Project Thrust - Where Success Begins
Since 1978, Project Thrust has been helping students in their academic pursuits by providing a supportive collegiate environment. While many of its programs are directed at minority students, Project Thrust is committed to the success of all students. It operates under the premise that all students who enter the university should be advised and counseled throughout their enrollment at the university and that any student who experiences difficulties should be provided with immediate help. As such, the program employs various intrusive advising techniques to help students adjust to university life and achieve college degrees.
The advisors in Project Thrust play a major role in the implementation of the program by offering advice and a friendly ear to every program student. Counseling sessions are tailored to the individual needs of the students and topics may include course selection, financial advice, personal problems, academic regulation petitions, graduation requirements, professional/ graduate school preparation and career exploration. Working in unison, the counselor and student develop strategies to ensure academic success.
Project Thrust serves students in the College of Business Administration and the College of Arts and Sciences. Students with undeclared majors are also served through the program. Every Project Thrust advisor continually monitors the academic performance of the students enrolled in their college to provide immediate assistance and to encourage and reward academic excellence.
Services provided by PROJECT THRUST include:
The Academic Success Center provides a variety of tutoring services to enrolled students. Highly qualified tutors offer assistance in understanding educational course work and development of successful study skills strategies.
The PROJECT THRUST Corporate Mentor Program provides under represented students majoring in business help with transitioning from student life to beginning their professional lives. The program pairs business majors with professionals at the mid-to-upper management level. Mentors help students develop the skills necessary for success in the corporate world.
The Freshman Summer Institute (FSI) provides access to a university education for students from educationally or economically disadvantaged backgrounds and identifies qualified individuals through a review of admission applications, academic records, and family income as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Each year a limited number of students enter USF through this program.
| PROJECT THRUST and the | | Dr. Mack Davis III, Director |
| Freshman Summer Institute | | Student Services Bld, Rm 2034 |
| University of South Florida | | E-mail: ptdesk@success.usf.edu |
| Tampa, FL 33620-6934 | | |
PROJECT THRUST in the College of Arts and Science
PROJECT THRUST is a support program established to provide personal, and academic support to undergraduates at the University of South Florida. Its mission is to provide programs and activities that enhance students' opportunities, particularly minority students, to attain their educational and career objectives. Utilizing established partnerships with programs, departments and colleges, PROJECT THRUST helps the University to create an atmosphere of collaboration, mutual respect, and trust for its students, faculty and staff. The program's holistic approach to student development helps students to persist and graduate. This program contributes significantly to the university's commitment to create an environment of intellectual excellence and a culturally diverse academic community.
The Project Thrust program located in the Health Professions Advising Office is a systemic program that provides academic and personal support to students pursuing degrees in the natural sciences and careers in the health professions such as: medicine, dentistry, optometry, physical therapy, physician assistant, and pharmacy among others. The program focuses on providing support to underrepresented minority students. The program consists of three major components:
Intrusive Advisement & Developmental Counseling: The advisor addresses academic and non- academic concerns that facilitate student success. Students' academic out comes are monitored and the advisor and students develop strategic plans to attain anticipated goals.
Test Preparation: Graduate and professional schools require scores from standardized tests to aid in their selection process. The Project Thrust program and the Area Health Education Center (AHEC) at USF coordinate the MCAT Enhancement Program (MEP) which is a two year program which prepares students to obtain competitive scores on the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). Students begin the MEP in the spring of their sophomore year and continue through the summer of their junior year. Students who successfully complete the MEP program are eligible to apply for USF' Pre-Medical Summer Enrichment Program (PSEP). PSEP is an intensive six week summer program that provides MCAT preparation and clinical exposure opportunities. Support for the MCAT and other tests are provided through relationships with test preparation companies.
The Minority Pre-Professional Science Society (MPSS) is a student organization which promotes student interest in the health professions and natural sciences. The organization also provides a support network to enhance academic and career success. The society meets every Thursday at 4 P.M. in CHE 101. Activities include guest speakers, visits to graduate and professional schools, research and clinical volunteer opportunities, community and social events. A major function of the organization is the funding of a Scholarship Fund to provide support to students applying to graduate and professional schools. MPSS is a tax exempt (501) (c) (3) organization and welcomes the financial support of the general public in the provision of scholarship opportunities.
Dr. Melvin W. James serves as the Project Thrust advisor and is also an adjunct professor. He earned a B.S. degree in Chemistry from the University of the West Indies; an M.A. and Ed.S. in counseling from the University of the South Florida; and a Ph.D. in counseling from the University of Florida. He is a licensed psychotherapist. For more information, contact: Dr. Melvin W. James, College of Arts and Sciences, University of South Florida, 4202 East Fowler Ave, BEH 201, Tampa, FL 33620-8460. Email: mjames@cas.usf.edu.
- http://www.cas.usf.edu/health_professions/
- http://www.hsc.usf.edu/ahec/collegeop.html#MEP
- http://www.hsc.usf.edu/ahec/collegeop.html#PSEP
- http://www.ctr.usf.edu/mpss/
PROJECT THRUST in the College of Business Administration
PROJECT THRUST is a support program established to provide personal, and academic support to undergraduates at the University of South Florida. Its mission is to provide programs and activities that enhance students' opportunities, particularly minority students, to attain their educational and career objectives. Utilizing established partnerships with programs, departments and colleges, PROJECT THRUST helps the University to create an atmosphere of collaboration, mutual respect, and trust for its students, faculty and staff. The program's holistic approach to student development helps students to persist and graduate. This program contributes significantly to the university's commitment to create an environment of intellectual excellence and a culturally diverse academic community.
The Corporate Mentor Program exists to provide business students with the opportunity to interact in a one-on-one advisory relationship with a professional in their chosen career field. This interaction will allow the students to observe and ask questions relevant to necessary job skills, demands of the job, and company expectations. The student will then be better prepared for a career by having exposure to the corporate environment.
The program requires mentors to serve for the fall and spring term. An orientation will occur on September 23, and the program will end in April. The responsibilities of a mentor will include meeting with the student (mentee) approximately once a month for a couple of hours. During these meetings the student will benefit from the advice given by the mentor on career plans and advancement strategies.
Along with the appreciation of the student mentored, the University will also recognize the efforts made by the mentor. The time the mentor volunteers for the program is a demonstration of their commitment to the community and in particular, the University of South Florida.
http://coba.usf.edu/services/ugrad/wilder/Corporate%20Mentor/CorpMentor/CMPWeb/InfoPage.htm
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