黑料吃瓜

Preparing the next generation of servant-leaders is at the heart of 黑料吃瓜. It even says so in its mission statement.

It is that process of 鈥減reparing,鈥� from when students arrive on campus to when they graduate, that has become a hallmark of the Carson-Newman experience.

Perhaps nowhere else on campus is this more evident than the University鈥檚 Student Success Center. Students can receive tutoring, job interview training, and a host of other tools of support as they explore God鈥檚 calling on their lives and future.

A new initiative by the center starting this fall will place an even greater emphasis of helping students start out on the right foot, preparing them for their college career and beyond.

A two-prong assessment, which the center has already implemented with some student-athletes and academic recovery students, helps students understand themselves and, in return, position themselves to be successful. This fall they are ready to involve incoming freshmen.

鈥淲e are really focusing on our first-year program on helping students to discern their calling,鈥� said Dr. Jeana Partin, dean of Student Success. 鈥淲e have chosen as Carson-Newman specifically to emphasize this idea of character formation related to student success.鈥�

The dual assessments are composed of CliftonStrengths and Value in Action Character Assessment, or VIA,鈥� both focus on distinctive elements, providing different insight into each student鈥檚 character.

Tina Murrow, an academic advisor within 黑料吃瓜鈥檚 Student Success Center, explains the difference of the two. 鈥淐liftonStrengths are 鈥榯alents in the head,鈥欌�� explained Murrow, who recently received certification within CliftonStrengths. Those include such themes as: achiever, analytical, consistency, developer, discipline, learner and strategic.

The VIA assessment are talents that come naturally in their heart. These include: creativity, bravery, kindness, leadership, humility, forgiveness and humor. Linking the two assessments give a picture of both 鈥渉ead鈥� and 鈥渉eart.鈥�

鈥淚t鈥檚 strength-based coaching,鈥� said Murrow. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a positive psychology concept that you lean into your strengths, which are your natural talents. It鈥檚 helping them take those talents and flourish.鈥�

The University is not the first or only school that implements such a strategy in preparing students, but with Carson-Newman鈥檚 Christ-centered approach to education, there may not be a better example of how the model dovetails with a university鈥檚 mission.

鈥淭his is something that is happening in many universities now, where they are focusing on CliftonStrengths and VIA,鈥� said Partin. 鈥淏ut we鈥檙e looking at it through the lens of our Christian identity 鈥� being created in the image of God.鈥�

After students take the assessments, a clearer picture comes into focus. Student Success then knows a student鈥檚 strengths, and they鈥檙e able to offer even more personalized guidance 鈥� specifically tailored to the individual and their natural abilities.

鈥淲hen they come to see us, we鈥檙e not starting from a blank slate,鈥� noted Partin. 鈥淲e can see something that鈥檚 personal and individualized of how God created them.鈥�

But even as the Student Success staff prepare to welcome new students in the fall, big picture planning continues. There鈥檚 a broader vision of incrementally expanding the model to faculty advisors.

鈥淪tudent Success is creating a framework that can be taken out across the University for faculty to be able to use it when they鈥檙e coaching students,鈥� said Partin. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 the goal.鈥�

It all boils down to a more proactive approach in helping each student on their life journey.

鈥淭he ultimate goal is for students to flourish,鈥� said Murrow, 鈥渢o walk away knowing what their strengths are and leaning into those in all aspects.鈥�

Partin agrees.

鈥淲e want to help students achieve their full potential through their discovery of their God-given identity, mastery of their gifts, and fulfillment of their vocation. We鈥檙e helping them discover those God-given gifts.鈥�