"Success" is key in Resch Center name change

“Students come here to be academically successful, and our name should reflect that.”

Simply put, that’s the reason why Youngstown State University is changing the name of the Resch Center for Student Progress to the Resch Academic Success Center.

The name change will be celebrated at a ribbon-cutting ceremony 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 2, at the center in Kilcawley Center on campus.

“We would like our new name to better reflect our mission and vision,” said Becky Varian, Center director.

The Resch Center for Student Progress was formed in 1996 to provide a more financially-efficient and collaborative manner of delivering services to YSU students, including services for first-year, adult, multicultural and disabled students, as well as student tutorial, academic coaching, supplemental instruction and orientation services. 

Today, with a staff of 10 professionals and four graduate assistant interns, the Center provides more than 40,000 hours of intensive contact to nearly 4,000 students every year. Students who participate in Center programs achieve higher pass rates and grade point averages.

“While the center has continued to grow and serve YSU students, we have often faced the misperception that we serve only ‘remedial’ students,” Varian said.

In fact, the mission of the Center is to provide resources and support to promote the academic success of all YSU students, thus the name change, she said.

The center is named in honor of Marion G. Resch, who, with her husband, Paul, were generous philanthropists. Mrs. Resch, who died in 2004, created the Marion G. Resch Foundation in 2000 to enable area youth to reach their potential and grow into influential community leaders.