Carolina Nutt, director of Compass, has worked for the program since January 2016. Courtesy of USFSP
By Dylan Hart
Compass is expanding its mission to include second-year and transfer students, as well as some support for juniors and seniors.
While Compass previously focused exclusively on first-year students, the transition will allow it to provide programming and outreach to all students, regardless of their year.
Director of Compass Carolina Nutt looked forward to Compass’ rebranding.
“Our mission for first-year students won’t necessarily change,” Nutt said. “The goal is that eventually we’ll develop programming for everyone. Every single student will have something to do on campus.”
Compass launched its second-year experience Oct. 11 with the “#usfspMORE” event at The Edge, providing free food, games and activities for second-year students. The programming board will continue to host events for sophomores, with most of the new events coming in the spring semester.
Compass has also designated two of its peer coaches, criminology major Cree Allen and undeclared major Tori Heaton, to assist transfer students.
The organization’s new focus also hopes to shift its success with first-year students onto incoming transfer students. Compass, along with the Career Center, colleges within the university and Academic Advising, have formed a transfer advisory committee, which aims to find ways to support transfer students.
Compass launched a pilot program this semester allowing transfer students to request a peer coach if they want one.
While Compass plans to focus primarily on first-year, second-year and transfer students, the organization wants to provide the same services to juniors and seniors in the future.
“We’re providing (juniors and seniors) support if they need to be put in contact with offices to help them deal with their issues, so if they need help with careers or internships or applying for graduation, we’ll take care of that,” Nutt said.
The organization also plans to hire a Student Success Coordinator, which would replace the Academic Success Coordinator position under Academic Advising, a position vacated on Sept. 28.
Compass’ Student Success Coordinator, which was previously referred to as a “retention coordinator,” will focus on keeping retention up and making sure that students graduate on time.
The search to fill the position will close Oct. 19.
“As an institution, our priority is ensuring our students are successful throughout their four years here,” said Nutt. “I think our institution is being proactive and trying to really understand what our students need by putting services and opportunities out there.”
