I transferred to UNA in 2015, but when I first began college, I was nervous, and the hurdles I faced loomed over me. I knew I needed help when my math teacher said, “You need to drop this class, or you are going to fail.”

Math had always kicked my butt, so this was nothing new. But, this time, it stood between me and my degree. With help from the tutors, I won a battle I had fought throughout elementary and high school.

After that, I knew I could face anything, and it transformed my ability to face challenges.

The University Success Centers at UNA, located on the second floor of the Commons building, offers more than just tutoring.

Students can be confident they will successfully tackle new challenges because they will also get the help they need to manage the demands and responsibilities of college.

The resources the University Success Center provides help students conquer their classes, said Assistant Director of the Center for Writing Excellence Kathleen Richards.

The University Success Center offers advising as well as tutoring in writing, math and other first and second-year courses.

Students utilize the advising department to ask questions such as: “Who will my new advisor be? Will some of the credits I’ve already earned transfer to my new major?” Richards said.

The advisors can answer those questions for students.

Students can go to una.edu/writing center to find many writing resources, including a schedule of workshops, Richards said.

TutorTrac allows students to schedule appointments with tutors in the University Success Center, but the tutoring lab also takes walk-ins, she said.

The University Success Center also offers workshops for college success.

Learning Support Coordinator Matt Price teaches workshops on study skills, note taking, time management and college skills, Richards said.

Price sends out a schedule of available workshops to students at the beginning of the semester through their UNA portal email, she said.

“Students can come to one of those workshops during the semester, or they can make one-on-one appointments with me,” Price said. “We can sit down and work on who they are, what they need specifically, and come up with an academic action plan and study skills to help that purpose.”

The staff at the University Success Center exists to help students with anything they need, Richards said.

“We’re here as your support structure,” Price said. “The other thing I would have (students) remember is that if you are confident in your discipline, remember that the Success Center is also one of the largest employers of students on campus. We’re looking for students to help succeed.”