VALDOSTA — Valdosta State University’s Academic Support Center is now open for tutoring services and extra study spaces. 

After months of construction, the Academic Support Center has transformed the second floor of the Odum Library from rows of bookshelves to modern and collaborative seating and digital-friendly study and tutoring rooms.

Dr. Rodney Carr, vice president of student success, said the new center was designed with students in mind — and with their direct input.

“(Our students) truly told us what they wanted in a space,” Carr said. “What they kept telling us what they wanted was collaborative space. They wanted extra study space. By having the Academic Support Center here, there are no more barriers of walking to that building.”

The Academic Support Center used to be housed in Langdale Hall. Chere Peguesse, director of the center, said it was time to remove the stigma of coming to a tutoring-designated area inside a dormitory.

“Let’s make it normal,” Peguesse said. “It should be totally normal to ask for help and get help.”

The center is one way to help VSU retention rates, Peguesse said, and is part of a several-year plan to increase students succeeding and graduating from the university.

VSU retention rates are at 69 percent, which are much lower than its peer institutions Georgia Southern University and Kennesaw State University.

“There are a whole lot of processes directed toward increasing our retention,” Peguesse said. “A lot of universities in the system who are having successful retention are doing things like this.”

The project was estimated to cost about $1.5 million, but it came in around $1.2 million — $900,000 for construction and $300,000 for furnishings.

The Academic Support Center will provide peer and community tutoring, instruction and workshops. The center’s hours are 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday and 3-7 p.m. Sunday. 

Katelyn Umholtz is a reporter with the Valdosta Daily Times. She can be contacted at (229)244-3400 ext. 1256.