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The University of New England’s Student Academic Success Center (SASC) was recently awarded the Center of Excellence designation by the National College Learning Center Association (NCLCA), an organization dedicated to promoting excellence among learning center personnel at the post-secondary level. It was the second time that ɫ����Ƶ’s SASC received the award.

ɫ����Ƶ’s SASC provides a comprehensive array of academic support services including courses, workshops, tutoring, and individual consultations to ɫ����Ƶ students to help them attain their educational goals. According to SASC Director Mary Fraser, M.A., the center provides an invaluable resource to students across the disciplines and at all points in their academic careers. “All kinds of students visit SASC for all kinds of reasons,” she shared. “We treat academic support as collaborative professional development where students can deepen and diversify their skills for learning, whether they are just getting started in general chemistry or they are preparing for board exams.  We live that philosophy by providing regular professional development to staff and student tutors alike to ensure we provide the best possible support.”

In order to earn the  designation of excellence, SASC was scored on a variety of criteria, including program and services, organizational framework, academic integrity and learning environment, staff and professional development, and self-assessment and evaluation, among others. The NCLCA concluded that the “ɫ����Ƶ Student Academic Success Center has many areas of excellence and is showing innovative ways to provide a safe and accessible learning environment for the students,” adding that “many outstanding tools have been developed and the staff is well trained in current practices.”

Interim Provost Karen Pardue, Ph.D., M.S., RN, CNE, ANEF, credited Fraser and the entire SASC team for the achievement. “This Center of Excellence designation is testament to the comprehensive, exceptional support services and programming provided by ɫ����Ƶ’s Student Academic Success Center,” she said. “The center has always been highly responsive to students on both campuses, and this excellence award lauded SASC’s innovative approaches to ensure effective and accessible learning supports in both face-to-face and remote environments.”

The SASC first received the Center of Excellence designation in 2017 for a three-year term. The recent recertification is for a period of five years.

ɫ����Ƶ’s SASC is one of only six centers nationwide with the designation.