New name, new services

By Elizabeth Coss

Disability Services and the Center for Student Progress have new names this semester. Now named Accessibility Services and the Resch Academic Success Center, respectively, the two are unified through Title II Services at Youngstown State University.

The change for the Resch Center came easily, according to Becky Varian, director of the Resch Center for Student Progress.

“We’ve been the Center for Student Progress for 25 years, and when you read the literature for student success, even student success is part of the language that’s used now,” Varian said.

The name change isn’t the only new thing it is offering — the Resch Center is also offering new services. The PASS Program, or Peer Assisted Study Sessions, are scheduled appointments students can make that will set them up with a one-on-one tutor. These have taken the place of Supplemental Instruction sessions that were previously offered at the center. 

During spring 2020, the center also partnered with tutor.com, offering students around-the-clock tutoring, even when the Resch Center is closed. The center pays for the service and offers it for free to any student who visits. 

Varian said alongside the new services, academic coaching has seen an increase since last year.  Academic coaching involves students initiating a meeting to find new ways to succeed and identify strategies for learning success.

“For academic coaching, we’ve seen like a 10% increase. Students want that one-on-one [time],” Varian said.

Just like the Resch Academic Success Center, Accessibility Services is also looking into online styles. Director Gina McGranahan said some changes are coming.

“We are putting all of our paper files into a cloud-based program. We received a HEERF [Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund] grant through COVID that we are working to put all of our paper files that way,” McGranahan said. 

With Accessibility Services transferring files online, students and faculty can access their information to review, and look at their personal data at any time and anywhere. Part of the desire to move files online was due to the need to access information during the pandemic.   

“It makes things easier for the students and for us to access their information, and for us if we ever have to work remotely again,” McGranahan said. 

Sally Frederick, a senior majoring in advocacy, was unaware of the name change and grant, but said she’s pleased with the changes happening within Accessibility Services.

“If I need to change anything, they are super quick to help,” Frederick said. 

According to Gina McGranahan, all files will be online by spring semester.