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(L-r) Academic advisors Joena Henry and Faith Woodard; Dr. Marcel Poe, director of the CMNST Advisement Center; Joyce Aikins, CESS evening coordinator; and Dr. Charlie Wilson, chair of the Department of Biological Sciences (representing interim Dean Clytrice Watson)
In this photo: (L-r) Academic advisors Joena Henry and Faith Woodard; Dr. Marcel Poe, director of the CMNST Advisement Center; Joyce Aikins, CESS evening coordinator; and Dr. Charlie Wilson, chair of the Department of Biological Sciences (representing interim Dean Clytrice Watson)
On Campus

CMNST Opens New Ctr. of Excellence for Student Success

Saturday, February 25, 2017

The College of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Technology held a Feb. 23 ribbon cutting ceremony for its new Center of Excellence for Student Success (CESS), which is designed to help DSU students with foundation courses in the sciences, technology, engineering and mathematics disciplines.

The mission of the CESS is to provide students with supplemental academic support and mentoring and to serve as an informational hub for academic resources and professional development. Its goal is to develop the total student through academic excellence, professional development and preparation for life after college.

While CESS has been established to benefit students who are STEM-related majors, the College of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Technology has also opened CESS to any DSU student who needs to access such resources.

The CESS provides tutoring in foundational classes in biology, chemistry, and mathematics. These classes are often difficult for students and could be a barrier in their degree progression. The CESS has identified key courses that many students struggle to pass, such as General Biology I&II, Organisms, Evolution; Chemistry I ⅈ and Introduction to Algebra, College Algebra, and Trigonometry.

All students taking these classes, regardless of their major, will be able to get assistance from a qualified tutor. Many of the tutors in the CESS are instructors for the classes that they are tutoring. This level of expertise ensures that students are getting the professional help they need.

CMNST faculty support the center by providing tutors with material to ensure what is being taught in the classroom is being reinforced in the tutoring center. Several faculty members also provide extra credit to those students who attend tutoring in the CESS on a consistent basis.

Some benefits of the center include:

The CESS is the official tutoring center for CMNST- Its tutoring program is backed by the dean and department chairs for CMNST.

An environment conducive to learning! - The CESS is structured to ensure that maximum learning is taking place.

It’s free! - There is no need to pay anyone for good tutoring. Just come to the CESS and take advantage of the services.

The Center of Excellence for Student Success is located in Room 600 on the 6th floor of the library. The Center is open from 2-9 p.m. Mondays & Wednesdays, from 2-8 p.m. Tuesdays & Thursdays, and from 2-4:30 p.m. Friday. For more information, contact CMNST advisement at 857-6561.