President Smart and Provost Einhellig recently approved the formation of a new service unit at Missouri State University, The Center for Academic Success and Transition (CAST). The new center will be located on the First Level of the Duane G. Meyer Library building, just west of the BearCLAW. Construction of the new center will be undertaken this summer.  Plans call for CAST to have three full-time employees, as well as three graduate assistants. CAST will have no fiscal relationship with the MSU Libraries.

Quoting from a CAST planning document:

The mission of the Center for Academic Success and Transition will be student success at Missouri State University. Our goal is to ensure that students are retained, thrive and graduate from the University. This will be done by providing direct student services focusing on academic support beginning with student transition into the university and through to graduation.

Our goal is to support students directly, in their first year coursework (GEP 101) and activities, into their second year through study away and service learning, and then into peer mentoring and disciplinary engagement through to graduation. These high impact practices are shown to promote persistence and graduation. Moreover, we provide direct support to at risk students (e.g. first-generation students, low income, etc.) to assist them in meeting their academic, advising, and transitional needs. Housing the Center in Meyer Library allows us to serve students where they are already—BearCLAW, TRiO, instructional & library support, and other related services.

New locations will be found for InterLibrary Loan and the sorting shelves.