KEARNEY – It’s a place to collaborate and connect.
That’s the easiest way to describe the new Loper Success Hub on the University of Nebraska at Kearney campus.
When students come to the recently renovated space on the second floor of Calvin T. Ryan Library, they should feel welcomed, understood and supported.
“We want students to feel like this is their place, a home away from home,” said Aaron Estes, senior director of the Success Hub. “It’s a place where they should feel comfortable and connected to campus.”
The Loper Success Hub opened this semester as part of an ongoing effort to increase student retention and graduation. It serves as a centralized location for academic resources on campus, creating a student-focused environment that’s dedicated to learning, belonging, development and support.
“We know that two barriers to student success and graduation can be finding the necessary academic support and building connections on campus,” Estes said. “Those are two things that will be addressed in this new space.”
The Loper Success Hub unifies the following resources and offices on campus:
- Academic Advising and Career Development
- Disability Services for Students
- TRIO Student Support Services
- Kearney Bound Scholars
- First-Gen Lopers
- Tutoring and Academic Support (formerly known as the Learning Commons)
By bringing these services together, UNK can provide a holistic approach to student support. There are more opportunities for collaboration among staff, allowing them to share strategies and work together to develop programming. More than a physical space, the hub supports a philosophy of proactive service, not just for on-campus students, but for online students as well.
“As we build more connections among the staff, I think we’ll see improvements to all of the services that are being provided,” Estes said.
This one-stop approach also enhances the student experience. Instead of visiting multiple buildings, Lopers now have a go-to location for everything from resume reviews and career planning to disability accommodations, success coaching, mentoring and subject-specific tutoring. New check-in technology and systems will help staff and faculty use data to identify, track and schedule for the greatest student needs.
“By centralizing our academic support systems, students can come in or reach out and get the support they’re looking for without having to figure out which office or person to go to. This gives us better opportunities to serve those students from Day 1 through graduation,” said George Holman, associate vice chancellor for student affairs.
Holman and Estes both believe Calvin T. Ryan Library is the perfect place for the Loper Success Hub. They expect to see more students utilizing resources and services throughout the building.
“The student union is the hub for engagement and interaction on campus,” Holman said, “and this will be the hub for academic support and success. It creates another environment where students feel like they have people in their corner who have their back.”
Part of a larger library renovation project, the Loper Success Hub was designed to serve students. It features a testing center and offices for roughly 20 staff members, along with lounge areas and individual study and tutoring spaces. There are areas for collaborative learning and group tutoring sessions, as well.
“Personally, I feel super fortunate that I get to be part of this space,” Estes said. “It’s going to be great for staff and it’s going to be great for students. It all comes back to that idea of collaboration and how we can improve the experience for students and improve the outcomes that they’re working toward.”
