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The effectiveness of a new cognitive-based support program for failing students, Planning and Achieving Student Success (PASS), was examined. Thirty students who were either returning from academic dismissal, or who had been on at least 2 semesters of academic probation, were randomly assigned to either the PASS program or to Treatment as Usual (TAU). Subjects in the PASS group showed significant improvement in their semester GPA (2.00) as compared to their previous cumulative GPA (1.82), and as compared to the TAU group semester GPA (1.72). As well, measures of psychosocial functioning (CAS and BDI), showed improvement in the PASS group. However, this improvement was not significantly different from the TAU group. Findings are discussed in terms of possible influential factors that contributed to the resulting end-of-semester increase in the PASS group GPA.

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Dawn Parks holds an undergraduate degree in exercise physiology and a masters degree in clinical psychology. She is a Licensed Mental Health therapist and a certified alcohol and drug counselor at the advanced level. She is program director of a dual diagnosis outpatient clinic in Brockton, MA.

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