The Academic Center is subdivided into several different programs, as described below:

Plebe Programs

The Plebe Programs address the specific needs of first-year midshipmen. Through the Plebe Intervention Program, plebes identified as potentially at risk are offered weekly academic effectiveness classes, group study sessions, and individual counseling from an Academic Center adviser. Faculty from all departments participate in the Plebe Advising Program, which provides academic advice and basic study skills instruction to all plebes in order to help them adjust to the academic demands of the Naval Academy, and assists them with the choice of a major.

Learning Skills Program

The Learning Skills Program is available to provide assistance to all midshipmen who desire to improve their academic performance by developing or refining their learning skills. The Learning Skills Program offers a variety of choices including learning skills courses, reading strategy courses, individual sessions, training workshops, and English as a Second Language (ESL) instruction. Learning Skills assistance is delivered through group classes or individual appointments and is available to all midshipmen, regardless of their academic standing.

Midshipmen Group Study Program (MGSP)

The MGSP targets traditionally difficult academic courses — those that have a high rate of D or F grades and withdrawals — and provides regularly scheduled, out-of-class, peer-facilitated sessions. Students can work together to compare notes, discuss important concepts, and develop better study strategies. Each session is facilitated by a MGSP leader, a competent student who has previously taken the course, been recommended by the course instructor, and been selected by the Academic Center.

Professional Tutoring

The purpose of the Professional Tutoring program is to provide small group tutoring to students in specific course content areas. Professional Tutoring is designed to address course questions not addressed during MGSP or when the course instructor is unavailable. The goal of the tutoring encounter is to address the specific content and problem-solving needs of the midshipmen.

Extra Help Classes

Extra Help Classes are non-credit, voluntary courses that meet weekly to provide learning support for Midshipmen enrolled in courses in chemistry, mathematics, physics, and engineering. The classes focus on supplementing classroom instruction and are designed to support students who are in need of the most academic support in these areas.