Article by Keadan Weiler
Meet Wednesday Adams and Christopher Jones.
Upon entering college Adams placed into MTH 060, and struggled with math during her first term. She then joined the Success To Academic Readiness (STAR) program and “immediately started doing better.” Adams says, “they have a whole team of staff who are there to support you,” and Jones is a part of that staff. When asked what his typical responsibilities as STAR advisor are, Jones said advisors do a lot of “student success strategizing.” This involves the advisor and student working together to establish academic goals for the term. The advisor “puts pen to paper” he says, and assists a student’s objectives and helps them see it through.
According to Adams, the STAR program hosts seminars on dealing with stress and school at the same time, and added that STAR specifically helps students with “math and writing.”
Adams said that the STAR program goes out of its way to introduce students to resources on campus. An example Adams gives is the Tutoring Center in Building 16 through the STAR program. Additionally, the STAR program helps you set up tutoring appointments for math and writing classes, as well as helps you assemble a course schedule.
When asked how one qualifies for the STAR program, Adams says that she had a four-day orientation period before the term started, which lasts just a few hours per day. During the orientation, she was provided “refreshers” on math, and an opportunity to connect with other students in the STAR program. Additionally, students create a “Student Success Plan.” This plan helps students articulate what they are trying to get better at and what areas need support. Students are required to meet with advisors to review their plan twice throughout the term. If students aren’t meeting their plans, the plans can be restructured. With regards to the advisors and how much they care about students, Adam says “every single one of them knows my name.” Jones added to this saying you need to be a “first generation college student,” “a low income individual,” or from “an underrepresented race or ethnicity” in order to qualify for the program
The STAR Student Lounge, open to students currently in the STAR Program.
Photo Credit: River Shepherd
Jones noted that the STAR program is funded through the “First Generation Student Success Grant,” which primes the program to support students “who are first generation or otherwise have barriers facing their college.” The program isn’t just about improving writing and math, it’s about equality.
Adams says that students who graduate from the STAR program have the opportunity to become peer paid mentors for other students struggling with math and writing in work study. She says this allows students to be more connected both to each other and to the program that helped them. Adams says she is looking forward to becoming a peer mentor within the STAR program herself when she has graduated out.
Adams reflects on her own experience, that the program is important for students who don’t have a strong support system at home. She said that when coming into college she didn’t have many people in her corner and adds, having advisors and mentors in the STAR program who wanted to see her succeed made a difference in her academic career.
The Success to Academic Readiness (STAR) program is located at Lane Community College’s main campus, Building 11, 2nd floor, Office Room 245. For more information, call (541) 246-9640, email starprogram@lanecc.edu, or visit lanecc.edu/get-support/resource-centers/success-academic-readiness-star.
