The Academic Support Center has undergone a number of changes in the past two years, the most noticeable being a name change from Academic Advising. This name change is more than a symbolic gesture, as it indicates a change in direction and the broadening of services they offer.
Settled into the new title and responsibilities, the center is still making adjustments.
“The Academic Support Center has had a number of changes since last year. Now that we have the Multilingual Learner Specialist, Disability Services, and Academic Advising and Support, we have a broader reach within the center,” Director of the Academic Support Center Margo Druschel said.
New staff members include Kelly Hanson and Sarah Santos.
“We have a new Coordinator of Disability Services, Kelly Hanson. She’s the interim coordinator, and she’s doing a great job in that position,” Druschel said.
While Kelly worked in part time in the Academic Support Center last year, Sarah is a new addition to the office.
“Sarah is brand new, and this is only her fourth week. We’re very excited to have her,” Druschel said.
In the past, the Academic Support Center has been recognized most for providing students with assistance when creating plans for which courses to take.
“I went to the Academic Support Center as a first year and they helped me make my four year plan. They helped me realize that even though my schedule is tight as a biochemistry major, I still had space in my schedule to take classes that I wanted to take for fun, like beginning ballet,” Junior Morgan Timm said.
“It’s so important for students to realize that academic advising is about what they want to study for all four years, how that’s connected to careers, to internships, to really what they want to do long term.”—Margo Druschel
“It’s so important for students to realize that academic advising is about what they want to study for all four years, how that’s connected to careers, to internships, to really what they want to do long term. Choosing a major and a four-year plan is among the first independent, adult decisions that a lot of young people make. It’s a lot more than figuring out how to fit things in,” Druschel said.
While the center has broadened its reach, there is still a plan in place to help students create academic plans for their time at Gustavus.
“We’re hoping to have four year planning workshops and workshops about what is important to students, such as double majoring and studying abroad options. This makes it easier for Jane and Margo to have follow-up meetings, rather than having full one-on-one meetings for individual plans,” Junior Hayley Nemmers said. Nemmers also works in the Academic Support Center.
On Oct. 23, the Academic Support Center is offering an open house from 4 to 5 p.m.
“It will be a great time to welcome our new member Sarah, and to welcome Kelly to her new position,” Nemmers said.
“It’s going to be a time to meet and greet. We would love to have students come, particularly any students with disabilities who haven’t already sought us out and met us. And, certainly, multilingual learners, many of whom I know have already met Sarah. And it’s a chance to see all of us,” Druschel said.
The Academic Support Center is open from 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m Monday through Friday. The friendly staff will gladly meet with any students seeking any type of support with their academic careers.
-Kaity Young