CHATTANOOGA, TN -- Chattanooga State Community College’s reimagined Academic Success Center (ASC) will open its doors in January 2025 under the leadership of its new director, Mollee Shannon. 

Shannon has been the director of the college’s writing center since 2018. Before that, she served in various capacities including writing tutor, tenured Assistant Professor, and Seamless Alignment Integrated Learning Support (SAILS) program manager. 

In her new role, Shannon will oversee the innovative tutoring hub, which will offer an integrated approach to academic support. Both on-campus and online students will be able to access the center as a one-stop shop for tutoring, supplemental instruction, workshops, and testing. 

As director, Shannon aims to destigmatize tutoring and ensure the center is accessible to students of all academic levels. Citing a study conducted by Amarillo College in Texas, Shannon said students who regularly seek tutoring or academic mentorship are statistically more likely to pass their classes.  

The 2018 study — which looked at students in English, biology, and math classes — found that students who regularly attended tutoring were likelier to pass a class than those who did not. Further, it found that the more time a student spent in a tutoring center, the more likely he or she was to pass with high grades. 

“The Academic Success Center will be a resource for everyone,” she said. “Whether you need help with a specific topic or just want to improve your skills, tutoring can provide that extra support to help you succeed." 

A key addition to the new ASC is academic coaches, who will support students in managing their overall college experience with help on topics like time management, study strategies, and navigating college life — a particularly helpful service for first-generation college students, she said. 

“We want to make it a warm, inviting space for students to come and hang out and study. We'll have quiet study spaces and group study rooms,” she said. 

By reinforcing the connection between student support and academic success, Shannon’s influence as the Director of the ASC will impact every ChattState student, said Julius Dodds, Dean of Academic Success. 

"Mollee Shannon brings a wealth of experience and dedication to this role. Under her leadership, we anticipate improved student outcomes and a continued culture of learning and academic excellence at ChattState," Dodds said. "We are excited about the future of the Academic Success Center and its role in ensuring every student has the resources they need to excel."