Office of Academic Enhancement

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(305) 284-3187
oae@miami.edu

The Office of Academic Enhancement (OAE) promotes a diverse academic experience for all undergraduate students by providing programs and opportunities that meet the academic and supportive needs of the general population.

An increased emphasis is placed on assisting those groups who have been historically underrepresented in higher education by developing effective retention efforts that address these students’ unique academic and supportive needs.

The OAE addresses the unique demands of the academic careers of highly talented undergraduate students, particularly in relation to their applications for national fellowship programs and graduate and/or professional degrees.

Academic & Career Advisors in Residence

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The Academic and Career Advisors in Residence (ACARs) provide students with services designed to triage academic/curricular concerns through academic orientation, assistance with major and career selection, and referrals to the appropriate academic support services.

The ACARs can also assist students with the development of a curricular/career plan that is consistent with their abilities and interests through personality and aptitude testing, individual outreach, and educational presentations.

The ACAR offices are located in Room 113 of Hecht and Stanford Residential Colleges. The ACARs are available Monday through Friday during walk-in advising hours or by scheduling an appointment. 

Hecht Residential College

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Stanford Residential College

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Academic Fellows

Academic Fellows (AFs) are undergraduate student staff members who live in the residential colleges. AFs serve as an academic transitional support system for students as they face new challenges and concerns during their first year of college.

Over the course of an academic year, AFs work an average of 10-12 hours per week. These hours include programs, working on bulletin boards, office hours and other duties as assigned.

Academic Ombudsperson

The Academic Ombudsperson works in conjunction with the University Ombudsperson to act as an independent representative of the University to listen to student grievances and complaints. For more information, please visit the Ombudsperson and University Troubleshooters Program section.

Honors Program

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The General Honors Program provides an academically challenging course of study for outstanding undergraduate students. The University Honors Program draws students from all academic majors whom wish to join their peers and distinguished professors for interactive learning and discussion within smaller classes; these classroom experiences encompass more of a focus on why something is rather than what it is.

A wide variety of courses and sections of the Honors Program are coordinated each semester and are offered throughout all the schools and colleges of the University, from the introductory level to the advanced level. These courses are taught by tenured faculty who are interested in seeing that Honors students’ additional academic needs are met. The notable faculty instructing the courses tend to be more engaged in hands-on research and often serve as mentors for those who wish to get involved in research.

Other advantages include graduation with General Honors, as well as participation in the social branch of the Honors Program, the Honors Students’ Association (HSA), which enables Honors students to express themselves outside the classroom environment.

The Miami Model

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The Office of Academic Enhancement and the Office for Diversity & Multicultural Affairs at the Miller School of Medicine, jointly administer five summer programs for minority undergraduate and high school students, who aspire to pursue a career in various health professions.

The Minority Student in Health Careers Motivation Program, MCAT Prep Program, the High School Careers in Medicine Workshop, Students Training in Research program, and the Summer Science Enrichment Program incorporate a learning-by-doing approach which allows participants within the programs, to evaluate the rigors of continuing an academic career within the field of medicine.

Multicultural Student Affairs

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The mission of the Department of Multicultural Student Affairs (MSA) is to provide leadership and advocacy for African, Asian, Hispanic and Native American students at the University of Miami. The department provides direction in developing programs and services that enhance the retention and successful matriculation of our students, while supporting their personal and academic development.

In addition, MSA supports the University in its ongoing efforts to maintain a multicultural campus community, which supports values and celebrates its diversity.

Prestigious Scholarships & Awards

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The Office of Academic Enhancement provides a range of services to undergraduate students to maximize their candidacy for prestigious awards, fellowships, and scholarships.

We help to identify students who are eligible for national and international competitions, actively promote awareness of external scholarship and fellowship opportunities, provide individual mentoring to help students prepare the strongest possible applications, and present workshops about scholarship programs to ensure that students are afforded the maximum possible amount of information from funding agencies.

Programs of Academic Excellence

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The Office of Academic Enhancement’s Programs of Academic Excellence is an emerging initiative to provide additional support to student scholars as they learn to successfully navigate the system of higher education.

Scholars from the various programs are exposed to unique academic and cultural programming, receive specialized advising throughout their undergraduate education, and are introduced to academic opportunities such as prestigious awards, fellowships and research experiences.

As these scholars pursue their academic and career aspirations beyond the undergraduate level, the relationships fostered among the scholars and the transferrable skills learned as part of these programs will increase future success.

The current program catalog for the Programs of Academic Excellence includes the Ronald A. Hammond Scholars, Gates Millennium Scholars, Jenkins Scholars, and Phi Beta Kappa.

Special Interest Housing

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Special Interest Housing provides upper class students, united by a common interest, activity, or cause, the opportunity to create unique themed communities that enhance their on campus living experience. In addition to living together, groups receive specialized funding, advising, and training to assist in the programming and management of their community.

For 2011-12, nine Special Interest Housing communities will reside in the Mahoney, Pearson, and Eaton Residential Colleges: The Audio Abode, BAM (Bienvenidos a Miami), The BURROW, CASTLE (Canes Advocating a Substance Temperate Living Environment), Foundations, Hashi, STRIVE (Serving Together Reaching Integrity, Values, & Engagement), U Live U Learn, and U Read