Written by: Aidan McCollough
Corrections: The original version of this article contained inaccurate and out-of-date information pertaining to the titles and roles of Cheri Durst and the Student Success and Retention Services department. The Accent corrected these errors soon after learning of them. We are committed to accuracy and apologize for these mistakes.
The Student Success and Retention Services department at Southern Adventist University is a lesser-known yet critically important organization on campus. Located on the second floor of McKee Library, below the Writing and Tutoring centers, Student Success and Retention Services helps students improve their study habits and build organizational and memory skills in order to succeed academically at Southern and in their future careers.
“[Student Success and Retention Services] is primarily a place for [Southern] students to improve their academic skills,” said Regina Bailey, the department’s office manager. “ … We want students to reach their full potential.”
Formerly, Student Success and Retention Services operated under the umbrella of the Student Success Center, which no longer exists, according to Cheri Durst, Student Success and Retention coordinator. Now, the department operates under Academic Administration and has been located in McKee Library since August 2023.
According to Southern’s website, Student Success and Retention Services puts a strong emphasis on one-on-one assistance, pairing struggling students with a student success manager to maximize their academic performance. Students can access services by scheduling an appointment through Southern’s website or by arranging a meeting in person at McKee Library.
A central component of Student Success and Retention Services is the University Enrichment course, taught by Durst, as stated on Southern’s website. The course is a required class for students with a GPA of 2.0 or less and aims to assist students in setting priorities both in college and in life. It focuses on helping students develop scholarly and life skills such as time management, critical thinking and setting both long-term and short-term goals.