and listens more intently.

Spears has learned that establishing a personal, trusting relationship with each of her students is her first step. Understanding their goals and challenges is vital to their success, and only then can she design and implement course work in a way that allows them to do well. Spears maintains those personal relationships with consistent and thorough engagement and interaction until the last day of the semester.

Other strategies Spears employs include:

• Showing students how the course material is relatable to their lives, which improves engagement with the course materials;
• Encouraging group work;
• Utilizing out-of-the-classroom field trips (in a non-pandemic environment);
• Implementing active-learning techniques as a means of developing critical thinking and analytical skills in a safe, non-judgmental environment;
• Discussing the different resources available to students during classroom activities and directing them to the proper support as needed.

“I have seen firsthand the impact GradUP has had on students. We are retaining students and fostering a healthy learning environment,” said Spears. “At the end of any given semester, I am most proud when I can see where each student started and where they ended. More specifically, I can see the difference in their perspective of learning, how they approach and handle different situations, as well as an acknowledgment of how much they have grown and learned. It provides hope that they will stay motivated, be inspired to take on challenges, and become confident in accomplishing their goal of graduating.”