What We Do 

The Advising Success Center team works individually with students helping them to find their place at Bemidji State University and make the most of their experiences. We provide coordination of the new student advising and registration portion of the Academic Advising and Registration days. We also coordinate advising, including making advisor assignments, processing advisor change requests, assisting students on academic probation, assisting students who wish to reintegrate to the university, and providing information and referrals for students to ensure academic success. In addition, we coordinate peer tutoring opportunities for students, the First Year Experience program and New and Transfer Student Orientation. 

Advising

The Advising Success Center supports primary academic advisors by providing comprehensive information to students who seek additional services and information. Student consultations are by appointment but all students are welcome to stop in or may contact us any time. 

Our Staff

Mary Ward, Director

As the Director of the Advising Success Center, thanks for checking us out! One of the things I value most about my role as the ASC director is the opportunity to meet students and get to know them better.  About me, I have been involved in education for the greater share of my life, first as a student, then as a professional working in higher education. I am a baccalaureate graduate of Bemidji State University, a master's graduate of Southwest Minnesota State University and currently working on a PhD at the University of North Dakota. I am married, have five adult children and fourteen grandchildren.  I share this with you because one of the things that has guided me as a parent and an advising professional is the principle of unconditional positive regard. I believe each one of you has unique worth and abilities.  That is to say we build from a strengths perspective of what we can do and learn to do rather than from a limitations perspective. Welcome to the Advising Success Center, I look forward to meeting you!

Zachary Johnson, Retention Counselor

As a retention counselor in the Advising Success Center I value the opportunity that I have to work with students and share in their academic achievements and witness their development as a successful college student.  I believe that each student is an individual and brings their own unique qualities to their academics.  In order to be academically successful students need to find an approach that works for them, based on their own talents.  

My own student development began at Oak Hills Christian College where I faced my own academic challenges.   With the appropriate assistance I was able to overcome my challenges and earned my Associate in Arts degree.  I then transferred to Bemidji State University where I earned my Bachelor of Science degree and am currently pursuing a Master in Science degree.   I am married and have two children, ages 4 and 2.  I have learned that advising students is much like parenting children in that just as soon as I understand my children's current stage of development, they go and develop further leaving me one step behind.  And so my philosophy as a retention counselor, as with parenting, while it is important to keep them from falling, also to support them when they do.   Thanks for visiting.  Stop by anytime. 

Our Mission

The mission of the Advising Success Center is to serve students by helping them shape their potential through the opportunity for academic and social support; by providing them advocacy to see things in new ways and to assist with academic and career planning for lifelong learning.