For one program at Creighton, diversity doesn’t always refer to students’ racial or ethnic background.
Student Support Services is a federally-funded program through the Department of Education and through a program called TRIO. This program offers assistance to students who make up Creighton’s economically diverse population.
Director of Student Support Services, Tami Buffalohead-McGill, said that Creighton serves about 170 students who are either first generation students, economically disadvantaged, or physically or mentally disabled.
Students who are a part of this program are less likely to have English as their first language. They were more likely to have grown up and gone to high school in a mostly non-white environment than their peers, according to Buffalohead-McGill. The students are also the ones who were more likely to have had a job in high school, where they worked 11 hours or more per week because of their concerns about financing their education.
“We work to provide higher education to people who have barriers,” Buffalohead-McGill said. “It’s important that we give students this opportunity who might not otherwise have the means to pursue a higher education.”
Buffalohead-McGill said that Student Support Services helps students to negotiate and navigate the process to their parents. For students who come from immigrant families or students with a residential status, knowing how to go about finding financial aid, writing resumes and keeping up with classes can be a big challenge.
Buffalohead-McGill said study habits and skills of students eligible to participate in this program can also be inadequate for the challenging college curriculum. Most of their high school curriculum didn’t require the self-directed study skills that are necessary for higher education.
“We provide peer tutoring to bring students up to the same level because there are many students who have a pre-college class disadvantage because they haven’t had rigorous college prep,” Buffalohead-McGill said. “We give them the resources they need because otherwise their talents would be wasted.”
Buffalohead-McGill also said that the students who are a part of the program are some of the hardest-working people she knows.
“Most of our students make the Dean’s List and go on to become graduate students,” Buffalohead-McGill said.
Student Support Services isn’t just about getting good grades. This program provides comprehensive, holistic support through cultural events, the arts and networking activities.
Those involved in Student Support Services more than likely have minimal parental involvement regarding all of their college decision. From dealing with college officals, choosing college courses, finding financial aid, deciding on a major, to involvement in campus activities, all are challenging for students who don’t necessarily have a good support system.
“There are some students whose parents don’t necessarily have a social network because they are working three jobs and have a family to provide for,” Buffalohead-McGill said. “We try and relieve that career disconnect by having networking activities with Creighton faculty.”
Arts & Sciences junior Emina Becirovic uses Student Support Services. She said that th program has given her all the resources she’s needed to get to where she is and to succeed.
“Being a first generation student, I think I would feel like an outsider,” Becirovic said. “I really feel like I’d be lost without them.”
Becirovic said she has been a part of Student Support Services since her freshman year when said she was there every day using all their resources, studying and finding tutors.
Student Support Services assists its students by providing individualized assistance because proficiency for disadvantaged students is not enough to be successful in a standard college curriculum. Supplemental instruction, professional and peer tutoring and facilitated study groups are also made available through Student Support Services.
“Being foreign is such a barrier and a lot of people don’t understand that,” Becirovic said. “When it comes down to the students in Student Support Services getting all the bad professors because they have no incoming credits because they have to start from the ground up, it really becomes apparent.”
Buffalohead-McGill said that the students who participate in Student Support Services see the program as more of a club than anything else. She said her students are less likely to socialize outside of the classroom because they work more hours and have more family obligations. Buffalohead-McGill also said that if these students weren’t involved in Student Support Services, they would be less likely to feel like they are a part of the campus community.
“I love being a part of Student Support Services because I have met so many students who are going through the same things as I am and can really relate to them,” Arts & Sciences junior Nayely Padilla said.
Padilla said her experiences with Student Support Services started her freshman year after she heard about the program through a friend.
“Now that I’ve been in Student Support Services for awhile, I’m more open-minded about helping others,” Padilla said. “Because this program has given me so much, it has become like a family away from home instead of a way to get financial aid for school.”
According to Buffalohead-McGill, her students are less likely to explore their major options as well as career opportunities. Student Support Services offers assistance in finding an appropriate discipline of study catered to their interests and begin the process of career planning.
Arts & Sciences junior Morgan Pusek found out about Student Support Services through an alum. Pusek found help preparing her résumé, getting recommendation letters and tutoring.
“I’m a part of the mentoring program. I mentor a freshman in Student Support Services and help her with deciding on courses and what professors to take because we have similar interests,” Pusek said. “I like being able to give a lot of advice to younger students and help give them a positive experience.”
Pusek’s daughter, Ava, also comes to some of the activities. Pusek said that others involved in Student Support Services help babysit if she needs a night to study. She said that she enjoys the fact that Ava can be involved in the whole process.
“One of our goals is to build a sense of community among these students,” Buffalohead-McGill said. “Even within our own community there are differences. But our ultimate goal is to level the playing field for these students.”