A blueprint for success

Imagine being able to submit a transcript, register for classes and get help with the FAFSA in one appointment, one location and one visit to campus. That dream is becoming a reality in October 2024 for LLCC students and prospective students. The new LLCC Student Services Hub in Menard Hall is a one-stop-shop for student services on campus.          

The new Hub will house recruitment and admissions, records, registration, financial aid, student success advising and compliance and prevention. Accessibility services will be located off the east hallway of Menard Hall, adjacent to the new area.            

The area has been under construction since January 2023.  With the opening in mid-October, students can take care of most of their needs in one visit.               

“Having all services under one roof will make it easier for students to get the help they need,” says Shanda Byer, vice president of student services. “Instead of visiting multiple offices across campus, students can find everything in one central location.”          

Eleanor Stuckey, student worker in LLCC Student Success, is excited about the new space. She previously helped students locate various offices and believes the new, one-stop-shop system will better serve them.               

Alex Berry, associate vice president of student success, adds that the concept behind the collective space is to make students feel welcome and take down any barrier to accomplishing their goals.

Removing barriers, streamlining access

Access to the Student Services Hub in Menard Hall will be from A. Lincoln Commons. Students will have the choice to check in for their appointment through a kiosk or at the counter with one of the enrollment services representatives (ESRs) who are trained in various areas to be able to answer questions and triage some requests on the spot to save students’ time.

"When a student has an issue or question, whether academic, financial or personal, they often don’t know where to begin,” explains Byer. “The Hub is designed so students can explain what they need to accomplish, and the ESRs will be able to assist or guide them to the appropriate department to take 
care of their task.” 

Centralizing services allows LLCC to offer a more holistic approach to supporting students. Instead of treating academic, financial and personal challenges separately, a unified center allows for collaboration between professionals from the different departments. Student success advisors can walk a student across the hall to take care of a transcript request, and recruiters can quickly connect a student with a financial aid advisor. The design is modeled after LLCC Outreach Centers in Jacksonville, Litchfield and Taylorville.

“This interconnected approach ensures that the student’s well-being is addressed from all angles,” says Berry. “It fosters better communication between our departments and creates a more supportive environment where no aspect of a student’s life at LLCC is overlooked.”

Accessibility is accessible

LLCC Accessibility Services will occupy offices in the east hallway of Menard Hall, giving students direct access rather than checking in at the front of the hub. “The nature of our accessibility services is that they are very accessible,” says Byer. “We want students to continue to stop and share when they receive a good grade on an exam, drop in for a question or to chat.”

Wait, there’s more 

Located beside the Student Services Hub check-in area is a nearly identical space called LLCC Student Support Services, the new home of the TRIO, Pipeline for the Advancement of the Healthcare Workforce (PATH) and Workforce Equity Initiative (WEI) grant-funded programs.

TRIO, PATH and WEI provide holistic support for college students who meet specific eligibility requirements. Each program offers dedicated navigators and specialists who work closely with students throughout their time at LLCC, often fulfilling multiple roles to ensure comprehensive support. These professionals assist with addressing both academic and non-academic needs including course and program planning, financial resources, career counseling and more. While they have their own defined space, the proximity to other student services will allow additional collaboration between departments. 

“Students will be able to stop by and let us know how their classes are going,” says Anne Armbruster, TRIO director. “If they need help, we can get them a tutoring appointment ASAP. If they have a question about financial aid, we can connect them to the correct person without delay.”

A cornerstone of the TRIO, PATH and WEI programs is students supporting students. The new space contains a workshop room to allow for such activities. “TRIO students really benefit from talking to their peers about navigating college. LLCC Support Services will be the place where students can come to stay on track,” says Armbruster.

Place and space

Berry says he’s thrilled to see LLCC’s supportive services defining the space on behalf of students and their needs. “Space cannot do everything, but it is a big contributing factor.”

The open space within the Hub contains a combination of low and high-top tables and larger tables for collaboration. The testing center, located adjacent to the Hub, includes two private testing rooms. There are two conference rooms with guitar-pick shaped tables and soft seating for team meetings, and there is a larger workshop space for events like FAFSA information nights or recruitment presentations. 

Byer says that meeting students’ needs was always the top priority in the design of the space. There is intention behind every detail, from the color of the desks and walls to the organization of office space. “The offices of those who work directly with students, in recruitment, advising, financial aid and the support offices were designed in a ‘living room’ style with comfortable seating, rather than having them speak to students from across a desk.”

“We want to collaborate with students on how to be successful,” says Berry, “That is why the living room concept is important. We want to encourage conversation and partnership in their success.”

The atrium space outside of the Hub, with its large windows and beautiful view of campus, is open for students to relax and study.  A high-top table holds computers and electronic charging spaces for student use.

Building a stronger campus community

Centralizing student services is a win-win solution for both students and LLCC. When students can easily access the services they need, they are more likely to persist through any challenges and succeed academically. The new space is also adding to the sense of community and belonging at the college. Welcome to your new home for student services, Loggers!