Media Room

University of the Rockies shared “Suite Success” – a trio of resources developed for its nontraditional student population – at a conference for higher education leaders on Friday, Jan. 25.

Janet Brugger, director of academic resources, presented to attendees of the College Personnel Association of Colorado (CPAC) annual conference in Denver. CPAC joins student affairs educators from across the state for collaboration and research opportunities.

Brugger shared University of the Rockies’ experiences developing the Rockies Research Center, Rockies Writing Center and SMARTLab statistics primer. All three resources – which make up a virtual “suite” – are available to serve both the University’s campus-based and online students.

“We’ve created a learning community, beyond the physical walls of University of the Rockies,” says Dr. Tina Parscal, University of the Rockies provost. “We’ve found a way to be nimble and flexible as we meet the needs of today’s doctoral student.”  

The University developed three unique resources to support its students, many of whom are returning to school after a significant absence from the classroom:

1.      Rockies Research Center is a hub of resources that aid in the dissertation process, as well as a forum for faculty and student discussions.

2.      Rockies Writing Center, called The Writer’s Peak, involves virtual personal coaching on academic writing that aids students in developing critical thinking and self-editing skills.

3.      SMARTLab is a compilation of web-based, self-paced statistical “primers” that cover basic concepts and skills in statistics, which students will need to understand in order to have success in their research courses and dissertation.

Efforts to create the Rockies Research Center stemmed from faculty feedback on how to support research and scholarship within the University.

“We needed a centralized resource to support our students, both on-campus and online, as they enter the research and dissertation phases of their studies,” explains Dr. Parscal. “Ultimately, we felt that the best way to support these students was to create a culture and a community around scholarship.”

In March, Brugger will share the “Suite Success” story again to attendees of the 2013 Adult Student Recruitment and Retention Conference in Madison, Wi.

About University of the Rockies

University of the Rockies is an advanced graduate institution for tomorrow’s thought leaders. The University provides an intimate and dynamic learning environment, offering highly specialized master’s and doctoral degree programs in the social and behavioral sciences, access to industry experts, campus clinical programs for practical experience, and research and publishing opportunities. University of the Rockies is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association (www.ncahlc.org). Small by design, University of the Rockies classes are presented in a progressive online format and at its Colorado Springs, Colorado, campus. For more information, please visit www.rockies.edu or call Shari Winet Rodriguez, vice president of Public Relations, at 866.621.0124 x2513.