Center is source for student encouragement
Dec. 6, 2011
It’s been a very good first year for the SOURCE Center, according to Todd Prater, director.
SOURCE – an acronym for Student Opportunity, Undergraduate Resources and Community Engagement – partners with the Career Center, Counseling Center and Student Activities. It has helped more than 750 students since it opened in the fall of 2010.
“That includes students who have come through with academic issues like withdrawals, advisors, major and minor questions and graduation petitions,” he said. “It also includes those who have participated in Mentoring Mondays.”
Prater said the goal for the first year was to raise awareness of the center.
“I think we succeeded with that. As we got into orientations with this year’s group of students, I spoke to the parents and the students and got a very good response about what we’re doing. The word is getting out that we are here to help.”
In fact, students are learning they can call with all sorts of problems.
“A young man cracked his laptop case and wanted to know if there was any on-campus IT support for students,” Prater said. “We were able to point him in the right direction.”
Parents also call with questions.
“We get a lot of queries about school closing, like fall break. Those who live far away will call about arranging transportation for their kids to get home.”
One big component of the center is its mentoring program. The initiative is designed to partner students with alumni and community mentors based on interests and aspirations; build challenging, inspiring and transforming relationships with faculty members; and develop networks between students and the greater college community. Prater is particularly proud of the success of Mentoring Mondays.
“We’ve had 25 speakers to talk to the students at Mentoring Mondays, as well as talks with outstanding alumni during homecoming,” he said. “Some have kept contact with the students – they go to lunch and visit their workplaces.”
Jeff Anderson, a senior education major, said he and fellow student Matt Oleson have enjoyed spending time with Dr. Doug Flor, Director of Institutional Effectiveness at the college.
“We have lunch with him every other Friday, and it’s been a great experience. We just sit around and talk about life. He’s always there for advice, and always has positive things to say about school, no matter how stressed we are at the time. I think it's a great thing to meet with younger students who may be away from home for the first time and having a tough time adjusting to college.”
Prater said an important part of his job is helping guide students over any hurdles that may come up.
“When it comes to dropping classes, a lot of students know a W (withdrawn) won’t affect their grade point average, but they often don’t realize it’s still on the transcript,” he said. “If you withdraw from several classes, prospective employers may wonder about your ability to follow through on things. We make sure the student understands the consequences.”
They also work to help new students understand the college.
“We’re here to help students understand the policies and lingo of the college, either as students coming out of high school or those transferring from other colleges.”
Erin Johnston, founder of Johnston Jury Consulting in Decatur, participated in Mentoring Mondays this year. She recently expressed her appreciation for the center’s work in a note to Prater.
“LaGrange College has a very special place in my heart – not only for the lasting friendships I formed there, but for the wonderful faculty and staff that have supported me in all of my endeavors since graduation. The SOURCE program seems like a fantastic new initiative for the school, and I would be happy to come down and participate in the future.”
More than anything, Prater said he hopes students will think of the center whenever they need help with something.
“If you don’t know who to ask, where to go or what to do, always remember one thing – call the SOURCE Center. If we don’t know, we will find out.”