S8B An Academic Support Center Model for Increasing Community and Student Engagement

Presenters

Dr. Stephen Habay, Chemistry

Abstract

The Chemistry Support Center (CSC) at Salisbury University was established in fall 2021 as a standalone facility offering an array of free academic support services for all students enrolled in chemistry courses on campus. The CSC is a centralized walk-in resource open throughout the academic year and is staffed primarily by full-time chemistry faculty. The CSC offers homework help, study support, and tutoring for most chemistry courses, particularly for lower division courses such as general and organic chemistry. The CSC complements faculty office hours and reduces the barrier for students to seek help with their coursework. In addition to helping with classes, the CSC provides a comfortable study space and computing resources for students. In collaboration with the Center for Student Achievement (CSA), we offer study skills workshops for all first term general chemistry students at the beginning of each semester. Students are introduced to all the support resources available to them on campus. They also learn about effective study strategies, how to find information for their courses, and develop a study plan for the semester. In the evenings and on weekends, the CSC provides space for Chemistry Department social events, including trivia and movie nights! Strategies and challenges to building and maintaining a CSC will be discussed. Data on student use, community engagement, and impacts on student persistence will be presented.

Session Recording

Per the request of the presenters, this session was not recorded. Please contact presenters for more information about this session topic.