University College Fuels Student Success
What classes should I take my freshman year? Where can I find a tutor to help me prepare for my macroeconomics final? Can I talk with a counselor about balancing the stress of school with family demands? These answers and more are easier to find this fall with the debut of University College in the renovated Ransom Hall.
University College is a one-stop shop for academic advising, tutoring, supplemental instruction, and a range of counseling services. “This is a welcoming place for students,” says Donald Bobbitt, provost and vice president for academic affairs. “They won’t leave this building without someone understanding their problem and at least starting toward a solution.”
The three-story Ransom Hall, which opened in 1919, is the oldest building on campus. But a $1.7 million remodeling has given it a modern feel. Maverick orange and blue mix with sleek celadon green counters and contemporary furnishings. The main entrance shares a plaza to the north with the E.H. Hereford University Center. Better yet, University College pulls together academic and counseling services—previously scattered across campus—under one roof. Audio/visual equipment, Wi-Fi, and high-speed Internet aid the instructional process. A large conference room is available for group sessions, while private tutoring and counseling suites provide quiet space for one-on-one interaction.
The renovation is part of the University’s larger effort to recruit top scholars, improve student retention, and help more students earn their undergraduate degrees in a timely manner. Dr. Bobbitt says UT Arlington will do what it takes to help first-year students achieve a grade-point average that will help them advance toward whatever major they choose. “If we can get them to their sophomore year,” he says, “we know they can succeed.”
