Engineering Student Success Center: One-stop services and support Engineering Student Success Center: One-stop services and support

Every fall, thousands of students across the country enter college and are faced with challenges before stepping in the classroom -- from selecting courses, to deciding on a major, to transferring credits. At many universities this can mean running around from office to office trying to take care of it all.

Not at Wichita State. The College of Engineering has resources to help students as they start their academic careers. The Engineering Student Success Center (ESSC) opened in May 2012, and is focused on student success. It echoes a growing trend in higher education, offering a central place where students get the services and support they need to grow, develop, succeed and graduate.

"There are a lot of things students need to succeed. We designed the ESSC to be the one-stop place students go for everything," said Lawrence Whitman, associate dean for Undergraduate Education. "The service is personalized, the location is convenient and the promise is that we will help them stay in school and graduate."

The ESSC has staff dedicated to registration. They help students plan their upcoming semester schedules, get cleared to enroll and register in classes.

"Faculty advisers meet with students about their career plans, technical electives, Engineer of 2020, minors and cooperative education," said Whitman.

ESSC staff can also direct students to campus resources like tutoring and student employment, or they can talk with students about the many student organizations that will help them become involved and participate in campus life.

The ESSC staff is responsive, available and entirely focused on students' success.