BBCC Student Success Center opens
Heritage University Dean of College of Education and Psychology Dr. Jim Borst, BBCC Board of Trustees Chair Katherine Kenison, Director of Title V Programs Terry Kinzel and Big Bend Community College President Dr. Bill Bonaudi cut the ribbon at the opening of Big Bend Community College's Student Success Center Tuesday.
Big Bend Community College President Dr. Bill Bonaudi spoke at the grand opening of BBCC's Student Success Center Tuesday.
MOSES LAKE - Big Bend Community College's Student Success Center is officially open.
BBCC President Dr. Bill Bonaudi, Director of Title V Programs Terry Kinzel, BBCC Board of Trustees Chair Katherine Kenison and Heritage University Dean of College of Education and Psychology Dr. Jim Borst, each sliced through the ribbon with a pair of scissors, signifying the center is now officially open to serve students.
The Student Success Center was paid for with money from a Title V grant and is designed to be a first point of contact for students attending the college, said Kinzel.
"When someone comes into the building and they're not sure where they go first, there's somebody behind a desk that's smiling and saying, 'Here, let me help you with that.' And that, I think, is critical."
The center also serves as a resource for studying, mentoring and tutoring, and rents laptops and textbooks to students. It's possible the center may provide additional services in the future, said Kinzel.
"I expect it to be a continual process, that it will always be a growing, living response to the student and faculty needs," she said.
While some student support programs, due to their funding sources, are limited to qualifying students, Kinzel said the Student Success Center is open to all BBCC students.
"It's all about the students," said Bonaudi. "As this place opened informally, every day you'd see a few more people showing up and pretty soon the computers were being used and that's exactly what this is all about. And I really appreciate our partnership with Heritage University on this as well, because we are preparing students not only to meet their goals with us but to continue their education and we can't think of a better partner than Heritage has been over all this time."
"This is a great day for Big Bend Community College," said Borst. "I can't think of a better title than the Student Success Center. And I think it just shows that the mission of Big Bend and the mission of Heritage are very well defined. It's our pleasure to collaborate on the Title V grant ... We really are thankful to be here and are thankful for our partnership with Big Bend."
The Student Success Center is located in the 1400 building at BBCC and is open 8-5 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8-2:30 p.m. Fridays.