STEP Student Success Centers
The experience drove Tabassum to become a tutor in the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences Student Success Center. “When I started college, all the success center tutors’ dedication motivated me to also become a tutor.”
The Success Centers are an important component for meeting the requirements of a challenging engineering curriculum. Two centers—one in Floyd Hall and one in the Engineering house residence hall—provide essential support for all engineering students.
“Visiting the Student Success Centers regardless of whether a student uses tutoring is key. It is a place to form study groups, find peer support and motivation, and adopt a college-level mindset that shakes the expectation of doing all the work alone and adopts the mentality of teaching and supporting each other as a cohort of students,” explains Ben Carr. “This promotes not only growth through learning the curriculum but also through social skills, teamwork and leadership.”
Encouraging expanded use of the centers is a goal of the college. The SSCs provide three important services:
- study-focused spaces that are available for all CEAS students regardless of whether they need tutoring help
- peer-to-peer tutoring from students who have passed the same courses successfully with a minimum B grade.
- on-campus employment for students with an interest in education and helping others.
“Research shows that both on-campus employment and access to support programs like tutoring improve student retention and graduation rates,” says Dr. Matt Cavalli, associate dean of
To that end, the college seeks to expand the space available for Success Centers and improve offerings with the following:
- upgrade whiteboards to a smart board system to enhance study groups.
- add education-themed wall murals and address furniture needs and aesthetic improvements in Engineering House.
- improve the technology infrastructure to facilitate seamless integration of in-person and remote tutoring.
- provide an updated lending library of course materials for student use.
- make infrastructure improvements, including an expanded space in Floyd Hall, windows to the hallway wall of the Floyd SSC to improve visibility and make the center more welcoming, modifying the furniture in the nearby study lounge to serve larger groups.
Looking for a way to support future engineers?
Engineering students worked hard to earn bonus money on WMU Giving Day--and they did it! But these areas are still in need. Consider targeting your donation to the one of these areas: Student Success Centers, Registered Student Organizations or Financial Hardship Fund.