About | University College

What We Do

Help students transition to college
Remove roadblocks to success
Make positive changes that affect campus

Strategic Priorities

Provide ISU students with an effective and exceptional transition to the University that reflects the institution’s values.
Provide centralized academic support resources and services that meet the current and emerging needs of the Illinois State student population.
Lead the student retention efforts of the Illinois State community.
Provide ISU faculty and staff the resources and guidance to connect students to academic support services.
Bolster relationships with campus and external partners to engage in purposeful collaborations.
Foster a supportive and collaborative environment that values professional development, wellness, diversity, and inclusion among University College personnel.

Our Approach to Success

We don’t just focus on your academic success, we focus on your whole well being. Because when all of you is taken care of, the rest falls into place. We keep the eight dimensions of wellness in mind with everything we do. If any aspect of your wellness needs attention, we’ve got the people, resources, and knowledge to help.

Physical

Make healthy choices that do your body good - like exercise, nutritious food, and plenty of sleep.
Emotional

Learn how to cope with your feelings so you can handle a variety of situations in college and life.
Social

Surround yourself with the right people who support you and your goals.
Intellectual

Feed your curiosity with new experiences and ideas.
Environmental

From where you study to where you live, put yourself in environments that work best for you.
Spiritual

Understand what’s important to you and find purpose in your life.
Vocational

Be engaged and excited about how you contribute to society.
Financial

Feel secure in your present and future financial situations.

When your whole self is healthy, there’s no stopping you.

Take advantage of our services and expertise and start noticing positive changes in yourself.

Advocate for yourself.

We’ll help you stand up for yourself and make it known what you need to be successful. This helps you become more independent and empowers you to find solutions to challenges.
Be self sufficient.

We can help you live the life you want.
Gain confidence.

When you believe in yourself, nothing can stand in your way.

How We Serve Students

Our services are designed to help prevent academic challenges before they happen. And when a student meets a struggle, we have resources in place to help them thrive.

Making every interaction count.

We interact with 10,000 students every semester and an additional 4,000 through seminars and workshops.

Orientation gives students a proper welcome.

Our orientation programs show freshmen and transfer students what it’s like to be a Redbird and how to be successful.
Advising empowers students.

Our advisors guide first year students and other select groups along their academic journey.
Early alert and progress report grades provide a success snapshot.

Early alert and progress report grades are requested starting in week 6 and in week 10 of the semester. They give you the opportunity to reflect on how things are going. If you’re struggling, we can help.

View your grades

Early alert and progress report grades are provided for students enrolled in most undergraduate courses. If your early alert or progress report grade is missing, talk to your instructor.

Learn how to submit early alert / progress report grades (faculty only)
The Dr. Julia N. Visor Center offers all kinds of academic support.

From tutoring and developmental math to workshops and seminars, the Visor Center is a one stop shop for a successful academic experience.
Retention and persistence efforts keep students at Illinois State and get them to graduation.

We step in with tough conversations and proven strategies that help students accomplish what they set out to do.

Our partnerships give students a sense of belonging.

Students can join a new group or continue being part of the community they’ve known and loved since grade school. We would welcome even more organizations on campus. Contact us to start a partnership.