Students can utilize Meramec’s resources for a better chance at success
Matt Lindsey
-Staff Writer –
In the 1970s, a song like “Take a Chance On Me” could have been the jive for a student to take a chance on the “me” in STLCC-Meramec by expressing themselves through getting involved in tutoring sessions, clubs and other activities on campus.
Meramec’s resources could be a reason for a student to take a chance in their education. With events like the wheelchair races in the ‘70s, and a resource like the science lab, people were taking advantage of their school’s resources and making the most of their experience while attending classes on campus.
“During the 1970s at Meramec, labs on campus were minimal,” Damaris Schmitt, professor of instructional resources at Meramec, said.
Many teachers were involved in tutoring.
“This is not as popular now, but tutoring still exists at many different levels,” Schmitt said.
Today, students may have laptops or home computers they can use to type papers for school, while most of their parents used typewriters.
These days, Meramec’s Blackboard online services allow students to have full access to their school account. Students are able to monitor their progress in the class, look at a detailed schedule of courses that the student is enrolled in and much more.
One way for students to access Meramec is through the Access Office on campus, a resource nurturing students with disabilities to take charge of their education.
“We help students become better advocates for themselves. No one should feel bad for something they need to be a successful student,” Amy Bird, counseling specialist in the Access office at Meramec, said. “The Access office is an opportunity for students to do their best.”
Campus life at a community college to an incoming freshman or a student making their way back into academia may seem like an ‘every man for himself’ battlefield, but it is quite the opposite.
“The students are awesome and the faculty makes it feel like a normal university,” Tori Lamborn, an ambassador for Meramec, said.
This might be a concern to students, as attending courses at a commuter school is a different environment compared to universities.
One avenue students could explore in the ‘70s was self-directed learning, where the student wrote a specific contract with a teacher to take a class in a one-on-one situation.
“This didn’t last long since professors were paid very little for a massive amount of work,” Schmitt said.
Students have access to Career and Employment Services (CES) at Meramec campus.
“Career and Employment Services is in place to help students with tools to prepare them for the world of work,” Jacqueline Meaders-Booth, manager of CES, said.
Each year CES hosts a career fair.
“Networking is the No. 1 tool to getting the first job. We do our best to meet the individual to fit within that company,” Meaders-Booth said.
Another resource available to students at Meramec is the counseling and advising office.
“Counselors and advisers are available to students on campus for no charge,” Kelly Hadley, the student services assistant in advising and counseling, said.
“They work with students to figure out what the student would like to major in.”
The counselors give interest assessments to further decide what careers would best fit the student. Students may first see a counselor to figure out what assessment is best for the student.
“After taking the test a follow-up appointment is set up to go over the results,” Hadley said. Personal counseling is available as well at the counseling and advising office.
Service Learning is a resource for students, connecting their work in the classroom to the needs in the community.
“Service Learning is good for all learning styles and the students see the importance through giving back to the community,” Donna Halsband, the Service Learning coordinator at Meramec, said.
The writing center on campus is also available to help students.
“The writing center rocks,” Megan McMahon, Meramec student, said. She went to the writing center for help with an assignment in her fiction course.
“If I would not have gone to the writing center to have them revise the assignment, I would have received a bad grade,” McMahon said.
She said they helped her to understand what she needs to become a better writer through the writing process and with all of their help she received an A for her paper.
