Center For Student Success and Engagement
We take a holistic approach to cultivating student success by recognizing the importance of interactions between the student and the campus environment. We are defined by collaborative relationships designed to assist, educate, and empower students. This process assumes that students are engaged with in and out-of-class experiences in the context of their whole-life settings.
The Center for Student Success and Engagement involves the integration of multiple services, offices, and programs in providing resources to students and faculty. In establishing a family of services, support, and enrichment, we aim to enhance success and engagement for all MCLA students. Connections with the First Year Experience program and Peer Advisors strengthen our ability to identify and appropriately intervene in giving support to students, especially in the first weeks of college life. Enrichment programs such as mentoring, major exploration, and life after MCLA deepen the undergraduate experience.
Advising Resources
www.mcla.edu/advising/
Freel Library- main level
(413) 662-5400
Whether one is a first-year, transfer, or returning student, MCLA presents challenges and valuable opportunities. Advising Services at MCLA provides academic support for students navigating the transition from orientation through graduation. As a primary academic resource on campus, we approach advising as a collaborative process for assisting, educating, and empowering members of the campus community. In doing so, Advising Services can help students make informed educational, career and life decisions. Advising Services provides information about College policies and procedures to enhance the accessibility of information to current as well as prospective students. We also offer up-to-date information to students, faculty and staff on general matters, academic advising and other college services.
Advising Services facilitates appropriate referrals for MCLA students to academic support services such as tutoring, writing assistance, non-traditional student programs, counseling, career services, and support services for students with learning disabilities. Particular attention is given to students on academic probation or who are identified as academically at-risk. Advising Services also coordinates academic services and registration for undeclared students, adult learners, and other non-traditional students. Evening appointments are available to those students who attend classes after 5PM.
Career Resources
www.mcla.edu/career/
Bowman Hall- garden level
(413) 662-5332
Career Resources helps students and alumni assess and explore personal interests, values, and skills. Career Services also assists students with decision making regarding academic majors and careers. Students are encouraged to begin working with Career Services in their first semester at MCLA. The Career Center also identifies employment opportunities both on and off-campus.
Services offered include:
- On- and off-campus student employment
- Part-time job fair (fall)
- Individual and group career exploration
- Computerized guidance and information/internet search resources
- Occupational information/research materials
- Alumni job listings
- Job skill-building workshops (resume writing, interviewing, and job search)
- Computerized job listings/referrals
- Graduate school information/test preparation/graduate school fair (fall)
- Specialized workshops for academic programs
- Internship development/database and The Washington Center Internship
- Program/Walt Disney College Program
- Recruiting/interviewing opportunities
- Study abroad/International Student Services/Semester @ Sea
- National Student Exchange Program
Learning Resources
www.mcla.edu/learningresources/
Freel Library- garden level
(413) 662-5308
Learning Resources provides academic support for students at MCLA through programs designed to enhance abilities in needed areas. These services include:
- Classes -- Mathematics for College and Learning Strategies courses are skill-based courses in which students earn three additive credits for each course.
- Tutoring -- The Tutor Exchange Network is a peer tutorial program which matches and places MCLA undergraduate students who have expertise in identified courses with students who aspire to improve their performance in those courses.
- Writing Assistance --Writing and research assistance is offered by trained undergraduate Writing Associates who work with MCLA students on all aspects of the writing process.
- Disabled Learner Services --Services for students with disabilities connects students with the Coordinator of Academic Support to review the documentation of their disabilities, discuss their academic requirements, and determine the need for and what reasonable accommodations would be.
Individual Enrichment Summer Session
www.mcla.edu/iesummer
Freel Library- Lower Level
(413) 662-5389
The Individual Enrichment Summer Session is a federally funded TRIO program (Student Support Services) that incorporates a residential summer session for eligible freshmen who are entering MCLA in the fall. The summer session enables students to earn credits in writing, learning strategies, and math. Students also collectively enroll in a creative arts course during the fall semester. In addition, students are introduced to the campus and the surrounding area through a series of cultural and recreational activities. During the regular academic year, the program provides academic and advising support, tutorials, a student-run newsletter (The Mosaic), and offers a peer-mentoring program for freshmen (an extension of the summer session). The program is designed to support academic success and increase graduation rates within the population it serves.
