Photos by Sarah Navy.
In order to increase visibility and accessibility, the Center for Academic Success (CAS) will be moving from the basement of Briggs Hall to the second floor of the library. Construction for this project is scheduled to begin over spring break and finish before the beginning of Fall Term.
Although the project is not scheduled to begin until spring break, some movement is already in the works at the library. During the last few weeks of Winter Term, everything will be cleared off of the second floor — including shelves, furniture and offices. In March, the Technology Services Helpdesk will be moving to the fourth floor of the library. During construction, the second floor will be completely inaccessible.
According to Director of the Seeley G. Mudd Library Peter Gilbert, most of the inevitable construction noise should take place earlier in the day, so students will be able to find quiet study spaces during the afternoons and evenings.
With the centralization of the CAS and Technology Services Helpdesk within the library, Gilbert hopes it will be easier for students to get the help they need for their academic work at Lawrence.
This hope is also evident in the CAS as the staff eagerly awaits the move. According to Associate Dean of Academic Success Julie Haurykiewicz, the time is right for the CAS to move.
With the reorganization of previous departments into the CAS, such as the Center for Teaching and Learning, the number of students they are able to reach has also grown. With that, the size and profile of the CAS has also increased.
Through this project, the hope is to create a 21st century Learning Commons that will connect students with the tools they need to succeed in spaces equipped with new technology. This move opens up the possibility for future collaborations between the library, the CAS and technology services.
According to Dean of Academic Success, Monita Mohammadian Gray, “We have outgrown our current space and have a need to be in a more visible and accessible location to students.” This project will make room for a larger tutoring space, an active learning classroom, more space to service students’ testing needs and more functional office space to foster internal work with students.
Conversations about this project have been occurring for dozens of years, but with the revitalization of the CAS, these conversations have been put into action. This project is funded by the Be the Light campaign under the campus renewal prong of the capital campaign.