Services

Adjustment to College

To assist new freshmen in making the transition to college, Student Support Services offers a two-credit course—Introduction to the University Curriculum (GEN 100)—which promotes academic success in the first year and beyond. The course helps students improve their learning and study strategies, develop creative and critical thinking skills, and gain access to campus resources.

Academic Assessment

SSS offers free evaluations to help students assess their academic needs, learning strategies, and study skills. Diagnostic tests are available in such areas as mathematics and analytical thinking skills, written communication, and reading rate and comprehension. Assessments are also provided for students who enter the university with limited proficiency in English.

Supplemental Advising

The SSS Academic Advising Coordinator assists students in planning their degree programs and monitoring their academic progress. The adviser can answer questions about degree requirements and guide students through the process of selecting majors and setting career goals. In addition, the adviser keeps students informed about various services that are available on campus to support their needs. For further information, contact the SSS Academic Advising Coordinator.

Career Development

The SSS Career Development Coordinator assists students with their career plans from their freshman through senior year. The coordinator helps students set career goals, write effective resumes, locate internships, establish professional contacts, and develop their interviewing skills. For students who are uncertain about their career or major, the SSS program offers interest inventories at no cost. The program also defrays the registration costs to enable SSS participants to access the Blugold CareerLink, a computerized database providing online internship/employment search capability. For further information, contact the SSS Career Development Coordinator.

Tutorial Assistance

Through an arrangement with the Academic Skills Center, the SSS program offers intensive tutoring both for academic courses and for study strategies. Tutoring is also available to help students prepare to take such examinations as the PPST/PRAXIS required of Education majors and the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) required for admission to many graduate programs. SSS tutors help students to learn course content and to improve their test-preparation methods and test-taking strategies. For further information, contact the SSS Tutoring Coordinator.

"SSS has helped me to get tutors whenever I needed one. Since I know that I'm not very good in chemistry, I got a chemistry tutor this semester. So far, the tutor has helped me a lot and I'm really enjoying chemistry now, unlike when I was in high school."
K.Y., Nursing major

Peer Mentoring: SSS Connections

SSS provides incoming students with access to successful role models in order to help them become integrated into the academic and social community on campus. The peer mentors, for their part, develop leadership skills while they assist the new students in adjusting to campus life. To receive mentoring or to serve as a mentor, contact the SSS Director.

Informational Programming

Every semester, SSS offers a wide variety of informative programs. Some typical topics include the following

• Pay for College Without Mortgaging Your Future
• Do You Know When You Will Graduate? : A Degree Planning Workshop
• Writing the Employment Resume
• Five-Day Study Plan for Final Exams

Check the Calendar of Events to see the series of programs being offered this semester.

Cultural Enrichment

The SSS program offers participants the opportunity to attend numerous events on campus that stimulate thought and promote cultural appreciation. SSS participants are provided with tickets to UW-Eau Claire's theatrical productions, Forum lectures, and Artists Series performances. Check the Calendar of Events to see the cultural opportunities available this semester. To request tickets, contact the SSS Program Associate.

Leadership Development

SSS staff members keep students aware of opportunities to develop their organizational and leadership skills. Students may assume leadership roles by participating in the Student Support Services Advisory Board, which helps organize social and educational events where program participants can interact and develop friendships. For further information, contact the SSS Director.

"The major benefit I am going to be able to take away from my participation with Student Support Services is improved leadership skills. As a member of the Advisory Board, I have been in a position of a leader and have been able to guide other students instead of sitting back and waiting for others to organize something for me. It has been great 'real life' experience having to brainstorm and compromise and then organize with a group of people who all have great ideas."
C.G., Criminal Justice and Spanish major

Grant Aid

The SSS program is authorized to provide some direct financial assistance to qualified students. To receive this grant aid, students must be current participants in the program of freshman or sophomore standing who are receiving federal Pell Grants. In addition, the program requires that Grant Aid recipients meet a GPA standard and attend program activities. For further information, contact the SSS Director.

Graduate School Preparation

Each fall, the SSS program offers a one-credit course, GEN 260, for qualified students interested in pursuing graduate school. Issues pertaining to graduate program options, admission requirements, application procedures, writing personal essay statements, obtaining quality references, financial resources, and graduate exam preparation are explored in detail. Campus visits to nearby graduate school programs are also provided for participants. For further information, contact the SSS Academic Advising Coordinator.