Today@Sam Article
Here To Help: Academic Success Center
Oct. 18, 2024
SHSU Media Contact: Mikah Boyd
By Jaidin Shaw
Since its relocation in 2021, the Academic Success Center (ASC) has become the epicenter for student improvement at Sam Houston State University. Ted Stuberfield, director of tutoring, and Austin Dixon, director of academic outreach and recovery, shared their passion for the center’s growth over the past few years.
“Meet students where they are at in the learning process,” said Dixon and Stuberfield throughout their interview, emphasizing the center’s main mission.
While the center’s image has evolved, its mission and goals are still the same, meaning that no matter the level of the student, there are resources tailored to help them become academically successful.
Walking into the Newton Gresham Library, which houses the ASC, students are often seen engaging in tutoring or workshops led by the center’s staff. The ASC provides a wide range of services for its students such as tutoring, workshops, math 1314 resources, the Fulbright U.S. Student Program and academic coaching. On top of these services, the ASC is partnered with the Graduate/Undergraduate Instructor Academy (GUIA), which provides professional development to graduate adjunct professors, teaching assistants, lab instructors and more by offering instructional training and resources.
In addition to academic support, the ASC offers leadership roles and jobs, including several roles that undergraduate and graduate students can take, as well as full-time professional positions.
“We do a lot of hiring – we keep over 150 peer mentors on staff and sometimes we hire professional staff as well,” Stuberfield said.
Some of those roles include graduate assistants (GAs), lead peer educators and embedded tutors, who create content along with the faculty to help present information to students better.
“We want them to be able to network and pick up content information, but also build their professional development as tutors,” Stuberfield said.
Students can start their professional development as peer educators, which has become something of value for the students. Peer educators allow students to learn from peers who excel at a specific topic or who have taken a class that a student might struggle in, which increases engagement and interest for the student and encourages them to keep going.
“It’s okay to ask for help,” Dixon said as a reminder to students, especially those who hesitate to get help when they are struggling.
The Academic Success Center, along with many other departments on campus, such as the First-Generation Center, SAM Center, Career Success Center, Academic Affairs and many more, are a part of the Student Success Leadership Team that was designed to help students of all levels, backgrounds and experiences.
“Everyone has a home in the ASC,” Dixon said.
When asked what impact the ASC has had on campus, Dixon and Stuberfield both mentioned how rewarding it is for students to return after graduation to express their gratitude.
“Seeing students go from a place of vulnerability to confidence is an award in itself,” Stuberfield said.
Looking ahead, the ASC has plans to expand its involvement with the community. Dixon mentioned recent initiatives to connect with coaching programs in the Houston area, while Stuberfield aims to collaborate with dual credit programs at Huntsville High School, to extend academic support to students in high school.
The Academic Success Center is more than just a campus resource for academic success – it’s a place for students to develop as professionals and as people. While the ASC has been a part of Sam Houston State for years, it continues to grow, not only in programs and outreach, but in success stories from students.
“Receiving messages and letters like, ‘Hey, I made Dean’s List!’ or ‘I graduated!’ is the reason we do what we do. We couldn’t do our jobs without them,” Dixon said.
- END -
This page maintained by SHSU's Communications Office:
Director of Content Communications: Emily Binetti
Asst. Director Content & Social Media: Emilee White
Communications Manager: Mikah Boyd
Telephone: 936.294.1837
Communications Specialist: Campbell Atkins
Telephone: 936.294.2638
Please send comments, corrections, news tips to Today@Sam.edu