Student Success at McKendree
Whether you’re gearing up to start college for the first time or you’re already experiencing all the ups and downs of life as a college student, there comes a time when we could all use a helping hand. New this year to McKendree, the Student Success & Advising Center is your one-stop shop for assistance in tutoring, planning your academic schedule, adjusting to college life, and so much more.
Convenient, Caring Assistance
The center opened in July 2016 as a way to consolidate a wide variety of services
offered across campus and make it easier for students to get what they need. McKendree’s
small campus community is the perfect environment for individualized assistance, and
the Success Center’s director, two student success mentors, and nine peer tutors bring
a level of personal care and dedication that’s become an essential part of the McKendree
experience.
Their new location on Stanton Street is situated right next to the Health Services
Office and Writing Center, creating an easy-to-find service row for students seeking
assistance in everything from professional counseling to writing a paper for class.
And the best part? The center’s services are open to all students free of charge!
“Our mission is to help students reach their full potential,” says Success Mentor
Marcy Bitner. “I like to say I help students find their grit or self-efficacy. No
matter what phase of life you’re in, there are times when life is hard. Maybe you
don’t like your roommate, or that class turned out to be harder than you expected,
or you’re having issues with family, finances, or a relationship. We connect students
with the right organization or resources, and we take the time to check up on them.
Our job is to help them find their place in life by giving them the responsibility
as adults and guiding them through what their tomorrow will look like.”
Mentoring Services
Sometimes you just need someone to turn to for advice who’s gone through it all before.
“Our mentoring services definitely seem to be the most popular among students,” says
Associate Dean for Student Success Jennifer Miller. “It’s normal to struggle at different times in college, and we’re here to help with
each of those challenges.”
The center’s success mentors can provide you with academic advising in addition to
your faculty advisor. Choosing a major, registering for classes, and planning out
a course schedule to ensure you graduate on time are all areas in which students typically
seek assistance from a trusted mentor with a wealth of prior experience.
Need help learning to better manage your time between a full class load and practice
schedule? Your success mentor can sit down with you and create a plan to reduce your
stressful time constraints. Looking to find your place in student life on campus? Your success mentor can show you what personal growth and involvement
opportunities are available.
With a host of resources at their fingertips, the Success Center staff can also guide
you to the right person to answer your unique needs. If you’re struggling in a relationship
or are dealing with other stressful life situations, your success mentor can guide
you to campus services dedicated to your wellbeing, such as health services, counseling
services or the Center for Faith and Spirituality.
“We’ve found that parents feel more comfortable knowing someone outside the classroom
and outside of a coach is looking in on their son or daughter,” says Bitner.
“Many students need help with the transition of growing into college, and I’m one
more person who’s here professionally guiding them into adulthood.”
Student-to-Student Tutoring and Testing Center
Peer tutoring is another way the Student Success Center provides extra help for students
in a full range of academic subjects. Flexible hours and a variety of student tutors
make it easy to schedule time for help with a particular assignment or series of concepts
in any number of courses. The facility’s Testing Center also gives students a convenient
way to make up tests or quizzes at a time that fits their schedule.
Kristyn Tully '19 is a mathematics major on the actuarial science track. She was already a tutor at Mathnasium in O’Fallon
when her McKendree professor suggested she join the Student Success Center. “I love helping people understand math, so it seemed like a natural extra job for
me.”
Kristyn works with students on homework and helps them review for tests. Her broad
scope of knowledge and skill for making complex material more understandable enables
her to tutor students in any math class at McKendree. “The Success Center has really
impacted the students I tutor because it’s a free resource that helps them succeed
in classes they’re struggling in,” she said. “It’s also helped me manage my time better.”
Kristyn isn’t the only tutor who has witnessed firsthand the center’s benefits. Psychology major Safiya Atkinson '17 helps students learn to improve their writing skills in psychology classes.“Just the fact that a student is helping another student allows for a more comfortable
learning environment.”
Similarly, in tutoring her fellow chemistry students, Himani Patel '18 discovered that the encouragement she provides on a peer level makes a big difference
too. “Sometimes they just need a little motivation to get them through the course.”
Disability Services and Individual Support
No matter what your service needs, the staff of the Student Success Center are here
to ensure you have the best McKendree experience possible. They provide a voice for
students with disabilities and work one-on-one with them to offer accommodations that
create a more conducive learning environment.
Many students come to McKendree from another country or are the first in their family
to attend college. The center recognizes the unique needs of first generation and
international students and is committed to offering individual support for those adjusting
to college life on all levels.
So when you’re unsure where to turn or just need to know that someone cares, stop
by the Student Success & Advising Center at Clark Hall, Lower Level to find out how they can assist you today!
Make It McKendree
