30th Anniversary History Book

Beacon College learning specialists

For decades, students were assigned the same learning specialist for all four years. Today, based on evolving best practice research, they work with a different specialist each year based on their changing needs:

Freshman learning specialists provide transitional support for first-year students, helping them to identify their strengths, weaknesses, and learning styles and to choose any accommodations they may need. Sophomore learning specialists encourage students to select a major; take advantage of support services and professors’ office hours; and perform a career assessment. Junior learning specialists encourage students to become self-advocates who need less academic support; to develop further their critical thinking skills; and to practice job-related skills. Senior learning specialists encourage students to become tutors or teaching assistants and to reduce even more their need for academic support.

“This model helps to prepare students for transitions they will face in their day-to-day lives,” said Sheryl Nichols, Director of the Center for Student Success. “It gives them some experience with working with various individuals, and it provides them with a sense of direction throughout their academic career.” Beacon also is taking a more strategic approach to hiring learning specialists, Nichols said.

New Center for Student Success Director Sheryl Nichols (Far Right)

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