At Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College’s Learning Resource Center – or the LRC – you’ll find Michael Munro, MS, director of academic services for student success, along with countless students working hard to make the grade all year long.
A student’s academic journey often leads them to the LRC for help with specific classes through the Supplemental Instruction Tutoring Program – peer-to-peer guidance provided by a student who has previously taken the course and understands the expectations.
“Our faculty turnover here is not super frequent, so the benefit of working with a student who has already taken that class is that they understand the culture of that class, know how a professor introduces the material and how tests are presented,” Munro said.
As part of the Writing Center, the LRC is chock-full of physical resources, such as MLA and APA quick-reference guides, and anything students need to build healthy study habits. A student’s professional advisor may also work with the LRC to find resources and pair students with a tutor.
To help students who may not have performed as well in high school, the LRC holds two classes: LC 103 Surviving and Thriving College for students with lower high school GPAs to learn good habits and success strategies as they transition to college, and LC 113 Reclaiming College Success for students who might not be meeting the GPA requirement to improve their academic success skills.
All SMWC students must maintain a 2.0 GPA or above to remain in good academic standing. Student-athletes and 21st Century Scholars must maintain at least a 2.5 GPA or above to be considered in good academic standing.
To help students succeed, the LRC started bringing assistance straight into some English and math classes.
“We hope this helps students get familiar with one of our tutors, so they know who they can work with outside the classroom at the LRC,” Munro said.
The LRC also serves as the disability support services office, where Munro and Theresa Watson, MS, associate director of academic services for student success, ensure SMWC’s campus and classes are ADA-accommodable.
“Accommodations are just alternative routes to meeting the same requirements that every other student is required to do,” Munro said. “There are some things we have to restrict or be very careful about, but a lot of accommodations we see in the K-12 setting we can implement in the higher ed environment, like extended test-taking time or a requirement to delay turning work in on time.”
Munro and Watson consult with medical professionals to verify accommodation and ensure students get an equitable learning environment. They also handle campus housing accommodations, such as individual room needs, access to a private bathroom or an emotional support animal.
“Just under one-sixth of our on-campus students are registered with some kind of accommodation – either academic or housing,” Munro said. “Like a lot of higher ed institutions, there’s been an increase in the number of support animals on campus since Covid-19.”
Students must sign in when they visit the LRC. Although attendance varies, between 30 and 70 students visit the space daily. During the academic year, the highest volume of students is on Mondays and Fridays and during midterms and finals.
The LRC offers a variety of spaces to help students excel in the classroom, like a testing room and two group study spaces. The rest of the space is designed as a medium-noise environment, where students often move furniture to create their ideal study environment outside their dorm.
“We strive to provide a variety of environments for students, allowing them to find what works best for them,” Munro said. “If you go upstairs, we have a traditional library. Since there are fewer students, it will be a quieter, better learning environment for some students. They can also go downstairs to the Woods Café, where they can have a loud noise environment that some people thrive in.”
You can find the LRC in the north wing of the Rooney Center on the second floor. It is open 8 a.m.-10 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 5-10 p.m. Sundays.
0 Comments