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Whether it is has been the Wellenss Center, the Advising Center or the University Library, we have all used our school's reources at some point in our college years. The real question is, have we used them as much as we should have? Probably not. But that doesn't mean it's too late!
Even though we have never been or have heard of all our campus resources doesn't mean they don't exist. Being a senior in my last semester of college, I look back and think how I could have utilized these resources on campus even more. College students aren't expected to uphold the reputation of knowing everything, but taking the chance to learn what it is we don't already know - a concept I failed to realize throughout the majority of my college years.
Below I've listed the three most common resources on Aurora University's campus that I frequently use and tips for using each center! You never know when you're going to need to make a visit to these centers not just at AU, but on your own campus.
1. Crouse Center for Academic Advising
Since we were all forced to meet with an advisor our first semester of freshman year, we can say we've been to our campus's advising center at least once. One person that I have heavily relied on throughout my college years is my advisor.
It doesn't matter if I talk to him about my academic evaluation, my classes or about work. He is always there to listen to whatever it is I want to vent about. He has even been there for me when I needed a shoulder to cry on when life seemed too much to handle. Whether we want to admit it or not, our advisors' doors are always open and they want to be there for their students just as much as we want them to be there for us.
After interviewing Ryan Hiller, Academic Advisor and Lecturer at Aurora University, I was able to gain even more insight of the importance of utilizing this resource on campus. "Not only do the staff of the Crouse Center want to build relationships with the students throughout their four years on campus, but we strive to be a support system for students as well," he stated. Hiller added that the advisors like to talk out problems with their students so they can help work out those problems and send students in the right direction.
Even though students are only required to meet with their advisor three times during their first year, Hiller likes seeing his students once a year, a semester or even once a week. Being a Spartan himself, Hiller hopes that students take advantage of these resources offered on campus, as he wishes he had gotten more involved in student activities throughout his college years.
2. Financial Aid
A campus's Financial Aid is extremely important when dealing with loans, scholarships and payment plans. After interviewing Lindsay Janssen, Assistant Director of Financial Aid on campus, I was able to understand the significance of this resource even more.
"Figuring out students' financial aid eligibility and the process for correct documents to process for financial aid is just one of the many services we do on campus," stated Janssen. She added that their main goal as a resource on campus is to educate students not only about the financial aid process, but about different types of financial aid and make show of all different possibilities to make college more affordable for all students.
One thing Janssen really stressed about is that the staff in Financial Aid are always there to help students and want to make the payment process as painless as possible. "Holding workshops throughout the year for students to apply for FAFSA and learn more about the FAFSA process is another thing we do on campus to help students and their parents become more familiar with the process when that time comes," she stated.
Borrowing wisely and planning how to take out your student loans can be overwhelming and questionable (trust me, I've been through it). But the staff who work in your school's Financial Aid Department can truly help you in these decisions and guide you in borrowing money wisely. If you haven't already discussed this with a staff member on campus, I highly suggest you do!
3. Career Services
The only place I never have to worry about how bad my resume looks, how terrible my interviewing skills are and how unprofessional I dress. This is because that is what this resource on campus serves to do. I have been to Career Services more than I can even count and that is because there is so much they do for their students on campus, the opportunities are endless!
Having interviewed Tory Nair, Director of Career Services at Aurora University, she was able to explain the many ways of using this resource on campus that I could not have better explained myself. "My biggest goal is to help students find resources and connect them to other resources to better assist them in what they are looking for. As a resource on campus, we want students and alumni to take everything away that we have to offer and utilize those tools," she stated.
While Career Services helps to better your image as a professional, they also post jobs frequently within the area through their Facebook page, LinkedIn, College Central Network and other outlets to get word out in as many ways as possible for students to see. "We are contacted by employers on a daily basis about wanting to recruit for different positions," Nair added.
What if you graduate and still can't land a job? The great thing about Career Services at AU is that they offer the same services to their alumni as they do to their current students on campus. Alumni can come back any time to either go over their resumes, pull out their strengths and even have a mock interview with the staff.
"We truly want to see our students succeed and get into a field that they came here wanting to go into. I think that doesn't just go on behalf of Career Services, but as an entire university," Nair stated.
The resources offered to us as college students on campus are infinite. The opportunities the faculty and staff prepare us for, the success they drive to instill in us and the confidence they provide as we enter the real world is endless. Take advantage of your campus's resources - I promise you won't regret it!
For other ways to utilize different resources on your campus, click on the link below!