Academic Program Support

Dean: Tracy Schuster-Matlock, Ph.D.

University Academic Programs support student learning through programs that transcend any one college of study. They include experiences that take students to a foreign country for a few weeks, a semester or an entire year; programs that strive to improve student writing in any discipline; and programs that assess student learning outcomes on an institutional level.

Academic Programs consists of the following support services (for more information, click on the header):

• First Year Experience
  The First Year Experience office helps new students make the transition to college through academic and co-curricular programs and initiatives and provides them with the knowledge and skills to persist to graduation.

• General Education
  General Education ensures that St. Ambrose graduates demonstrate 22 learning outcomes that emphasis the liberal arts, the Catholic intellectual tradition, critical reasoning, health and wellness, communication, and integrated learning by taking classes designated to fulfill these requirements.

• Institutional Assessment
  St. Ambrose University is committed to fostering a campus climate that is supportive of assessment ideals and goals.  As such, the purpose of assessment at SAU is to improve institutional effectiveness in fulfilling its mission, vision and goals through strong assessment of programs, courses and students.

• Student Disability Services
  Student Disability Services exists to provide qualified students with disabilities services or reasonable accommodations intended to reduce the effects that a disability may have on their performance in a traditional setting.

• Study Abroad
  The Study Abroad program provides short and long-term opportunities for students to study, volunteer or intern in various foreign countries through partnerships at universities in places like India, Ireland and Italy.

• Writing Across the Curriculum
  The Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC) program encourages faculty to use writing in their classrooms to promote deeper content learning and to foster stronger writing competence in our students. WAC helps faculty develop writing intensive courses in many disciplines.

   

Tracy Schuster-Matlock, Dean of University Academic Programs
Tracy Schuster-Matlock began her career at St. Ambrose in 2001 as an assistant professor of education. Also a full professor, she is the Associate Dean of University Academic Programs, which involves overseeing: General Education, Study Abroad, First Year Experience, Student Disability Services, Institutional Assessment, and Writing Across the Curriculum. Schuster-Matlock received her bachelor's degree in special education from the University of Northern Iowa, and her master's and doctoral degrees in educational research and foundations from the University of South Carolina.
email
563-333-6049