The services offered by the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point University College may no longer be based in Albertson Hall – but the college does have a new “front door.”

With many of the student services now located in the Collins Classroom Center’s first and second floors, University College is providing students with new access points to connect with the resources they need, said Gretel Stock, dean of the college, which includes advising, disability resources, tutoring and library services.

“University College still functions as a unit that connects students to resources, offers support, engagement and collaboration,” said Stock. “Regardless of being in one building or in different parts of campus – that is our mission.”

The move out of Albertson Hall took 18 months of planning.

“I’d call it a Herculean task that required many hands working in concert,” said Stock. Several staff members were in charge of moving offices, others moved shelving, and a company, Iron Mountain, was contracted to move the library collection of books and other materials. Facility Services also helped to get materials to the temporary campus and Plover locations.

“The team did all of that planning as well as helped plan the new building while keeping our day jobs,” Stock said, and that included library and facilities staff from all three campuses.

The process also included reducing the collection by 61,000 older materials over a year, said Associate Professor Mindy King, library director. These items were delivered to Thrift Books and Better World Books to be sold on consignment, with funds to help stock new library materials.

When the moving process was nearly done in August, exhausted library staff asked for assistance and student athletes came to the rescue, King said.

“Thirty tennis and golf team players did a week of work in one hour,” she said. “They knew how to work as a team and they worked hard. It gave us such moral support and was just a tremendous lift for us.”

The new library is scheduled to open in the fall of 2025, so these temporary locations will be in use for several years. Stock hopes students feel comfortable coming into the CCC and other spaces to find what they need.

“Stop into one of our offices and we will help you,” she said. “If you have a challenge, let us know. We will find you a solution.”

New locations – same services

University Library

The University Library hub is located in CCC 130, with the space similar to walking up to the library’s main circulation desk, said Associate Professor Mindy King, library director. “We are still here – all the people, the services and the resources are all available,” she said.

This area includes an information desk, periodicals, photo copier/printer, books for casual reading, board game rentals and tables. “It resembles a library lobby, just smaller,” King said.

This is the place to request library materials that are currently stored in Plover, as a shuttle courier runs daily to deliver items. Library users may also go to the library’s website to browse for materials virtually. The Plover facility, in the former Younkers building, has seven library staff members who are managing the collection. It is not open to the public.

For special topics or research needs, go to CCC room 104 to speak with a reference librarian. Appointments can be made in person or via the website, and librarians will meet in person, through online chat or by Zoom to help find the needed materials.

Archives and Area Research Center

The Archives and Area Research Center, formerly on the fifth floor of Albertson Hall, is now located in the Trainer Natural Resource (TNR) Building 110 and continues to take appointments for research. More than half of the archives collection is stored at the TNR, offering quick access to commonly accessed files, Portage County Historical Society records, naturalization records, UW-Stevens Point memorabilia and issues of The Pointer and the Obey Papers, used by students across the system. Other items are at the Plover storage facility.

“Things are moving smoothly and we are finding what people are looking for,” said Brad Casselberry, director of the archives. They are also taking advantage of the shuttle courier system to get materials from the Plover site daily, as requested. To make an appointment, call 715-346-2586 or email archive@uwsp.edu.

“I’m excited to have more storage and space in our reading room in the new building,” he said. “We will also have a larger, dedicated classroom to use.”

Academic and Career Advising Center

The Academic and Career Advising Center is located in CCC 209 and serves all new first-year students, many new transfer students, students deciding on a major, and juniors and seniors preparing job or graduate school application materials or beginning a job search.

“We continue to offer all of our same services, virtual or in-person,” said Jacqui Guthrie, assistant director. Students should make appointments through the Navigate app or call 715-346-3226.

As they look forward to the new building, ACAC staff are helping design “an integrated, welcoming space where students are able see the help they need for their academic journey,” Guthrie said. “It will be worth the wait.”

Disability Resource Center

The Disability Resource Center, located in CCC 108, is more visible in the academic building than in its sixth floor Albertson Hall location, says Director Andy Held. “Being so close to classrooms is a good thing. Students are finding us.”

Students can stop in, call 715-346-3365 or go to the website to complete an application through the DRC Connect portal, which is also listed with other tools such as Canvas on student login pages. The DRC will schedule an intake meeting to discuss needed accommodations. Students already using DRC services can use the Navigate app to schedule any needed visits with their coordinator.

Tutoring-Learning Center

The Tutoring-Learning Center (TLC) was back to full service on Monday, Sept. 20. Located in CCC 234, the TLC offers individual and drop-in tutoring, a Writing Center, Reading in the Disciplines discussion courses, technical training sessions and academic coaching as well as a study hub in the DUC. Stop by or see the website to learn more.

“Being located in an academic building is giving the TLC a new opportunity to engage with faculty,” said Trisha Lamers, TLC director. “It has a different feel and a different traffic pattern.”

Lamers suggests that students be proactive about getting the study resources they need by stopping in at the new TLC location to chat, or make an appointment with an academic coach through the Navigate app. Or, contact the TLC at 715-346-3568 or tlctutor@uwsp.edu.

Center for Inclusive Teaching and Learning

The Center for Inclusive Teaching and Learning (CITL) is now located in CCC 463, offering faculty and staff at all three campuses a comprehensive professional development center. CITL provides training and support for inclusivity, teaching methods, and technology use in education. Contact CITL at citl@uwsp.edu.

Museum of Natural History

The Museum of Natural History has moved to the A-wing of the first floor of the Science Building. The goal is to reopen the gift shop, programming and some displays by the end of 2022, with more offerings in the spring of 2023, according to Sarah Scripps, director. However, the full remodeling will occur in multiple phases over the next several years. 

 While still in the planning stages, the updated space will include fan favorites such as some of dioramas and dinosaur displays as well as new offerings such as live animals and additional interactive displays. To contact the museum, call 715-346-2858.