Matthew Gower
Assistant News Editor
For students seeking additional assistance with their classes, one of the best options on campus is the Milburn Student Success Center located on the third floor of the library.
The Milburn Student Success Center, which was dedicated to Paul and Ann Milburn in November 2012, conducted 3,306 sessions in the first few months and employed over one hundred students, aims to provide students with academic tutoring and peer resources.
“We’re still doing one on one personal support, but more spread out…you’ll notice that there is signage in various parts of the building that says the maximum number of people that can be in a space…the library is allowing students to reserve the AG Auditorium for a study group that can hold [up to] 25 people,” said Kirt Henderson, director of student success.
Students can be paired up with a mentor for one on one assistance or group study sessions.
Some of the services mentors can help students with include studying for exams, proof-reading papers and reassurance for their everyday classes.
If there is a wait to be paired with a mentor or group, the Student Success Center has now implemented an automated text message system that will tell them when a mentor is available to help.
The text service is both free and available to all students.
The mentors are student workers who have already taken the course they mentor for and are experienced and willing to help students currently taking the course. The student workers/mentors can work up to 20 hours a week.
“…We’re doing our best to bring those [study sessions] to Zoom as well…If a student is in quarantine, they can access it. Also, if a student says I don’t feel comfortable going…they can stay in their dorm room or apartment and still access a study session,” Henderson said.
He said also that after a student attends at least one of the sessions, they tend to return either regularly, or when they need extra help or a second opinion with a project or with studying for an exam.
With possible mid-terms coming up for students and finals a couple months away, students can expect to see extra studying events coming up in the near future. The Student Success Center will let students know via email about extra study sessions including when and where they will take place a few days beforehand and again the day of an event.
One of the most popular events, Civ Cram Jam, will be announced closer to the dates of the sessions. The schedule of study sessions for each class can be found at okbu.edu/academics/student-success.
Since the library reopened in August students have been required to take screenings at the front desk (if they have not already done so for the day) before browsing for books, using computers or entering the Student Success Center. The staff as well as students maintain physical distancing while working.
The Milburn Success Center, located on the third-floor room 308 of the library, is open Sunday 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Monday through Thursday 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Their staff encourages any and all students to take advantage of their services.
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