James Madison University Student Success Center

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.[1] The ideas and plans became a reality when the university bought the former Rockingham Memorial Hospital building. 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 renovation of the building.[2] The 250,000 square feet (23,000 m²) building's estimated cost of construction and fitting was $77,499,905.[1] In the spring of 2013, the Virginia General Assembly's 2013-14 budget amendments could have added $2.7 million to the university's budget for the construction of the center.[3] The original name for the Student Success Center was the Student Health and Success Center (SHSC).[2] The building opened on September 19, 2014. 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.[4]

This Student Success Center incorporates academic services, health services, dining services, and a social atmosphere in one building. 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." [5]

The Student Success Center provides many services to the students. Before construction of the center, the services were available in multiple locations on campus. Centralized services at the center increases convenience to students and makes collaboration between departments easier.[2] There are over twenty services in the Center including 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 utilizes two floors of the building. 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.[6]

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.[7]

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"[8]

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.[9]

Dining at the center was created to eliminate crowds and long lines at other near by dining halls and offers a variety of different options including a sit-down meal or take-out options. The 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.[9] The Grace Street Market offers convenience store items along with the Vietnamese Express where students can try popular Vietnamese dishes.[10] 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.[11]

Every year in both the fall and spring, positions for student employees open up at the center. Students can apply to be hired as a student manager, event service associate, or a guest services associate.[9] 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.[9]

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.[1]