Workers break ground on Student Success Center

April 11, 2016

Student Success Center construction and renderings

Construction is expected to be complete in December on this $5.5 million addition to Laurentide Hall, which will house Campus Tutorial Services.

Construction is underway on a $5.5 million addition to Laurentide Hall on the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater campus that will dramatically enhance the academic services experience for students.

The three-story, 18,390-square-foot addition will be called the Student Success Center, and will include computer labs and collaboration rooms that can double as classrooms. Smart board technology and universal design will create a vibrant learning environment.  

The exterior of the new building will feature metal panel, brick and a glass curtain wall to match Laurentide Hall. Construction is expected to wrap-up on this state- and gift-funded project in April 2017.  

Primarily, it will serve as the headquarters of Campus Tutorial Services, a peer-tutoring operation, where students work with their undergraduate and graduate peers, both one-on-one and in group settings.  

Since the 1970s, services have been housed in the basement of McCutchan Hall, in a 5,307-square-foot space that lacks accessibility, air conditioning and adequate technology. When the Student Success Center is completed, the operation will move into the addition. Satellite rooms in Andersen Library and in the residence halls will remain.  

Over the years, UW-Whitewater students have embraced the assistance provided by Campus Tutorial Services and interest has skyrocketed. In fact, participation has nearly doubled every year for the past five years. At the end of the 2014-15 academic year, more than 230 tutors completed about 140,000 hours of tutoring. About 44 percent of students met with a tutor at least once.