Melissa Hightower is passionate about students and their success – if you’ve ever had a chance to sit down and visit with her, you sense that “student success vibe” almost immediately. As director of the Smart Start Center (formerly the Success Center) on the 3rd floor of the Ware, she leads the charge in their multi-faceted approach to propel students forward – whether it’s preparing students for college or the TSI, assisting them with issues in their current classes, or helping prepare them for future classes.
The Smart Start Center is staffed with high-level instructors, too. The eleven staff are either former or current professional educators who have earned a Bachelor’s degree or higher. Every instructor is skilled in alternative approaches to learning. They might teach multiple ways to multiple students to get the desired outcomes. They typically see 1,500 to 2,000 students per semester on campus, as well as an additional 1,000-plus at area high schools.
Course Preview
If a student needs help preparing for a class they’re enrolled in, Course Preview is a great place to start. In it, they preview what they will need to know for the first couple of weeks of class. The instructor meets with each student to determine what they need. In what areas do they need help? In what areas are they confident?
This is not a one-size-fits-all approach, either. Every student who walks in the door gets an individualized plan and curriculum. Meaning, this is not necessarily a sequential process for students. The team tailors plans to fit each student’s needs.
At the end of this, students will walk away knowing and believing two things:
- I’m going to do well.
- I’m going to be supported.
TSI Prep
The goal of the Smart Start Center’s TSI Prep sessions is for a student to achieve a score that accurately reflects the student’s abilities. The prep sessions come in various formats, depending on the student’s needs. The staff offer TSI Boot Camps on all high school campuses across the Panhandle. Their aim is not only to prepare students for the TSI, but also to build connections and relationships with the high schoolers. They want them to know the resources and support available when they become AC students. Many students enroll in Amarillo College as a result of these connections made during the Boot Camps.
The Center also offers individualized TSI Prep sessions to help students increase their scores on the college-entrance test. Students get support and guidance each step of the way. This is not a one-and-done either. The student may be there for multiple sessions. Again, the sessions are tailored to what the student needs, and there is no guesswork on the part of the student. The instructors let the student know when they are ready.
Tutoring & Ramp Ups
For students who are struggling in a class, the Smart Start Center offers free tutoring. They identify where each student struggles – their point of confusion -- and lead them to the solution. The instructors serve as a guide for each student. They don’t give them the answer; they lead them to it, working with them at each point of confusion to make sure they “get it.”
Referrals for tutoring come from advisors and faculty. Additionally, students can receive help prior to attending a class they believe might give them trouble. They can come to the center and ramp up their skills before actually taking the class. The tutoring can also be scheduled as a class on the student’s schedule, but they don’t have to make an appointment or come at a specific time. They can come at any point in the semester.
HESI-Prep
The center also offers test prep for the HESI, the entrance test for the nursing programs (ADN and LVN). HESI workshops are offered every other week during the Spring and Fall semesters. They are offered during the summer as well, on a more limited basis. These workshops help students understand the components of the test. In addition to these sessions, they also offer a HESI Learning Repository that provides an excellent supplement to the workshops and offers additional reviews. The staff is constantly reviewing and tweaking these to offer the best ROI for the students who participate.
Future-oriented yet presently focused may be good terms to describe the end-game of the Smart Start Center. They prepare students to be successful both now and down the road -whether it’s to get them college-ready or to stay the course. They continually track student data to answer the question, “Did we align that student for long-term success?” Two things are certain: this team’s passion shines through, and they are well-equipped for the students that they support each day.
For more information on the Smart Start Center and additional resources they offer, visit them at www.actx.edu/smartstart.
