Student Success Center

"Come visit us today!"
Professional Mentor, Sr. Sarah Foster, RSM, Tommy Titan and the SSC Therapy Dog Bentley!
The Student Success Center (SSC) provides quality, student-centered academic support services to help students achieve success. The SSC offers:
- Tutoring and learning communities,
- Testing center
- Professional mentoring,
- Placement testing,
- Disability & Accessibility Support Services
We also offer other grant funded and special academic programs:
- King-Chavez Parks Program
- FirstGen Network
- Academic Interest & Major Exploration (AIME) program, and Health Exploration Program (HEX or Health Ex),
- UAS Department/developmental coursework
Email: ssc@udmercy.edu
Phone: 313-993-1143
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Professional Staff Contact Information
- Felicia Hartinger, Director, Office: 313-993-1265 Email: mitrovfl@udmercy.edu
- Laura Bagdady, Assistant Director of Disability & Accessibility Services, Office: 313-993-1158 Email: bagdadlm@udmercy.edu
- Erica Graze, Academic & Career Advisor, Office: 313-993-1811 Email: grazeem@udmercy.edu
- Wyman Stewart, Professional Mentor I, Office: 313-993-1527 Email: stewardm@udmercy.edu
- Sr. Sarah Foster, RSM, Professional Mentor, Office: 313-993-1401 Email: fostersa@udmercy.edu
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How are we dealing with COVID-19 ?
The SSC is here and ready to help you despite the restrictions due to COVID-19. Be sure to schedule an appointment with any of the SSC professional staff, mentors, tutors, or peer mentors who can help support you academically. We will be open this Fall 2020 for both in-person and online support services to best serve all our students. And remember, we can help navigate through in this new online learning environment. Here are some tips for success for online classes, specifically:
- Wake up early before your classes start! A "morning" or class routine before you get started can help you to get in the right state of mind for the day!
- Regardless of what time your classes start, get ready no less than one hour ahead of time to be sure your technology is working, and you feel prepared.
- Get dressed in your actual clothes. Again, you will feel better prepared and be more productive.
- Be ACTIVELY engaged in class--turn on your video, take notes, ask questions, discuss with your classmates--treat it like an in-person class!
- If possible, put your cell phone in another room if it's distracting you.
- Do not try to multitask by doing homework, texting, listening to music, etc. while in class. Focus on what your professor is saying and stay engaged.
- If your class is asynchronous schedule your own "class time" to get work done at the same time every week. For example, if you are in a 100% online asynchronous MTH 1010, and you can work on it from 10-10:50 am on MWF. Create that class time for yourself! Your professional mentor can also help you stay accountable!
- Keep track of all your classes by using a physical planner.
- Don't attend class where you sleep, or in front of the TV--create a working space with the least amount of distractions as possible since studies show we really cannot multitask like we think we can!
- Remember, the Student Success Center is open and accessible! Come to any of our open campus labs or book a private study room in the library!
The University also has provided some very common Frequently Asked Questions in regards to returning to campus.
The Health and Well-Being Guide also provides important information for students on topics including how to access the The Wellness Center (including personal counseling), telemental health services, and pastoral care. Titans Together also addresses on-campus etiquette, facility modifications and campus health and safety protocols.
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Tutoring
The SSC offers free tutoring in most freshman and some upper-division courses, including math, chemistry, biology, languages, philosophy, history and English. One-on-one and small group appointments are available in the Student Success Center on the third floor of the McNichols Campus Library.
Interested in becoming a tutor? Please, fill out an online application today! If considered, we will reach out to you to set up an in-person interview.
How to set up an appointment for tutoring on Accucampus:
- Login to your MyPortal at my.udmercy.edu using your Titan Pass credentials
- In the Resources section>Academic and Career Resources, click on “Titan Success Network (Tutoring & Mentoring) via Accucampus”
Once you are logged in:
- To make an appointment, find the "Appointments" button near the middle-left of the screen,
- Select "Make Appointment"
- You can then either search by Service, in which you click the magnifying glass on the middle right,
- Select Tutoring-Online or Tutoring- On Campus,
- then select Make appointment on the Student Success Center.
- You can then put in a date, change the type of tutoring you are looking for if needed, and select the course you need help using the magnifying glass icon, then Search by staff or Search by date.
- Select a time slot that works for you, and schedule the appointment!
If you wish to meet in person, you will simply come to the Student Success Center at the time of your appointment and swipe in. If your meeting is online, you will meet with your tutor on Blackboard Collaborate.
Each tutor has their own "classroom" where you can have a video conference tutoring session. Listed below is our tutors with their contact information along with a few subjects they tutor. If there is a subject that you do not see listed below, please do not hesitate to contact the SSC at 313-993-1143 or ssc@udmercy.edu. We are more than happy to help!
- Once your appointment is confirmed on Accucampus, log onto Blackboard at the time of your appointment
- Go to your course list and put "SSC Tutoring" in the search bar
*If the course does not appear in the search, please contact the SSC front desk 313-993-1143 or contact your tutor to let them know - Once it is listed, click the start icon on the right side
- Click the course and find "Tutoring Virtual Classroom" on the left sidebar
- Find the name of the Tutor you are scheduled with and join the session at the time you agreed upon
- Select the video/audio options on the screen
- Click the purple arrow in the bottom right corner for more options (white board, sharing documents, etc.)
SSC Tutors and Mentors First Last Email Major Subjects Alex Akins akinsal1@udmercy.edu Business Administration BUS Mark Blanchard blanchmp@udmercy.edu Psychology STA Sydney Buckner bucknesj@udmercy.edu Nursing NUR Gazmend Duhanaj duhanaga@udmercy.edu Nursing NUR Olivia Elby elbyos@udmercy.edu Psychology PYC, ENL Jillian Grabowski grabowji@udmercy.edu Psychology PYC, ENL Jon Michael Grabowski grabowjx@udmercy.edu Mechanical Engineering ENGR, MTH Carson Green greence2@udmercy.edu Robotics MTH Kayla Hughes hugheske@udmercy.edu Robotics MTH Raza Hussain hussairm@udmercy.edu Dental BIO Jasmine Jefferson jefferjn@udmercy.edu Mechanical Engineering ENGR, CHM, MTH Cecilia Jones jonescr1@udmercy.edu PA BIO Zachary Kennedy kennedzja@udmercy.edu Accounting ACC, ENL Stephanie Korte kortesn@udmercy.edu Biology BIO Paul Manuszak manuszpc@udmercy.edu Mechanical Engineering MTH Sophia Mapes mapessj1@udmercy.edu Nursing NUR Bill Mathers matherws@udmercy.edu Dental BIO Larissa McCoy mccoylg@udmercy.edu Architecture ARCH Khrystyna Melnyk melnykkh@udmercy.edu Psychology PYC Devin Mendez mendezdr@udmercy.edu Biology BIO Shana Murphy murphysr@udmercy.edu Computer Science MTH Christina Nguyen nguyench2@udmercy.edu Psychology PYC, ENL Oliver Nigh nighog@udmercy.edu Business Administration BUS Maxwell Payton paytonmb@udmercy.edu Business Administration BUS, MTH Courtney Pefley pefleycm@udmercy.edu Chemistry CHM, MTH, STA Muhammad Rashid Economics ECN, PHL Zachary Satawa satawazm@udmercy.edu Mechanical Engineering ENGR, MTH Antonio Segura seguraat@udmercy.edu Computer Science MTH Savannah Sloan sloansn@udmercy.edu Criminal Justice ENL Emma St. John stjohner@udmercy.edu Nursing NUR Garret Weaver weavergd@udmercy.edu Biology BIO Bilal Zahoor zahoorbm@udmercy.edu Dental BIO Kelli Doyle doyleke@udmercy.edu Education Peer Mentor Elle Greenlee greenlea@udmercy.edu Business Administration Peer Mentor Allison Konja konjaar@udmercy.edu Dental Hygiene Peer Mentor Emily Rico ricoem@udmercy.edu Psychology Peer Mentor -
Learning Communities
Detroit Mercy also offers virtual learning communities conducted by tutors who sit in on specific sections of targeted courses throughout the term and run study sessions weekly. These guided learning communities support freshman math, science and statistics classes. See the schedule for learning communities here. -
Placement Testing
Testing in English, math, chemistry, and foreign languages offered at Detroit Mercy is available on Blackboard under the "Placement Testing" course for all new and applicable transfer students. The results of the placement tests are given to the student's advisor to assist in proper course selection.
Click here for more about Detroit Mercy's math placement recommendation.
Click here for more on placement testing.
For more information on how to take a Placement Test, please contact Courtney Pefley at pefleycm@udmercy.edu.
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Testing Center
DUE TO THE COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS, THE TESTING CENTER WILL NOT BE OPEN AFTER 11-18-2020.
Hours of Operation: Mondays-Thursdays: 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Fridays: 9 a.m. -5 p.m. All testers must start at least one hour before closing time!
All testing is by appointment only. Students, please call 313-993-1143 to make your appointment today!
For more information on the CLEP/DSST (formerly DANTES), please visit the Registrar website.
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Professional Mentoring
The SSC provides professional mentoring for all undergraduate students. Mentors meet with students on a weekly basis to provide academic success coaching and to connect them with resources here on campus. -
Disability & Accessibility Support Services
Disability & Accessibility Support Services are available to all currently enrolled students who have documented disabilities that substantially limit them in one or more major life activities.
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Kings-Parks-Chavez (KCP) Program
SSC is home to the State of Michigan grant-funded program King-Chavez-Parks Initiative. Program highlights include professional mentoring, academic success coaching and various programs and events. Click here for more on the KCP program. -
FirstGen Network
If your parents did not graduate with a bachelor’s degree, you are a first-generation college student and we want you to join the network. FirstGen Network meets twice a month for food, conversation and community. Learn more on the FirstGen Network page. -
AIME/HEX Program
The University College Program offers extensive support services, developmental advising and peer mentoring to conditionally admitted students. Students are admitted to the program through a selection and interview process. A condition of admission is the signing of a program participation contract. Click here for more on the AIME/HEX Program.
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Developmental Coursework
Developmental coursework delivered by SSC includes:
- Basis Math Review (UAS0750),
- Basic Mathematics (UAS0800),
- Introduction to College Algebra (UAS0950),
- Reading (UAS1040),
- Academic Empowerment (UAS1045),
- Athletes in Transition (UAS1070).
