The Hawk

Issue date: 9/19/07 Section: News

The Office of Student Success is located in St. Thomas Hall.

Kim Allen-Stuck is literally stuck at SJU. As the new Director of the Office of Student Success, Allen-Stuck works with at-risk students to help them maximize their potential. She is a resource to solving academic and personal problems that students may encounter during their four year stay on campus.

The Office of Student Success, formerly known as Retention Services, was revamped by Allen-Stuck at the start of this school year. Prior to this time, Allen-Stuck was the Assistant to the Vice President for Student Life under both Linda Lelii, Ph.D., and Cary Anderson, Ph.D. Allen-Stuck took the position for many different reasons.

"My old job was part-time, so when the position came up for grabs, I knew it was exactly the type of job I wanted to do," said Allen-Stuck. "It was a happy change, because I get a lot more contact with students."

The first order of business for Allen-Stuck was a name change.

"Retention is a university word," said Allen-Stuck. "Any student with troubles is not thinking of Retention Services [when they look for resources]. They are more open to me with the new name because it is more student focused."

Allen-Stuck's job consists of working with students who are at risk of academic failure or who are having issues adjusting to college life. These can be students who are having problems with roommates, encountering family emergencies, dealing with academic probation, or who simply have low grade point averages.

Once these students are identified, Allen-Stuck reaches out to at-risk students with an academic success seminar and self-assessment. In the assessment they are able to locate their problem area, be it time management or a particular subject dragging them down.

Allen-Stuck also offers individual counseling, during which students can review their transcripts with her and seek new beginnings. She presents options, such as carrying only four classes during a semester in order to improve a students' grade point average, or taking a summer course in the class that seems to be burdening them.

Along with the name change, Allen-Stuck created open office hours for students every day between 3 and 4:30 p.m. She is also working with Residence Life and the resident assistants to create programs in the residence halls that deal with transitioning issues, since many freshmen struggle during their first days on campus.

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