James Madison University Student Success Center

The James Madison University Student Success Center is a place that offers assistance, programs, services, and resources for students of James Madison University. The Student Success Center is located at the corner of Grace Street and Mason Street and opened in the early fall of 2014. The center offers over twenty student services along with its own dining facility. It remains open seven days a week in order to allow students to achieve their academic goals and other needs.

History

The idea of a Student Success Center began to be developed around 1998 when former president of the university Dr. Linwood Rose asked a team of faculty to look into how student success could be enhanced and developed further. He wanted every student to experience academic and personal success at James Madison. The ideas and plans became a reality when James Madison University bought the building formerly known as Rockingham Memorial Hospital. George Nasis (Vice President of the project), Bradely Lockwood (Project Architect), Bryna Dunn (Director of Sustainability Planning and design for the project) and other team members of Moseley Architecture designed and planned the building. The builders carefully planned out each and every detail of the building. The 250,000 square foot building's estimated cost of construction and fitting was $77,499,905. In the spring of 2013, the Virginia General Assembly’s 2013-14 budget amendments could have added $2.7 million to James Madison University’s budget for the construction of the center. The original name for the Student Success Center was the Student Health and Success Center (SHSC). On September 19 of 2014, the center had its grand opening. Former university presidents Carrier and Rose attended the ceremony. During the ceremony Dr. Warner, Senior Vice President of Student Affairs, explained how Carrier’s dream started the project and how Rose’s development furthered the plan by developing the Service Center and Learning Centers. President Alger closed the ceremony by reflecting on the space and shared his thoughts on the potential positive outcomes that the building could provide for the James Madison Community.

Design

This Student Success Center is different from most university's student success centers. As of 2014, James Madison's is unique because it incorporates academic services, health services, dining services, and a social atmosphere all in one central building. The building was built and designed for the students of James Madison. The layout and organization of the building was carefully planned out. Not only are there many different types of seating but all of the seats are purple and gold, the university's colors.

In the words of Randy Mitchell, Associate Vice President of Student Success, “The Student Success Center at JMU is unique; no other facility in U.S. higher education to our knowledge has gone so far in combining so many student health, student learning and student services in one complex,” Mitchell said. “ ... The best way for students to understand the Student Success Center is to come and explore it.”

Services

The Student Success Center provides many services to the students. Before to the construction of the center, the services were spread out all over campus. Now that the services are centralized at the center, students have more convenient access to them and it makes collaboration between departments easier. There are over 20 services stationed in the Student Success Center. Some of the main services housed include Learning Centers, Disability Services, Community Service-Learning, Judicial Affairs, Orientation, Career and Academic Planning, Counseling, University Health Center, Information Technology Services, University Business Office, Office of Financial Aid and Scholarship, and the Office of the Registrar.

The University Health Center has two floors. The first floor has a walk-in clinic for students with urgent needs. Observation rooms are equipped with IVs, stretchers, and a computer record system to keep track of patients medical history. The second floor has Student Wellness and Outreach programs. The rooms and decorations were decorated with the hopes of creating a peacefully and healing environment for the patients.

The Career and Academic Planning Center, located on the third floor, provides assistance with interviewing, resume reviews, and academic advise. Also on the third floor is the Counseling Center which offers a variety of types of counseling, crisis assistance, workshops, treatment programs, and more outreach programs.

The Information Technology Help Desk is located on the fourth floor where students having difficulties with their computing devices or services can find assistance. The EPIC Center is also on the fourth floor, where EPIC stands for Enhancing Pedagogy through Innovative Classrooms. The EPIC Center is home to the university’s eight newest and most innovative classrooms. These rooms “feature wall-to-wall writable whiteboard surfaces, multiple projection points, movable teaching station, and flexible furniture”

On the fifth floor, the Financial Aid and Scholarships center helps students handle their finances and provides information on employment opportunities. The office of Registrar and the University Business Office are also located on this floor.

Dining

Dining at the Student Success Center was created to eliminate crowds and long lines at other near by dining halls. Angela Ritchie, the marketing manager of the dining services, hopes that students will take advantage of the variety of different options which include a sit-down meal or take-out options. The Student Success Center is the home to Harrisonburg’s first Dunkin Donuts. It offers a full menu and students are able to use dining dollars or FLEX accounts there. The Grace Street Market offers convenience store items along with the Vietnamese Express where students can try popular Vietnamese dishes. Meal options at the Bistro 1908 include Italian dishes such as pizzas and pastas. The Chophouse, which serves burgers, salads, sandwiches and steaks, is also a part of Bistro 1908.

Student Employment Opportunities

Every year in both the fall and spring, positions for student employees open up at the Student Success Center. Students can apply to be hired as a student manager, event service associate, or a guest services associate. Benefits of these jobs include work on campus, flexible scheduling, team building activities, work with other students in a dynamic environment, opportunities for advancement and several more. Expectations of working there included following a dress code, wearing a name tag, responsibility for shift and providing coverage, greeting and assisting guests, and having a knowledge of the SSC and JMU. The employee requirements are most be enrolled as an undergraduate or graduate student, able to work in a team environment, attend training sessions and area meetings, maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA, and be “in good standing” with the University.

Sustainability

The Student Success Center was built with the hopes of reducing negative impacts of buildings on the environment and improving health and well-being. Highlights of the environment facility include energy performance, water conservation, site improvements, material use, indoor environment, and innovation in design.