Empowering Students: Unveiling the Hidden Gems of Campus Resources

Tristan Davis
Associate Director, Student and Community Engagement
Director, Bonner Leader Program

For many students and families, the college experience is an exciting journey filled with new opportunities and challenges. Access to essential campus resources can significantly impact a student’s success and overall well-being. 

One of Capital’s four main values is student success. The essential skills needed to ensure the success of a college student includes using an asset thinking approach, a growth mindset, looking at student success from a holistic approach, and proactivity. 

Asset Thinking Approach

To use an asset thinking approach means primarily identifying all the assets, the good things, skills, or qualities a person or thing possesses. Capital wants students, parents, families, guests, and staff to look at themselves and others as having the capability of learning and growing. 

Growth Mindset

To use a Growth Mindset means to look at circumstances as an opportunity to grow, to learn and develop academically, professionally, or personally. Campus resources are crucial in a balanced growth in all these areas. 

Looking at Student Success Through a Holistic Lens

Capital views each student as a whole person. Though academics are important, we believe it is just as important that students remain in good financial standing, mentally sound and emotionally secure, physically well, as well as being in good academic standing. 

Proactive

Capital, in its commitment to student success, is committed to working together on a constant basis, communicating across departments and offices, to ensure students maintain success. Proactivity is dismantling the stereotype that one uses the campus resources when they are struggling. To utilize resources early on in the semester is a behavior or a habit one needs to create before a problem even arises. 

Colleges and universities, including Capital, have developed an array of on-campus resources designed to support students’ academic, personal, and social growth.

Academic Support Centers

• Peer Tutoring: Academic tutoring centers offer individual or group tutoring sessions to assist students in challenging subjects. Tutors are often upperclassmen who excel in their respective fields.
• Academic Coaching: Provides individualized assistance to students in an effort to help them enhance their existing study habits and develop more effective study strategies and behaviors.
• Supplemental Instruction: Supplemental Instruction (SI) is an academic support program designed to increase student performance and retention. SI targets historically challenging courses and provides free, voluntary, out-of-class peer-facilitated study and review sessions. SI assistance begins the first week of classes and is open to all students enrolled in the course. 
• Writing Center: The Academic Success Writing Center is a student’s one-stop, centralized location to get help on any writing assignment for any class. Writing consultants can assist students with all phases of the writing process, including getting past “writer’s block,” brainstorming a topic, creating a thesis, developing and organizing ideas, putting together a draft, and revising a draft for correctness and precision. 

Student Success Programs

• Smooth Transitions: The Office of Diversity and Inclusion hosts a pre-welcome weekend diversity leadership program, designed to support the introduction, matriculation, and retention of underrepresented student populations to Capital. The program is open to all, and intentionally designs social and educational programming that spans across diverse topics and education.
• Office of Career Development: Career Development assists students and alumni with the process of identifying and implementing career goals that complement their learning, development and success. Experts can help students find internships, first jobs, or help with things like resume writing and interview skills. 
• Cap Cupboard and Cap Closet: The Cap Cupboard is a food resource center for Capital students run by students, faculty, and staff volunteers. Through this resource, the university has been able to provide immediate relief and benefit any student in need.

Campus resources aim to create an inclusive and supportive environment that empowers students to thrive both academically and personally. As students take advantage of these valuable resources, they are better equipped to overcome challenges, achieve their goals, and make the most of their college experience.