Ole Miss students enjoying larger offices, new classrooms in remodeled Johnson Commons East
University of Mississippi students in need of academic support and guidance can have their needs better met, thanks to the recent relocation of a major campus resource.
The Academic Support Programs branch of the Center for Student Success and First-Year Experience has moved to the remodeled and expanded Paul B. Johnson Commons East, next to Rebel Market on Dormitory Row West. Before the move, the branch occupied a floor in Hill Hall just up the street.
In this new space and in observance of COVID-19 protocols, Academic Support Programs is continuing to meet student needs through in-person and online services for all undergraduate and graduate students needing assistance. Offerings include academic consultations and success coaching in-person or via Zoom meetings, online videos for student success workshops and study skills, and contractual readmission program information online.
All the meeting rooms have moveable furniture, whiteboards to plan things with students and TV/computer combos where staff can Zoom or look up information with student clients while they are in office.
“This space is so unlike any other space here on campus,” said Jeremy Roberts, learning specialist and instructor in the Center for Student Success and First-Year Experience. “We have individual academic consultation rooms for our graduate academic mentors to meet with our students one-on-one.
“There’s a student success coaching suite that is great for our graduate coaches to meet with students who are freshmen here on campus via Zoom.”
Graduate students working in the new space are praising the benefits it provides.
“Jackson Commons East has a layout that provides easy access for both students and staff,” said Whitney Dozier-Jackson, a second-year higher education administration/student personnel major from New Albany. “It also has plenty of room for staff to conduct academic consultations and a place where students can study in between classes.”
The new area also includes two classrooms, two separate study areas for students in the lobbies and laptop areas for power/charging and internet or WiFi capabilities.
“Being all together on one floor, we are able to stop by graduate assistant spaces, and they come to ours to talk about classes and interactions with students,” Roberts said. “We are seeing more and more students using the study areas in the lobbies for their own studying before and after classes, or those coming in to find a new quiet space. Our graduate students/assistants have more space to spread out and really interact with our students.”
Rebekah Reysen, assistant director of academic support programs, said the new space has become a great new home for probation students.
“We continue to serve not only probation students, but also any undergraduate and graduate students who are seeking our assistance,” she said.
By Edwin B. Smith
