Dedicated to success
Hixson-Lied Center gives students ample space for schoolwork
Pat Brown
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It's a unique addition on campus, but more importantly, it gives ISU students another advantage.
The Hixson-Lied Student Success Center will be dedicated in an official ceremony Friday after opening without ceremony in December.
The center provides study space, academic consulting, academic intervention, supplemental instruction and tutoring services for both ISU students and athletes.
"The center is a great resource for students who want to improve their academic standing," said Debra Sanborn, interim director of the academic success center.
"Whether you're a student that's just starting out and finding you need to discover new ways of studying, or whether you're a successful student, there's something here for everyone."
The center, which has 35,500 square feet, offers study space, classroom space, study labs and tutoring rooms, and is open Sunday through Thursday from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Each study section of the building includes an atrium space, chairs with tablet arms, work tables, couches and a west study lounge.
In addition to that, the center provides exam accommodations for students with a documented disability.
"We have something for everyone who wants to improve," Sanborn said. "If you look at the two groups, the dean of students and athletics, we came together to serve everyone. We have common goals and we want our students to persist and graduate."
The project, which cost $10 million, ran on schedule perfectly and stayed entirely on its budget, said Tom Oftedal, project manager.
"It really was a great effort on everybody's part from beginning to end," Oftedal said. "Projects succeed not because an individual succeeds, but because the group succeeds."
In fact, things went so well during construction Oftedal said the entire project was shortened by between six months and one year.
He also said the project was funded through primarily private donations.
The project is not entirely complete, however, because once the new alumni building is completed, the university plans to demolish the existing Fisher-Nickell Hall to construct a new service lot.
The lot, which will be located just north of the Hixson-Lied facility, will allow services to come in and out of the building, and will have a trash bin, mail entry and a small parking lot. That phase of the project is also included in the $10 million.
The Rod and Connie French Athletic Center is located on the second floor and offers student athletes a number of services.
In addition to the services offered to ISU students, athletes are offered help with the choice of their classes/majors, study halls, study sessions, class checking and progress reports for their respective coaches.
"We gather information for the coaches on how student athletes are doing with progress reports," said David Harris, senior associate athletic director for student services.
"The coaches respond well to this, because it's information they would like to have as a coach. This gives them a good opportunity to address if things aren't going well, or they can congratulate students who are doing well."
Student athletes who have utilized the facility have responded positively to the new center, Harris said.
"At this point the reviews we've gotten have been very positive," he said.
"They enjoy having the opportunity to use a terrific facility like that."
So what is the missing touch? Possibly a cafe or coffee shop, which has not yet been discussed in great detail.
"We would love to [have] ISU dining talk to us," Sanborn said. "We've been told that a little coffee thing in the basement would be nice."
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