New Advising Center, TRiO help students make transition

This summer the university created a new advising center for students.

Also this summer, the university received word that its grant for its TRiO Student Support Services program was renewed. The federal grant will provide $1.1 million over five years to support students who are considered at risk for not completing college – those who are first-generation, income eligible or who have disabilities.

Mary Coller is the director for the new advising center. She works with at-risk students – those on academic probation, who are being readmitted to the university following an academic suspension or those who have yet to decide upon a major.

She helps students explore possible majors and careers through one-on-one consultations and aptitude and personality tests.

“Finding a major is like finding a mate,” she said. “You have to know a little bit about yourself and be able to explore your options before settling down with a major.”

Although students each have a member of the faculty who also serves as an advisor, her role at the new center is to help bridge gaps in the advising system.

One of the largest benefits of the center is that it can provide students with personal attention.

Coller begins by having students answer an online questionnaire that assesses study skills and identifies academic areas where problems may occur. Coller then meets with the students to determine whether their academic problems are one-semester situations or something larger and how to help them do better academically. She can also refer students who are having personal issues to the student affairs office, which can provide counseling.

“Just having personal attention makes a difference,” she said. “Academic advising has the potential to have the most impact on retention.”

Another retention program at Pitt-Bradford is TRiO SSS, which serves 160 students, although half of the student body is eligible, said Margot Myers, program manager.

Students apply to take part in the program, which provides guidance in everything from time management and study skills to applying for graduate schools, jobs and financial aid.

Counselors spend time working with students on resumes and interviewing skills. TRiO counselors also work with freshmen to help them make the transition from high school to college.

TRiO began, Myers explained, as part of President Lyndon Johnson’s War on Poverty to help students who were traditionally not encouraged to attend college and graduate school.Pitt-Bradford’s TRiO SSS program is one of only two programs of its kind in northwestern Pennsylvania.

Pitt-Bradford also has an Educational Talent Search program that helps students in middle and high schools explore college and career options.

TRiO and the Advising Center both work with the career services office and Academic Success Center, which provides adaptive equipment for students with disabilities and tutoring and peer tutoring for all students.

Each of the programs fills a different niche to help students who may need a boost and keep them in school, which is good for them, the university and the community.

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