In 2004, nearly half of University of Louisiana freshmen admitted to the university by academic exception didn't continue at the university after their first year.

This fall, the university will launch a program that buddies these students with faculty and staff mentors to improve students' success during their first year.

These students are more at risk of withdrawing from the university after their first year, said Theresa Wozencraft, head of UL's psychology department and a member of the committee that organized the mentor program.

"Our hope is that we can assist students who are more at risk to be more successful and persist past their first year," Wozencraft said.

Each semester, the university is allowed to admit a certain percentage of students by exception if they don't meet certain academic requirements.

In the past, studies have shown that those students are less likely to pursue their college education after the second semester.

About 55 percent of first-time freshmen admitted by exception continued into their third semester at UL, while nearly 73 percent of freshmen who met the enrollment requirements continued, according to UL's Office of Institutional Research.

Students are required to be a part of the program, but because not enough staff and faculty volunteered as mentors, only about 100 students will take part in the program's first year, said Jennifer Hightower, director of UL's office of campus diversity, which jumpstarted the program.

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Marsha Sills
msills@theadvertiser.com