Press Releases and Speeches

STUDENT SUCCESS CENTERS PUTTING STUDENTS FIRST

Chicago, IL (October 2002) – A new system of Student Success Centers has been created at each of the seven City Colleges of Chicago to help deliver a comprehensive support system to help students achieve their goals.

"We are committed to delivering services that support the educational process with a focus on personal attention, using available resources and advanced technological support," said Chancellor Wayne D. Watson. "Our new Student Success Centers provide a comprehensive support system as students seek to achieve their greatest potential."

The centers provide services that include orientation, program information, transfer assistance, personal adjustment, education planning, career planning, and referrals to human services specialists. To staff the new centers, 44 new college advisors went through extensive training to implement the new student guidance approach.

"This new system enables the City Colleges to establish clear student guidance objectives and effectively attain those objectives," said Chairman James C. Tyree. "It's a student services model that is appropriate for a comprehensive community college in the 21st century."

The model for the centers received overwhelming approval when it was presented at the annual conference of the American Association of Community Colleges. It was also nominated for the prestigious Bellwether Award, which is sponsored by the Community Colleges Futures Assembly.