PARTNERING FOR STUDENT EXCELLENCE B Y: B L A K E C E S A R Z Student Support Specialist
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f the last year has shown us anything, it’s that partnerships and teamwork are essential aspects of success and cornerstones of the human experience. Traditionally, we have worked best as part of a team when we have worked closely and consistently with one another, side by side, but how do we do so in a time of social distancing, and how do we coordinate between different team members to support our students in higher ed? Effective lines of communication must necessarily be drawn, and a clear vision or goal must be articulated so that our partnerships can be successful and our students can be supported. For Kaitlyn Leach, her Support Specialist Blake Cesarz, and her Academic Intervention Coordinator Stephen Ferris, the goal had been clearly articulated even before the start of the pandemic: Help Kaitlyn get off academic probation, achieve academic success in her program, and progress toward graduation.
12 THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA
But, with the pandemic settling in like a dark cloud on the horizon of 2020 and 2021, this was going to be a challenge. To better support Kaitlyn, and other students on probation, the SALT Center made a crucial programmatic change to tunnel through the static and noise of the pandemic. Each Specialist was to partner exclusively with one Academic Intervention Coordinator, so that both might better serve students on probation. This seemingly simple change proved to be a revelation and allowed Blake and Stephen to coordinate support, share important documents, and track Kaitlyn’s progress much more effectively.
