Academic Support Network

At Concordia, the opportunities for students to access academic support starts in their first few days on campus.

“During Orientation Week, students meet their Inquiry faculty mentor and their First-Year Transition (FYE) advisor. These two faculty members are there to support students in addition to their other professors and their academic advisor,” says Amanda Pieters, assistant director of Orientation and First-Year Transition Programming.

As a previous Orientation Leader and a current member of the Orientation Team, I know the experience of working with new students to facilitate those connections is crucial in the first weeks at Concordia. Having access to mentors in your major as well as your Inquiry Seminar group sets you up for success throughout your next four years.

While at Concordia, students can access numerous resources in addition to their faculty and advisory mentors they meet during Orientation. One valuable resource available to students is tutoring. Subject tutoring is available for nearly every area and if there isn’t a tutor for a course you need support in, the tutors will give you the support you need for success. The Writing Center is another resource students can use for support and guidance in writing papers, correcting mistakes in their writing, or getting started on drafting essays. These two resources can be accessed through the Center for Student Success (CSS), located above the Cobber Bookstore in the Normandy Center.

Another source available to students is the Oral Communication Center. This center is a collaboration between the CSS and the communication studies and theatre art department to help students work through planning, practicing, and performing a speech.

Students who would like personalized assistance or support can meet with an academic counselor in the CSS. These counselors can talk through a class with the student and discuss any issues they may have with studying or completing work, give advice about contacting professors, schedule check-ins for accountability, and aid in learning time management and organizational skills.

In addition to providing students with academic success strategies, Pieters stresses the importance of access to services in the holistic health and support of students. One such resource for this is the Counseling Center and Disability Services office, which addresses various needs, including personal, social, and academic difficulties, as well as crisis services. If students need academic accommodations or access to resources regarding their mental health or disability, the Counseling Center and Disability Services office will provide assistance and guide them through the process. These aspects of student life affect success in college just as much as struggling with assignments or time budgeting and are just as important in the life and health of college students.

Other resources to aid students with their holistic needs and overall well-being include the Health Services Office, located in Old Main near the Counseling Center, and the Cobber Food Pantry, which is housed in the Knutson Campus Center’s Parke Student Leadership Center. The Cobber Food Pantry provides free, healthy food to all Cobbers and aims to reduce food insecurity for students.

If you have a concern but are unsure of the best place to access the resources you need, contact the CSS at success@cord.edu or 218.299.4551. Staff will help you determine your needs and provide the resources to succeed at Concordia.

^{Published May 2021}