At Texas Woman’s University, students have access to many campus resources. The Pioneer Achieving Student Success Program, or PASS, is a program to help students succeed when they’re in a risky situation of falling behind academically. The program is run by Wylijanna Cole and Sarah Fenske, TWU academic success advisors, and the team members of University Academic Advising assist them, as well.
Cole has been an assistant director of academic recovery & resilience for about a year, prior to that she was the coordinator of academic transitions. She has a Bachelor of Arts in English from TWU and went to Abilene Christian University for her master’s. Fenske has been an academic success advisor since June 2024, they used to be part of the pre-nursing advising team. Before that, they worked as a mental health technician and earned a master’s degree in Women’s and Gender Studies from the University of North Texas.
When a student is falling behind and at risk of their GPA dropping, the PASS Program emails them at the start of the next semester. They guide students and make a plan with them to receive the resources and support they need. Some students have different reactions when it comes to failing and need specific types of reassurance.
“Dealing with personal issues, I didn’t really have the best support system, and I started falling behind. The PASS Program helped me get out of that bad head space and they gave me the support system I needed to get back up on my feet and fix my grades,” says a second year student.
The Program helps students by placing them in a Canvas course class where PASS students can meet and get support from one another. They also set up workshops to help the students succeed. PASS staff may also have weekly or biweekly meetings with students to check on their academic progress.
“Sar and I can help students set goals and figure out barriers to success, but if students feel like they’re moving forward with their degrees, then that’s how we know they are on the right track,” Cole says.
The PASS Program is a helpful resource that students benefit from when they are on academic probation, returning from academic suspension, or students that are suspended and are taking classes at a different campus.
For students in the PASS program, the staff offers drop-in advising services every Tuesday from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at the Old Main Building, suite 307.
“The PASS Program gave me one more chance to succeed, and they reassured me that things will get better. They have helped me in so many ways to get back on my feet and I’m grateful for them” says a second-year student.
Eduardo Rivas-Plascencia can be reached via email at @erivasplascencia@twu.edu
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