CLYDE LETARTE CENTER / HILLSDALE
JUNE 2019 / VOLUME 1 / ISSUE 2
Hillsdale’s Cornell committed to success Student success navigator Sara Cornell enjoys connecting with the students she helps each day at the Hillsdale LeTarte Center. Cornell recently received Jackson College’s Total Commitment to Student Success or TCS2 Award. It honors an employee for helping to make a difference in the life of a student or students. For Cornell, working with students is what she enjoys most about her job. She understands the challenges and struggles they face because she started as a Jackson College student herself.
LeTarte Center to get a new look this summer
J
ackson College’s Clyde LeTarte Center will soon get a new look and some needed repairs! This summer, construction will begin to renovate the exterior. The building that houses the center was once a car dealership, and over the years has required updates to accommodate college classes, update building systems and technology, as well as weatherproofing. Now, work will continue on the exterior to give it a more collegial look and increase its curb appeal. The front entryway will be remodeled with a tower and signage, new siding added and the entire building painted. The facility’s roof will be replaced as needed and landscaping added. “Based upon recommendations from our Hillsdale Community Advisory Group and staff, combined with general building needs, the Board of Trustees chose to further invest in our Hillsdale building,” said President Daniel J. Phelan. “It is our hope that our Center will be viewed as a more welcoming place for students seeking a quality higher education experience.”
Construction will begin in June and finish by October. Students and staff will use the center’s back door while the front area is closed for construction, but otherwise, there will be no disruption of classes or services. HISTORY IN HILLSDALE Jackson College opened its center on West Carleton Road in 1991 and previously offered classes through the adult education program at Hillsdale High School. In 2000, the Hillsdale Center was renamed to honor former college President Clyde E. LeTarte, who served as a member of Michigan’s House of Representatives for House District 65.
“I love working with students, helping them to clarify their goals and giving them support. I enjoy when they come back and say they reached their goals,” Cornell said. She meets regularly with Jackson College students and helps them find their way, assisting them when needed but still holding them accountable for their own learning, finding a delicate balance. She often goes above and beyond, staying after hours to accommodate a student’s schedule, helping with events or helping in the community. She also helps with the Hillsdale County Early Middle College (HCEMC) program. “Everything Sara does to serve Jackson College is a step to ensure our students will be successful. Sara is very passionate about her students’ success and that shows in the work she does every day,” said Nicole Huepenbecker, customer service specialist at the LeTarte Center.
In 2007, the center was renovated to upgrade facilities, including creating a science lab, laptop computer lab, remodeled student lounge, improved offices and more. Today the center serves about 500 students from Hillsdale County and the surrounding areas. The LeTarte Center offers one-stop services designed to make the enrollment process easy for students.
IT’S NEVER TOO LATE!
In the community, Cornell recently became a court-appointed special advocate, or CASA, for children in foster care. She meets with foster care children and provides recommendations to the court, in addition to their social workers. This is a way for me to give back and to be involved,” she said.
Fall semester begins Sept. 3. Speak with a student success navigator today to get started, or to complete what you may have started previously. It’s never too late! A college education is vitally important in today’s workplace. Set yourself up for success with the convenience, accessibility and caring of Jackson College’s Hillsdale LeTarte Center.
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