The Center for Student Success creates meaningful and sustainable academic progress by helping students meet the standards of personal independence and responsibility.
The Center for Student Success offers services by learning specialists who act as educational/developmental mentors, student advocates, and academic and life advisors.
Learning Specialists
Upon Beacon College enrollment, each student is assigned to a learning specialist.
- First-time and freshman transfer students are with freshman learning specialists
- Transfer students are assigned to sophomore learning specialists or on a case-by-case basis
Learning specialists offer individualized support unique to the student’s needs and academic level. In Fall 2022, the Center transitioned to a 2 x 2 model whereas students will stay with their first learning specialist as they work through their freshman and sophomore years and then move to the junior/senior team. If the student’s pace of progress is not satisfactory (must complete 24 credit hours per academic year), they may stay with their freshman/sophomore learning specialist for another year.
Freshman students meet with their learning specialist for 60 minutes per week, either one meeting or two 30-minute sessions. Sophomore students meet with their learning specialist for 30 to 60 minutes depending on the need; junior/senior students meet with their learning specialist for 30 minutes.
As educational/developmental mentors, learning specialists:
- Provide academic support by monitoring academic progress, reviewing it with the student, and creating (in collaboration with the student) meaningful interventions in the areas of need;
- Identify, recommend, and assist in the development of skills and positive habits to improve attendance, participation, assignment completion and submission, use of resources, and communication;
- Coach students in how to monitor performance and act strategically to solve problems and complete tasks;
- Collaborate with faculty to improve student performance; and
- Make referrals to other available and appropriate support.
As academic and life advisors, learning specialists:
- Help students select a course of study in line with their interests, ability, and career goals, including the selection of remedial classes for specific academic skill development (in collaboration with the faculty);
- Assist students in developing a balanced academic plan;
- Engage students in planning for their future;
- Help students learn more about their learning differences, increase their self-awareness and social and emotional intelligence, especially as it relates to social norms and conventions when interacting with the faculty, staff, and fellow students;
- Provide tools for effective self-advocacy; and
- In cooperation with other departments, help students resolve and manage conflicts, personal concerns, and life challenges.
Open Learning
Open Learning provides additional mentoring time for up to 31 hours per week:
- Morning: Monday through Friday: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Beacon Library
- Afternoon: Monday through Thursday: 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the Center for Student Success
- Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Center for Student Success.
During Open Learning, Beacon students can work either independently or with others (peers, peer-tutors, or learning specialists).
Junior/senior students are encouraged to use the newly redesigned Navigator Lounge for their work throughout the day. The Lounge is available:
- Monday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
No matter how much time, effort, or resources are needed, Open Learning assures that each student can achieve their objectives. Supervised by learning specialists, we are providing the necessary infrastructure for students to engage with the course material and practice constructive communication with academic staff and peers.
During Open Learning, Learning Specialists will:
- discuss strategies for completing assignments;
- answer general questions or help clarify assignments;
- refer to instructors as needed for content-specific questions;
- set up intensive study sessions by helping the student
- identify realistic goals and rewards
- determine the time appropriate for independent learning (20-50 min.)
- check in with the student to see how they are progressing after the predetermined independent learning time is over
- remind the student to take a break/reward
- review the assignment with the student
- work with a student to help gain an understanding of the task before independent work (no more than 15 minutes at a time); and
- help students if they have the needed materials.
During Open Learning, Learning specialists will not:
- review or critique every assignment
- review assignments to make sure they are correct or perfect
- provide answers, or
- provide research articles or materials.
Peer Tutors
At Beacon, we have found that students receive significant benefits from working with others who experience similar struggles. Therefore, peer tutors and teaching assistants are an integral part of the Center for Student Success.
Peer tutors are current Beacon students who excelled in the courses they tutor, have been nominated by faculty, and are trained in effective tutoring strategies. Peer tutors provide individual and small group tutoring on a schedule that varies by semester.
Groups and Other Extra-curricular Offerings
The Center for Student Success manages the following groups, clubs, and programs:
- The Equine Program
- The Equestrian Club
- The Mindfulness Group
- The Grammar Bootcamp
- The Dungeons & Dragons Club
Communication with Parents
Providing support to our Beacon parents, the Center has designed a streamlined system with specific contacts for academic questions and non-academic issues. For all academic questions, please contact the Dean of the Center for Student Success at centerforstudentsuccess@beaconcollege.edu.
All communication from parents to learning specialists will be forwarded to the Dean, and parents should expect a response within 24-48 hours. Emergencies will be attended to promptly.
The Center for Student Success regularly sends parent communications each semester covering the major areas of academic engagement (attendance, class participation, homework completion/submission, use of supports/resources, and communication). Learning specialists do not report grades to parents as it is the student’s responsibility to keep their parents apprised of academic progress (current grades are available in Canvas; mid-term and final grades are in Sonis).
Parent Communication Schedule
|
|
Pre-mid-term (Week 6 or 2 weeks before the mid-terms) |
Post-mid-term (2 weeks after mid-terms) |
Post-final (1 week after finals) |
| First semester freshmen and transfer students |
All |
All |
All |
| Other freshmen |
All |
All |
All |
| Sophomores, juniors, and seniors | Academic warning, past semester GPA below 2.0, at least one class at a C- or below | Previous group plus students with at least one C- or below for mid-terms | All |
| Graduates, students who transfer out, take a leave of absence, or leave College for other reasons | Academic warning, past semester GPA below 2.0, at least one class at a C- or below | Previous group plus students with at least one C- or below for mid-terms |
Hours of Operation
Monday: 8:30 a.m.-6:00 p.m.
Tuesday: 8:30 a.m.-6:00 p.m.
Wednesday: 8:30 a.m.-6:00 p.m.
Thursday: 8:30 a.m.-6:00 p.m.
Friday: 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Saturday: 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
Sunday: closed
Learn about all of Beacon’s Success Services supporting all our students!
