New COD Campus Central provides assistance for student enrollment

Students and community members are discovering that the new Campus Central has the answers they need to navigate through College of DuPage.

The centerpiece of the new Student Services Center, which serves as the College's “front door,” Campus Central is a starting point for new students who are applying, registering, seeking financial assistance or looking for a variety of other. The large circular desk is manned by three to six trained staff members and is located near most of the student service offices, including Admissions and Outreach, Student Registration Services, Financial Assistance, Counseling and Advising, the Testing Center, Career Services, the Cashier's office, the Learning Commons, Veterans Services and Student Life.

Since opening in September 2011, Campus Central has quickly gained in popularity, said manager Patty Jones-Ward.

“Campus Central is the service hub for the entire College, where staff are trained in all areas related to student services,” she said. “Visitors, prospective students, new and returning students can get assistance from the knowledgeable Campus Central team.”

Campus Central staff are trained in such areas as applying online, using myACCESS, filling out the FAFSA, signing up for payment plans and ordering transcript evaluations. They can also provide next step information on a wide subject range and direct people to appropriate offices across campus.

Jane Smith, director of Enrollment Services and Registrar, said Campus Central is the foundation for an overall plan to improve the student experience as they complete tasks at the College.

“The construction of the Student Services Center allowed us to arrange key offices in a more cohesive manner and design a new way of helping our students and the community,” she said. “Based upon the feedback we have received, we are clearly headed in the right direction.”

Upcoming additions to the student experience including the implementation of an automatic queuing system that can also track referrals, a call center to make and receive calls during peak enrollment periods, and an online chat application. When combined with Campus Central, these additions will provide a complete array of methods to help students, visitors and the community.

“We want people to access what they need easily and in a timely fashion, and the experience should be a positive one,” Smith said. “At Campus Central, our team is always ready to assist with that process.”

To reach Campus Central, email campuscentral@cod.edu.