Success Center Celebrates Growth

Over the past four years, the Paul L. Foster Success Center has demonstrated significant growth in the reach and influence of their already impactful programs. Along with expanding initiatives including First In Line, Pre-Law and VETS, the Success Center is also meeting impressive goals in career and professional development, meeting the rising number of accommodation requests and improving student retention rates to expand their services to reach more students.

The number of students requesting accommodation in the classroom has increased by 32 percent in the past five years from 699 requests during the 2009-2010 school year to 1,028 requests this past year. Students’ use of the testing center in the Office of Access and Learning Accommodation has also seen steady growth. Since the 2010-2011 school year, the number of tests administered has increased from 3,268 to 7,500.

“All departments of the Success Center are committed to working together to help students be successful and achieve goals,” said Amber Thompson, academic support advisor. “One of my favorite things about working in the Success Center is the way that all the departments collaborate to assist students in the best way possible.”

Not only have the administrative numbers continued to grow, but the retention rate of students returning for assistance has also soared. From the 2009-2010 school year to now, the second year retention rate of students using services at the Success Center has grown from 81.9 percent to 88.5 percent. If these trends continue, the Success Center is on track to reach their five-year goal of an 89 percent student retention rate within the next academic year.

While most departments in the Success Center help students succeed during their time at Baylor, one section is devoted to helping students find “success beyond Baylor.” In the office of career and professional development, students work with advisors to identify potential careers based on self-assessment and interest. Skill building workshops, mock interviews and annual career fairs are all ways in which the office of career and professional development prepares students for success after their time at Baylor.

As demand rises for services, the Success Center continues to meet and even exceed the need. The total number of student contacts each academic year has increased by 54 percent over the past five years, indicating the Success Center is moving closer to its goal of having a wider reach and a larger impact on students’ futures.