Heckman Learning Commons: Building Student Success
The Heckman Learning Commons is a community of professionals committed to providing a holistic student development experience. The center offers resources and opportunities that foster academic, personal, social, and professional growth.
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Hello, and welcome to the Heckman Center in the Wahlstrom Library on the second floor at University of Bridgeport Connecticut. The Heckman Center is a community of professionals committed to providing a holistic student development experience. The center offers resources and opportunities that foster academic, personal, social, and professional growth in an inclusive environment. The Heckman Center on the second floor of Wahlstrom Library is a distinctive educational approach that combines academic and co-curricular programs. The purpose of this unique concept is for students to connect education to careers while they pursue undergraduate and graduate degrees. The Heckman Center’s open floor design and welcoming environment, make it a one-stop destination for these support services that enhance student success. The way we enhance student success is through our four earning outcomes. They are…
- students will be able to identify resources to empower them to take ownership of their education
- students will be able to recognize there is an inclusive space dedicated to student success
- students will be able to demonstrate academic, social, personal, and professional growth
- students will be able to persist in their education from enrollment through graduation
We want to take this moment to thank the Heckman family for their contribution to the Heckman Center.
The Heckman Learning Commons, housed on the second floor of Wahlstrom Library, is a distinctive educational approach that combines academic and co-curricular programs. The purpose of this unique concept is for students to connect education to careers while they pursue undergraduate degrees. The Heckman Learning Commons’s open floor design and welcoming environment make it a one-stop destination for these support services that enhance student success.
Heckman Learning Commons learning outcomes
- Students will be able to identify resources to empower them to take ownership of their education
- Students will be able to recognize there is an inclusive space dedicated to student success
- Students will be able to demonstrate academic, social, personal and professional growth
- Students will be able to persist in their education from enrollment through graduation
As soon as students commit to UB, they are encouraged to take advantage of the many services offered by The Heckman Learning Commons, including:
From day one, all first-year students are paired with an academic advisor to help them build their first semester around a learning community with three classes and a group of 20 students. Upper-class students serve as peer mentors, and classes are taught by excellent faculty, including the president and provost.
The Academic Advising Center reaches out to students to ensure a smooth transition to college and sets them on a path to graduate on time. Students benefit from strong faculty-student collaboration in which they receive guidance on majors, minors, and general core courses. Students can take advantage of the Tutoring and Learning Center, open six days a week, for writing, math, science, and more.
Career Development helps students find internships and navigate the job search process. Students are advised about careers that align with their interests and talents, receive information about careers of the future, and learn the short- and long-term salary expectations in their chosen field. Other benefits of working with Career Development include resume preparation, interview practice, and workshops; alumni networking (job shadowing); career showcasing; and major fairs.
Internships are vital in preparing students with real-world experience for early career success. UB students often excel in their internships and may be hired by the organizations where they intern. Many UB alumni offer internships, job shadowing opportunities, and jobs to our talented students.
Students may apply to join the Honors Program as early as their first semester or after their first semester (based on GPA), where they will have a dedicated lounge space, interdisciplinary course offerings, early course registration, and extracurricular activities.
Volunteerism is an important part of a college experience, and UB students take part in a service day and a service fair during Welcome Week. Students may volunteer locally, during alternative spring breaks, or through faculty-led trips that focus on volunteerism.
University of Bridgeport is the first university on the East Coast to offer an Equality Lounge, a student-run popup where women connect, collaborate, and activate change — preparing women with confidence to advance in the workforce through programming, mentoring, and community.
Student leadership opportunities abound at UB with 25+ clubs and organizations, internships, classroom experiences, and more. The Heckman Learning Commons helps students become the lead in their own unique stories.