The STARS program supports students in building long-lasting skills needed in order to succeed and get the most out of their education.
STARS addresses the academic needs of first-year students and focuses on three key objectives:
- Encouraging the development of academic competence
- Providing ongoing access to campus resources and services
- Helping to identify students who require additional support
Starting college is a new experience. Like all new experiences, college is both exciting and challenging at the same time. Adjusting to academic expectations and new settings can be difffficult. However, with the right support, new students can overcome barriers and get the most out of their college education.
The STARS Team works with all College departments in developing initiatives to support the program’s overarching goals by assisting first-year students. Although the STARS program aims to assist first year students, its benefits extend far beyond a student’s first year. By approaching students from difffferent angles, we are able to meet a greater number of individual needs.
The STARS Team consists of three staffff members: Retention Coordinator, Special Populations Coordinator and the Special Needs Coordinator. We are committed to assisting first-year students develop self-advocacy, self-efffficiency, and accountability skills needed to be successful.
The STARS Team members talk to students about their social, personal, and academic lives to help students identify ways to balance competing priorities. We may also refer students to outside agencies that can better assist with addressing problem areas.
Assisting students requires an understanding of a student’s unique challenges inside and outside of the classroom, while working to create a plan of action that includes taking advantage of campus resources. Nonetheless, the STARS Team regularly uses reinforcement strategies to create an impactful first-year experience for student success.