The Communication Center brings more success in the Student Success Center

Cat got your tongue? Come to the Communication Center get help for all of your communication needs. A new school year means lots of changes on the JMU campus. One of the biggest changes is the new Communication Center. Previously located in Wilson hall, the Communication Center has been moved to the brand new Student Success Center. It is located on the first floor in the learning centers department. I had chance to meet people at the Communication Center that were able to inform me on what the Communication Center offers. This is what I learned:

“The Communication Center offers a wide range of services and opportunities to students and faculty,” said Paul Mabrey, Communication Center coordinator and lecturer at SCOM. In the past the center has offered students opportunities to practice giving their speeches, work on speech outlines and brainstorm with tutors. Due to the fact that they have a new location, the Communication Center was able to take on more staff and expand its office. By doing this they are able to offer more opportunities than in the past.

Here are some opportunities:

1. New Services: Communication Center services can include “anything from prepping for presentations to putting finishing touches on presentations and a little bit of everything in between,” according to Communication Center tutor Kaitlin Thurgood, “this year, we have expanded our services and we not offer MREST tutoring, interview prep, and various other collaborations with different organizations on campus. We also have super cool technology in the center this year! It is very useful when recording presentations for our clients.“ The staff also help faculty develop assignments that help facilitate classroom conversation amongst students and build plans for student assignments.
2. Events: The Communication Center also offers events for students of all disciplines. In November, the center will host a public advocacy contest. Then, they will conclude the semester with a finals fun speaking contest in December. A complete list of events is located on the
3. Undergraduate Employment: The center also hires undergraduate students as a tutor. According to Kaitlin Thurgood, a current tutor, by tutoring she gets “an accomplishing feeling at the end of the day knowing that I have used my time and my efforts to help someone else out. Being involved in the betterment of the JMU community is something I am so grateful to be a part of!” A tutor is responsible for tutoring students but also has the opportunity to work on a range of other aspects of the Communication Center. For more information go to the Communication Centers Employment
4. Graduate Employment: Lastly, there are opportunities for graduate students to work in assistantships. An assistantship is a paid academic experience made to a graduate student that involves part-time teaching or research. Students can apply and find out more information on the Communication Center’s Employment

The Communication Center has been beneficial for many students including myself. “Going to the Comm Center helped me organize my thoughts and feel more confident on presentation day,” said Kasey Hunicutt, junior SCOM student. Another junior SCOM student Hunter Sjogren said “the Communication Center really helped me take my speech to the next level.”

Remember that these services are included in our tuition, which means you have already paid for it, so take advantage of the Communication Center. Also these services are open to all majors. Getting tutored is a simple process; all you need to do is sign up online by following the on the Make an Appointments page or walk-in.  Make sure to go and sign up and start receiving free help today.