New SSAs Foster Student Success

Helping students succeed in college is an ongoing goal at Ivy Tech Community College. This summer, the East Central Region literally put “its money where its mouth is” with the hiring of seven full-time Student Success Assistants (SSAs) with the major charge to foster student success.

“The goal of our student success initiative, of which the SSAs play a major part, is to front-load services for students so, as they go through their educational journey, they have the tools they need to be successful,” said Mary Lewellen, dean of Student Affairs.

The role of the SSAs is to serve as a link or liaison between the students and the process of getting enrolled and learning about and hooking up with the college’s support services and resources that can help them succeed, according to Sharon Stoops, acting Dean of Academic Affairs.

SSAs are located at all three region campuses – three in Muncie and two each in Anderson and Marion – and are accessible at all hours that students are on campus. Available to all new degree-seeking students, the SSAs make their first contact with students after they have completed their placement evaluation and assessment. The SSA helps the student understand the evaluation results and what importance the assessments play in enrolling for classes.

“SSAs also help students start to develop an academic plan and set career goals,” said Lewellen.
“We have found that many students lack direction when they enter college and the SSA helps them decide or choose where they’re going. We know from research that students who have definite goals are more successful,” said Stoops. The SSAs are a main point of contact for students and are available throughout the semester.

Why is Ivy Tech putting such a strong emphasis on enhancing its student success tools?
“Many of our students are first generation college students and don’t have others who can provide them with important information about college,” said Lewellen. “Our SSAs, some of whom are former Ivy Tech students who have gone on to receive bachelors and masters degrees, and some who are also first generation students, can identify with the students and their concerns and needs. They can help new students identify barriers and show them how to access resources and navigate processes.”

Ivy Tech also has a number of non-traditional students who, in addition to going to college, have jobs and families. The SSA can help these students identify strategies to balance all that is going on in their lives, said Lewellen.

The addition of the SSA is only one of the things Ivy Tech has implemented as part of its student success initiative.

New Admission Workshops give students the opportunity to accomplish as much as they are prepared to do at one time, including applying to the college, talking with Financial Aid and Career Services representatives and taking their placement evaluation and assessment.

At the Admissions Workshop, each student also receives a Passport to Success, a 24-page booklet, which serves as a guide through the first semester. In the booklet, students can record their travels as a new student, record resources, contacts and appointments and review checklists.

New students are also strongly encouraged to attend Orientation either on-campus or on-line.
Other services available to new students include:

• free tutoring in Math and English
• an Academic Support Center on each campus, which provides computer and Internet access, computer skill building, assessment preparation and make-up exams
• Library Services, both on campus and virtual
• Career advising and services to help students find employment
• Student organizations
• Disability Services
• LifeSteps, a mentoring and tutoring program for qualified first generation students

Published: August 8th, 2006

Meet Student Success Assistant: Teri Lennis - listen to our interview podcast.

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