The Student Success Center is usually a place one goes to get serious. But at its second annual open house on Sept. 29, it had more of a party atmosphere.
The center, on the first floor of the St. Clair Building, held an “Open House, Open Hearts” event that offered gaming with a tutor, snacks and meet-and-greets with a success coach.
“The event was … something where students could de-stress in a positive way,” said Jennifer Gracia, a student who works in the Student Success Center.
“The Success Center is open to all students. If you are shy and don’t know where to go, they have a real warm, welcoming feel.” Gracia said. “It’s important to have a good connection with your tutors.”
The Student Success Center offers tutoring services, workshops, a laptop loaner program and student success coaches. It welcomes roughly 800 or more visits a month, according to Melissa Goonan, the center’s tutor coordinator.
“The idea behind the tutoring is to get students the help they need to complete their education,” Goonan said.
Goonan said the staff at the center takes pride in the students they help.
“When we go to commencements it’s like we’re graduating ourselves,” Goonan said. “Your eyes get watery and you’re like, “Oh my gosh I remember when they were a freshman, now they’re graduating.’ ”
The Student Success Center is open to all Del Mar College students. It is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday.
