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Story by Jodi Schwan, Pigeon 605 

Maura Valburg knew South à£à£Ö±²¥Ðã State University was the right fit for her. 

"I wanted to stay in South à£à£Ö±²¥Ðã, the campus was beautiful, and everyone was super welcoming," she said. 

But like many students, she didn't know exactly what transitioning to college involved. 

A 2018 White River High School graduate, she arrived in Brookings as an à£à£Ö±²¥Ðã science major with a specialization in industry. 

It didn't take long, though, before she realized she needed extra help academically. The Wintrode Student Success and Opportunity Center stepped in from there. 

"I received an email from the center telling me about the resources such as tutoring and academic support," Valburg said. 

"I’d also heard from other students that it was a great resource — not just for tutoring but for improving study habits and time management. It sounded like a place where people truly wanted you to succeed." 

She quickly discovered that's the case. 

"What stood out to me was how approachable and encouraging everyone was. The staff really took the time to understand my goals and challenges, and that made a big difference in how confident I felt in my academics," she said. 

"They helped give me tools that helped me far beyond one specific class and became one of those places that made me feel like SDSU truly cared about its students." 

The Wintrode Student Success and Opportunity Center is a multifaceted, centralized resource for all SDSU undergraduates. Internationally recognized as one of only 17 certified learning centers through the International College Learning Center Association, it reflects SDSU's commitment to ensuring all students optimize their experience as Jackrabbits. 

"The idea is to provide a one-stop shop for students, beginning with advising as we provide advising for nearly all first-year students," said Jody Owen, senior director of the Wintrode Center. 

"We're part of their New Student Orientation when they first come to campus in June. We start our outreach to students in July and reach out regularly during the first year. Academic advisors help with course selection and degree planning — but it's more holistic than that. They're also addressing any challenges, academic or personal, that come with transitioning to college." 

With that solid first connection, students are more likely to connect with Wintrode's tutoring and supplemental instruction programs, she said. 

A tutoring program provides small-group sessions in 25 to 30 courses each semester, while supplemental instruction is offered twice a week in review sessions for 10 courses that traditionally have had high enrollment and have been difficult for students. 

"These services are open to anyone," Owen said. "And they're not just for students in danger of not passing a class. They're also a resource for students who might be striving for an A or want to ensure they've truly mastered the material." 

For tutors, the center hires students who recently mastered the material, "so they can bridge the gap in knowledge," she said. "We have stringent requirements and training for tutors and find hearing the material in a different way from another student can be helpful." 

Working closely with faculty, SDSU's "early alert" platform also ensures strong communication between students, faculty and the Wintrode Center. 

"It's a software platform that keeps us connected and gives students feedback early and often," Owen said. "Students receive everything from kudos that they're on the right track to constructive feedback if they haven't been seen in class regularly or might benefit from more help." 

A newer program is offering accountability groups for students to engage in small groups and meet weekly. Each session students set goals — it could be finishing an assignment or even paying bills — complete the task and receive a brief training from a facilitator about a success strategy. 

"Accountability groups are an emerging practice in student success. We’re committed to remaining aware of the needs of the changing student population and ensuring we're responding in a way that meets students’ needs," Owen said. 

The ongoing attention to best practices was recognized by the International College Learning Center Association with its certified learning center designation, met by demonstrating excellence in seven categories. 

"It's really designed to promote a professional standard of excellence for learning centers like ours, and it makes sure we're implementing best practices and doing the best work we can to positively impact students," Owen said. 

Valburg remembers one especially tough semester. Nothing she was doing seemed to work, and she felt "completely overwhelmed," she said. Her grades reflected how she was struggling. 

"Midsemester, I walked into the Wintrode Center and sat down with one of the staff members. She helped me turn everything around," Valburg said. 

"She showed me how to manage my time more effectively and how to study specifically for the classes I was struggling in. Whatever I needed help with, she had a solution." 

What stood out the most was "that there was no judgment — just support," she continued. 

"No one made me feel bad about my grades or past experiences. Everyone there genuinely cared about my success. That kind of support changed everything for me, and I’ve never forgotten it. Even just being in the building — it always felt calm and welcoming, like you weren’t facing things alone." 

That's the mission, Owen said. The Wintrode Center serves more than 4,500 students annually — or about half the undergraduate population, aligning with SDSU's land-grant mission to promote learning excellence and to provide educational access to all. 

In addition to programs that are broadly used, the center impacts student outcomes, including persistence.  

"We definitely see that students who use our services have a higher retention rate than students who don't," Owen said, pointing to recent data showing more than 85% of students who participated in at least one Wintrode program were still enrolled at SDSU the following semester. 

"We also see improved GPAs, and students tell us they have greater confidence related to their coursework," she said. "One thing we hear a lot is that they feel someone at SDSU really cares about them, and it gives them a place they feel comfortable coming to ask for help. I think that's probably the most important thing we provide." 

The Wintrode Center "played an important role in helping me get where I am today," Valburg added. "And I’m so thankful to have had access to that kind of support. I truly don’t think I could have graduated without the program." 

She's now part of the team helping support student success at SDSU as a program coordinator for SDSU’s Professional Program in Veterinary Medicine. The role includes overseeing admissions and recruitment as well as advising and supporting SDSU veterinary students throughout their time in the program. 

"The passion for student success that I saw and experienced at the Wintrode Center has had a lasting impact on how I approach my work," she said. 

"I constantly draw on the tools and strategies I learned there. It taught me how to truly listen, be proactive and meet students where they are. That mindset guides how I connect with students every day, and it’s been a key part of how I’m able to support their success." 

That mindset continues at the Wintrode Center today. 

"When you walk in, you don't know who has what grade," Owen said. "Everyone is doing it — and you're part of a community working together to achieve your goals." 

To learn more about the Wintrode Student Success and Opportunity Center, visit here.