Center for Student Excellence
The Center for Student Excellence brings together a number of programs and offices that provide academic support for students. It is designed so that students are able to move easily and quickly from one support office to another. The center contains three major components:
- Services related to international education, including Xavier students who want to study abroad and international students who attend Xavier.
- Interdisciplinary programs and honors programs, including University Scholars, the Honors AB program and the Philosophy, Politics and The Public program.
- Student academic support services, including the TRIO program, the Learning Assistance Center, the Office of Student Success and Retention, and the Office of Academic Advising.
- Career Services Center including employer relations and development, on-campus interviewing, student employment, career counseling and mentoring for students and alumni from the Colleges of Arts and Sciences and Social Sciences, Health, and Education.
Interview with Lea Minniti, Director for International Student Services
Lea's office will be located on the fifth floor of the Conaton Learning Commons and is part of the Center for Student Excellence.
Q: How will the Center for Student Excellence impact Xavier's learning environment?
A: The Center for Student Excellence will enable improved integration of services for students. The areas in the Center for Student Excellence already provide programs and resources that enrich the student learning environment. The Center will provide increased opportunities for collaboration and creativity in order to facilitate and support student learning. If a student seeks extra tutoring for a difficult course, information about study abroad programs, or post-graduate employment options, these services will be present in a centralized location to enhance students' Xavier experience.
Q: What benefits will it provide for the students?
A: One major benefit will be convenience. Our office constantly meets with prospective and current students then refers them to other offices across campus for additional information. For example, a student may visit the Director for Study Abroad in the Center for Student Excellence to learn about options to study in a particular country, and potentially meet an international student from that country since International Student Services will be in the same location. We anticipate this type of exchange to occur frequently throughout the Center for Student Excellence. Students can receive a variety of services, including academic advising, career counseling, tutoring assistance, retention services, and service learning information, in a more integrated, coordinated fashion.
Q: Do other universities have facilities like this? Is this one unique in any way?
A: The Center for Student Excellence has taken existing and successful programs and services and created a structure to more effectively accommodate it. Xavier has many programs not offered by other institutions, such as an office dedicated to retention, and this new organization will enable these unique offices to more effectively serve Xavier students. Additionally, its location within the Learning Commons and its close proximity to integrated learning centers, including the Center for Teaching Excellence and the Information Resources Center, will allow for students to supplement their classroom learning with academic support services and out-of-classroom life experiences.