Erie Community College officials cut the ribbon Friday, officially opening the new City Campus Student Success Center. The one-stop shop will house the admissions, financial aid, career services, counseling and registration offices. The goal is to make enrollment processes and future planning at ECC more convenient for students and visitors.
Assemblywomen Crystal Peoples-Stokes says ECC is providing a good example to other educators.
“I do truly believe that it will end up being a model that most any college and or university would love to use and I know it will be a huge asset to the students,” Peoples-Stokes said.
Executive vice president of student affairs Ben Packer says the building is already a model for ECC's other campuses. He says it also has the potential to increase student satisfaction and enrollment numbers.
"It helps students establish a sequential plan for themselves and it’s going to increase retention of students. It’s going to increase persistence of students. It’s going to increase satisfaction. Students are going to leave this center with an idea of what they’re going to do five and 10 years from now. That’s going to be the power of the center. That is what’s going to keep them here at ECC,” Packer said.
Similar centers will eventually open at ECC's North and South campus.