The Academic Success Center and the Writing Center are invaluable resources that support all Oregon State students, including many Honors College students who rely on both centers' services as they navigate accelerated coursework, research expectations and the demands of the honors thesis process — from early proposal drafting to final writing and presentation. The ASC helps students develop as learners now and as they prepare for life after OSU. School can be stressful, with students juggling challenging coursework, jobs, extracurricular activities, career building and personal responsibilities. For Honors College students in particular, balancing major requirements with HC milestones can add an additional layer of complexity. The ASC helps alleviate some of these challenges by providing resources that empower students to reach their goals.
Clare Creighton, senior director of the ASC, emphasizes that academic support resources benefit all students, regardless of where they are in their academic careers. “ASC programs are designed to meet students where they are. Our peer educators are trained to help students see what they already know and can do and to build on that with the development of additional strategies and skills. We want to get to know students individually and help them identify their next steps,” says Clare. “That design means that we can work with students ranging from first year and transfer students to juniors navigating more challenging upper-division courses to seniors working on planning or writing aspects of their thesis. We work with students from the moment they enter OSU all the way through graduation.” The ASC and Writing Center offer multiple support tools and services to OSU students through writing consultations, drop-in and scheduled academic support, Supplemental Instruction study tables and online resources.
Writing Center
The Writing Center is an especially valuable resource for Honors students who often engage in sustained writing, thesis proposal preparation, personal statements for internships and scholarships, and long‑form thesis drafts that benefit from feedback at multiple stages. The Writing Center supports all OSU students with any kind of writing at any point in their process, whether they’re drafting a class essay, preparing internship materials, refining a lab report or working on HC thesis components.
The Writing Center offers consultations to help students with writing and research support for both academic and nonacademic projects. The Writing Studio is located in the library and hosts drop‑in consultations with no appointment needed. Students can also submit drafts online for written feedback or schedule a Zoom appointment. Many HC students also use the Writing Studio for feedback on thesis drafts, IRB materials, literature reviews and proposal revisions.
ASC Strategists, Academic Coaching and Learning Tools
The ASC also offers drop‑in consultations with Academic Strategists who provide information and help with accessing campus resources and creating personalized plans. Students can get individual support through Academic coaching where they can explore more effective study strategies, catch up on coursework or plan for large‑scale academic projects like the honors thesis, capstone courses or multi‑term research work. The center hosts workshops and an online Learning Corner with tools, worksheets and guides to help students find approaches that work for them.
ASC Program Spotlight: Supplemental Instruction
Supplemental Instruction is another ASC program widely used by honors students, particularly those in rigorous STEM sequences such as chemistry, biology and physics.
The SI program provides group study tables facilitated by trained student leaders for a variety of challenging courses at Oregon State. Each table has around 10 students who participate in activities designed and facilitated by table leaders to help students gain a better understanding of the course material.
For the highly trained student peer educators who offer most of the ASC’s services, the programs are impactful.
Shravya Vellanki, a fourth-year honors biohealth sciences student with minors in chemistry and medical humanities, has been an SI leader for the 22X general chemistry sequence for the past three years.
"I decided to become an SI leader because of the impact SI sessions had on me as a student,” says Shravya. “Attending those sessions not only helped me tackle challenging material but also gave me a sense of belonging and community. I met new people, built friendships and gained confidence in courses that once felt intimidating. That experience stayed with me, and I wanted to pay it forward by creating the same supportive environment for other students.”
Shravya says that SI tables “give students a collaborative space to tackle challenging courses” and support students “by using proven active learning strategies that improve understanding and retention.”
“I’ve worked with so many students,” she says. “Seeing them succeed and running into them on campus makes me proud of the connections we’ve built. This role is more than just helping with coursework; it’s about creating a space where students can feel supported and capable.”
Keegan Oakes, a fourth-year honors student majoring in biohealth sciences, is in her third year of being an SI table leader for the CH1X general chemistry sequence. She also works as an Honors College ambassador. Similar to Shravya, Keegan participated in SI tables prior to being an SI leader. She participated in SI tables for the CH1X sequence, biology 221 and organic chemistry 331 and 332. Keegan continues to participate in SI tables for physics and other subjects when they fit in with her schedule.
“CH121 was the first SI table that I participated in,” says Keegan. “The support network of SI helped set me on the path to succeed in chemistry by building confidence and understanding. It was the first traditionally difficult class I took at OSU, so SI set me on a good path to feel confident about my ability to tackle hard classes.”
Keegan says that “seeing former table participants around campus or having them sign up for subsequent SI tables with her" makes her proud of the work she has done. “Being able to create a supportive space and build up people's confidence in difficult subjects was something that really appealed to me. Knowing that I can help support people through those challenging courses and help set that solid foundation of confidence for students is rewarding.”
Shravya is also involved in research at OSU and is working on an honors thesis focusing on finding ways to speed up chronic and diabetic wound healing. After graduating with her H.B.S., she hopes to attend medical school and become a physician.
Keegan is interested in chronic disease epidemiology. Her honors thesis is centered around exploring snoring as an effector in the development of Alzheimer's disease. Keegan is currently applying to epidemiology master's programs. Shravya and Keegan both note that the SI program has provided them with transferable skills and professional development support that will benefit them in their future careers.
“Many students who use ASC services find the resources beneficial,” says Clare. “The ASC gets a lot of positive feedback from students,” with participant feedback collected over the past two years showing that over 95% of students who use SI tables would recommend it as a resource to their friends. "There is a similar reception from students who have academic coaching appointments and Writing Center consultations.”
Dana Giacomino, a second-year honors student studying biohealth sciences, has used SI tables for the entire general chemistry sequence and several math classes. She is currently using SI tables for organic chemistry.
"I like how all ASC resources involve students helping students. Sometimes learning about a subject from another student who has been through the class can give you a different
perspective than that of the professor, helping me think deeper about the subjects and truly understand them,” Dana says. “The tables are a great resource. Whether you have an A in the class or are struggling, SI tables are a great way to have designated study time and learn different ways to approach subjects.”
Dana has also previously used consultations at the Writing Center to get help with proofreading writing class assignments. Dana says that “as a very science and math-heavy student, writing can be a little more difficult for me. Going to the writing center helps me walk through my papers and get other opinions on what I can do to improve.”
Students in need of academic assistance or support are encouraged to take advantage of ASC resources. If an HC student is struggling with a subject and needs additional support outside of ASC services, HC advisors also serve as a resource and can assist with finding an HC tutor or other opportunities.
“It’s common for folks to feel vulnerable when they’re struggling,” says Clare. “But everyone struggles with something, so asking for help is a good practice. It’s important to flex that muscle.”
More information about the academic support resources offered at OSU and how to access the services can be found on the ASC's website.