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Campuswide Student Services Unite at the Libraries

Aggies have long walked into Texas A&M libraries to study among a treasure trove of resources. Now, students also have access to a gold mine of academic support services. 

The Academic Success Center, the Math Learning Center and the University Writing Center have spaces in Texas A&M University Libraries locations. Disability Resources will also soon be added to the extensive Libraries service catalog. 

Whether students need help shaping words into flowing prose or understanding math mysteries, they can find help from the Libraries’ many helpful and skilled academic partners.

“Being in the library is so beneficial,” said Jennifer Van Horn ’18, program coordinator of supplemental instruction and tutoring at the Academic Success Center. “Students are already there studying, and they know that it's centrally located.” 

Texas A&M’s College Station campus covers 5,200 acres and serves over 72,000 students. With the help of its academic partners, the Libraries are moving towards a “one-stop shop” model where students can spend less time moving around campus and more time studying. All Libraries’ partners recognize the convenience of a centralized service location.

“A lot of students will use the library to study anyway,” said Fernando Chavaria '15, program coordinator at the Math Learning Center. “So it's much more convenient if they're already at that location to study there or like to study at the Math Learning Center too.” 

The relationship between academic partners is mutually beneficial because when partner staff realize a student needs another service, they can alert that student to a partner organization in Evans Library.

All the Libraries’ campus partners share a clear goal – supporting student success.  

“A lot of times part of my job is to help students navigate through their system of available resources,” said Joshua Page, access coordinator with Disability Resources. “That might be referring them to the University Writing Center, the Academic Success Center, or resources available through the library itself, because there are so many resources.”

Another trait of the Libraries shared with its academic partners is a reliance on student workers. They can connect peer-to-peer, even when a student is in their most academically vulnerable state.

“Most of our employees are student workers,” said Nancy Vasquez, director of the University Writing Center. “We think it helps students feel less pressure when they come in.”

The Academic Success Center follows a 100% peer-to-peer learning model. The Math Learning Center also hires student tutors. Student workers in Disability Resources assist in tasks like converting textbooks to braille or proctoring testing centers. A new testing center is coming soon to the Business Library & Collaboration Commons on Texas A&M’s West Campus. It will also be filled with student workers offering assistance and support to their peers.

“I think it's really important that students recognize that asking for support and needing support at such a challenging university is not a sign of weakness,” Van Horn said. “It's just taking advantage of the things that are available to you that have been shown to have a positive effect on your experiences.”