Student Success Center opens with celebration

This past Friday, the JMU community celebrated the official grand opening of the Student Success Center. The space, formerly Rockingham Memorial Hospital, now houses 20 different departments and units that support student learning and health, as well as 14 meeting spaces and eight instructional spaces in its 250,000 square feet.

Attendees at Friday’s event heard remarks from university President, Jonathan R. Alger, as well as Dr. Randy Mitchell, associate vice president of student success, and Dr. Mark Warner, senior vice president of student affairs and university planning. Former university Presidents Drs. Ronald E. Carrier and Linwood H. Rose were both in attendance.

Mitchell, having orchestrated the coming together of the center over the last few years, spoke about how it is a place for challenge, support and community, where students can make successful transitions into, through and out of the university by utilizing the broad range of programs, resources and services available to them.

Warner discussed his history working with the past three university presidents, each of whom he said, “lived, breathed and loved the concept of student success.” He cited Carrier’s dream of creating the epitome of a student-centered campus and Rose’s development of the Service Center (formerly in Warren Hall) and the Learning Centers (formerly in Wilson Hall) as proof.

Warner then celebrated Alger’s unwavering commitment to student success, forecasting that JMU will continue to be noted throughout the country as an institution that means to transform lives.

Alger then took the podium driving home the collaborative spirit of the space, citing each department’s engagement in designing spaces connected to their unique needs and outcomes as just one example of the kind of collaboration for which the university continues to be known.

Alger also noted the Student Success Center as the next step in connecting The North Campus and The Grace Street Corridor. He cited the ongoing work on the Duke Hall renovation and addition, the new College of Health and Behavioral Sciences building and the Grace Street student housing as great additions to come.

Following remarks there was a ceremonial ribbon cutting as well as guided and self-lead tours of the building. Guests also enjoyed musical performances from The BluesTones and The Madison Project.

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