Student Success Center
Kretschmar Hall, Room 214
Phone number: (509) 527-2715
The Student Success Center plays a key role in cultivating strategies and skills that promote student success at Walla Walla University. This is executed through three areas: the freshman mentoring program, probation mentoring, and intensive outreach.
MENTOR PROGRAM. The Mentor Program focuses on individualized encouragement and support as students transition to college life. Mentors deliver a Freshman Experience curriculum that encourages a balanced life of academic, spiritual, and social practices. The student experience is enriched by participation in organizations sponsored by the University, community service involvement, and developing their connections with faculty, staff, and other students. Mentors assist students in setting and achieving academic and career goals by encouraging personal ownership and responsibility and strengthening their time management and study skills. They also aid students in identifying the causes and solutions to specific challenges they may face, including effectively using campus resources. All freshmen are required to participate in the Mentoring Program. A fee is assessed for this program; see the Academic Fees Section of the Financial Bulletin.
PROBATION MENTORING. The Probation Mentoring program focuses on developing accountability and coaching students in order to improve their academic performance. The probation mentors first meet with the student and the Student Success Coordinator to discuss the student’s Academic Plan for Success form. Probation mentors then meet with students and promote progress towards the goals outlined in their Academic Plan for Success. The student also benefits from the mentor actively facilitating connections with campus resources, addressing factors such as class attendance, completion of course work, and communication with professors. Probation mentors work with students to address the factors that led the student to be on academic probation, such as class attendance, completion of course work, communication with professors, etc. A fee for this service is charged to the student’s account. See the Academic Fees section of the Financial Bulletin.
INTENSIVE OUTREACH. The Student Success Center collaborates with professors and instructors to provide intensive outreach to students who are not meeting academic benchmarks outlined in course descriptions. The Student Success team coordinates outreach and support for students who are identified as struggling with class attendance, homework completion, or other external/internal forces that negatively impact a student’s academic performance. This outreach is carried out by the Student Success Coordinator, a masters-level case manager, as well as the trained freshmen and probation mentors. The Student Success team works with students to identify the presenting issue, examine strengths and challenges, develops relevant goals, and connects them with necessary services.