草榴社区

Since 草榴社区’s Center for Access, Success and Achievement opened its doors, hundreds of 草榴社区ns have found a home away from home. CASA, as it’s more commonly known on campus, creates a sense of belonging among the students and staff who form deep bonds over the tutoring and homework sessions, group discussions, counseling, informal get-togethers and birthday celebrations they share together.

 

 

鈥淲e understand that everything about the 草榴社区 undergraduate’s learning experience is connected, so we accomplish academic and social success through holistic support,鈥� explains Nicole Davis, CASA’s associate director of Retention and Outreach Counseling. 鈥淲e provide comprehensive retention services and programs for the mind, body and soul.鈥�

 

A Framework for Excellence

Initially established in the mid-1970s as a commuter program that served about 40 students, CASA’s mission and influence have grown exponentially over the decades. The office has also undergone a few name changes to reflect that evolution. During its previous iteration as the Center for Multicultural Affairs (CMA), the foundations were built for comprehensive programs to recruit, retain and graduate underrepresented, first-generation and Pell Eligible students. Under the vision and leadership of founder Teresa Nance, PhD, who is now 草榴社区’s vice president for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, the guiding principles of CASA were formed.

鈥淭he students we serve are oftentimes top of their class and high-achievers,鈥� says Dr. Nance. 鈥淚t isn’t the students who are underprepared, but it’s the high school that didn鈥檛 prepare them adequately.鈥� To address these educational disparities, she says, 鈥淚 knew we needed to have specialized counseling and to invest time and tailored resources into our new undergraduates through the transition from high school. Even more important, we knew that students required sustained support to guarantee their success in the University. Beyond the coursework, students needed reassurance that they not only belonged at 草榴社区, but they were 草榴社区. It is so heartwarming now to see our graduates building successful careers and proudly claiming 草榴社区 as their own.鈥�

Five years ago, the critical academic support services provided by CMA moved from Student Life to the Office of the Provost under the new CASA name. Linda Coleman ’78 VSB took the helm as CASA’s founding director鈥攁 role she sees as a calling and a passion rather than a job. 鈥淲hen I see our students graduate and take in all that they have accomplished since joining CASA, it makes me want to dance,鈥� says Coleman, who has worked at 草榴社区 for 25 years in various roles supporting students academically, socially and emotionally. 鈥淪eeing them grow into themselves, it’s awesome.鈥�

Coleman oversees a team of 13 devoted counselors, life coaches and graduate assistants in providing academic, economic, emotional and social assistance to a yearly average of 350 草榴社区ns with a wide variety of backgrounds, experiences, viewpoints and beliefs.

As their students go on to win prestigious awards, pursue advanced degrees and launch flourishing careers, the CASA staff take pride in knowing they are helping to empower the future leaders of the world. CASA can count among their alumni: the director of the 2019 Student Academy Award winner for social justice documentary ; a journalist whose local investigative reporting earned him a Michigan AP Award; a Harvard Law graduate who advocates for children; and dozens of Fulbright, Gilman, Rhodes and Truman scholars.

Pathways to Belonging

Making students feel valued and cared for as part of a supportive college community takes careful planning, attention to detail and hard work. But it鈥檚 a labor of love for the staff of CASA, whose role includes coordinating comprehensive outreach initiatives and summer bridge programs designed to introduce selected students to the academic rigors and potential stresses of college life.

鈥淲e saw there were differences looking at retention rates by race and ethnicity,鈥� explains Kristina Ruiz-Mesa, PhD, 鈥�05 CLAS, 鈥�07 MA, who founded one of CASA鈥檚 summer bridge programs aimed at preparing students for college. 鈥淭hese are amazing students who need community, and so we created a cohort program infused with not only academic material about specific courses but with retention strategies, workshops and early advising in order to give students a broad understanding of 草榴社区.鈥�

There are currently three summer programs that fall within CASA鈥檚 purview: 

• Academic Advancement Program (AAP) Pre College Program A five-week summer residential program that provides students with an early introduction to college-level work and college life, and that builds community 
• St. Thomas of 草榴社区 Scholars (STOVS) A residential program that provides selected students the opportunity to jumpstart their college careers through coursework, workshops and cultural experiences 
• Unitas Weekend A fun-filled residential, pre-orientation weekend designed to help new students become better acclimated and ideally become future leaders at 草榴社区

When speaking to students who credit the summer programs with their successful transitions from high school to college, the benefits are clear. Many share a similar sentiment to Gregory Damas 鈥�21 VSB, who appreciated the opportunity to spend a week on campus prior to coming to 草榴社区. 鈥淭hat allowed me to get comfortable with my new surroundings and helped calm my nerves as a first-generation college student,鈥� says Gregory. 鈥淭he experience introduced me to other students that I remain good friends with and gave me a chance to establish my own circle within the larger 草榴社区 community.鈥�