Academic Success Center

Meet the Advising Staff!

Come See Us! Your Success is Our Success!

The Academic Success Center provides one-on-one meetings for students to help you improve your study skills, set short-and-long-term goals, and reflect on academic and vocational plans. Get help with 5-day study plans, motivation, time management, note-taking, studying and reading strategies, goal setting, test anxiety, procrastination, and concentration. 

You can schedule meetings at any point during the academic year, but an optimal time to seek support is at the start of a semester. You can review syllabi, plan ahead, set goals, and devise course-specific strategies. Our staff will help you prepare for finals and reflect on and revise academic skills for future coursework. Our academic focus areas are listed next to our names. To schedule an academic success appointment with an academic success advisor, please use the link underneath their name.

Laura Atkins, Assistant
Provost, Student Success

Dr. Carlo DeMarchi, Assistant Dean

Academic Success

Book Appointment

Leanne, Castillo, M.Ed., Academic Success Advisor

Boler College of Business

Book Appointment

Mick Doyle, Graduate Assistant,
Boler College of Business

Book Appointment

Lynn Lucas,
Administrative Assistant

Ed Mish, Academic Success Advisor,
Deciding Students, Education,
Humanities, Social Sciences

Book Appointment

Lisa Ramsey, M. Ed., Academic
Success Advisor, Deciding Students,
Communication, Humanities,
Social Sciences

Book Appointment

Jasmyn Spillane, M.Ed., Academic Success Advisor, 
Boler College of Business

Book Appointment

PHOTO COMING SOON!

Emily Taylor, M.Ed., Academic Success Advisor, 
STEM

Book Appointment

For more information about peer success advising click here!

Looking for a bit of academic help or coaching from the student perspective? Wondering how to improve your study skills, time management, goal setting, or note-taking this semester?

Our Peer Success Advisors (PSA's) can help you with your academic concerns and many others! Drop in the Mastrantoni Family Student Success Commons in the Grasselli Library to meet with a Peer Success Advisor when the time is right for you. Make an appointment with them at this link or just walk in during the hours below:

Meet the Peer Success Advisors:

Colin Adams - Colin is a first year student from Tallmadge, Ohio who is majoring in Biology on the pre-med path. On campus, he is a peer success advisor and in his free time he likes to run, listen to music and bike trails

Jillian Carpenter - Jillian is a sophomore from State College, Pennsylvania double majoring in Accounting/Finance and minoring in Leadership Development. In her free time, she loves drawing, playing music, and animating! On campus, she is an Executive Women in Business, Accounting Association, and Pep Band member.

Anthony Kucera  - Anthony Kucera is a junior from North Royalton, Ohio double majoring in Economics and Finance with a minor in Data Science.  On campus he is the Treasurer of the Economics Association and the Mentorship Chair for the Honors Student Association. In his spare time he likes to train for and run marathons! 

Sage Spiva - Sage Spiva is a first year student from Cleveland, Ohio. She's a Clinical Psychology major, so you can always come to her with your problems! On campus, she is a National Science Foundation (NSF) scholar and an awesome library assistant! In her free time, she's most likely at the gym or reading her book. 

Spring 2025 Semester Dates

Full Term (15 weeks) - January 13 - May 14

First 7 Weeks (7 weeks) - January 13 - February 28

Second 7 Weeks (7 weeks) - March 10 - May 5

Spring 2025 Deadlines

Mon - Fri, Jan 13 - 17 - Full Semester Course add/drop 

Fri, Feb 21 - First 7 Weeks Course Withdrawal deadline

Wed, March 12 - Midterm grades due by 3pm 

Mon, March 24 - Summer & Fall 2025 Registration begins 

Tues, April 8 - Full Semester Course Withdrawal deadline 

Fri, April 25 - Second 7 Weeks Course Withdrawal deadline

Spring 2025 Breaks/Holidays

Mon, January 13 - Classes Begin 

Mon, January 20 - University offices closed - Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Mon - Fri, March 3 - 7 - Spring Break

Wed, April 9 - DISCOVER - No classes

Thu - Tues, April 17 - 22 - Easter Break

Mon, May 5 - Last Day of Classes

Tues, May 6 - Reading Day

Wed - Wed, May 7 - 14 - Final Exams

Fri, May 9 - Grouped & Laboratory Final Exams/Reading Day

Sat - Sun, May 17 - 18 - Commencement

Mon, May 19 - Final Grades due by 12 noon

Download full calendar of dates and deadlines here: can be found at the Office of Registrar page.

Boler College of Business Undergraduate Advising

Advising resources specifically for students pursuing a degree in the Boler College of Business are available. Click here for more Boler Advising resources.

New Student Orientation Advisor

Your orientation advisor will answer your questions about the University core curriculum as well as about your intended major, if you have one.  This advisor will also help you select and register for your fall classes to make sure you are off to a good start!

Academic Success Advisors

While these staff advisors are the advisors of record for some students, they are available to assist any student with things such as academic coaching, course selection including add/drop, major selection, or any other question or issue that students may have.

Primary Advisor

From the time you begin your studies at JCU you will be assigned a faculty or staff advisor who has knowledge of the academic curriculum and policies in order to guide you successfully along your academic journey.  Once you have demonstrated success in your major you will be assigned a faculty advisor in that department.

Pre-Professional Advisors

• Pre-Health Advisor

The assistant dean of health programs and JCU’s physician-in-residence are available to mentor and assist students interested in pursuing a career in the healthcare sector and to prepare them for the admission exams for professional schools. Further, JCU offers a course, Survey of the Health Professions, designed to familiarize students with the wide array of professions within healthcare, the educational requirements for entering these professions, and the ability to meet admissions officers from the professional schools along with those who are students or professional practitioners in the various fields.

• Pre-Law Advisor

A JCU pre-law Advisor assists students interested in a law career on class scheduling, LSAT preparation, and general law school queries for both traditional law school programs and for the 3+3 Dual Admission in Law Program. The 3+3 Dual Admission in Law Program is a partnership between John Carroll University and Case Western Reserve University School of Law that offers students a means of obtaining both a bachelor’s and Juris Doctor degree in six years.

Change of Academic Advisor

Click here to fill out a Student Request for Advisor Change form.

Workshops to Go!!

We will come to you!!!

If you are interested in having our Peer Success Advisors present an academic success workshop to your student organization, residence hall floor or friend group, please contact academicsuccess@jcu.edu or complete the JCU Success Workshops to Go form to let us know the topic you are interested in and the date and time that works best for your group!

Services offered by the university include, but are not limited to:

Campus Ministry

• Location: Lombardo Student Center, FI 1
• Phone: 216-397-4717
• Email: cministry@jcu.edu
• Website: https://jcu.edu/student-life/campus-ministry

Center for Career Services

• Location: Grasselli Library & Breen Learning Center, Mastrantoni Family Student Success Commons
• Phone: 216.397.4237 
• Email: careerservices@jcu.edu
• Website: http://sites.jcu.edu/careercenter/

Center for Student Diversity and Inclusion

• Location:  Suite 202, D.J. Lombardo Student Center, above the University Bookstore
• Phone: 216.397.4185
• Email: csdi@jcu.edu
• Website: http://sites.jcu.edu/inclusion/

Dean of Students

• Location: Lombardo Student Center, 207
• Phone: 216-397-3010
• Email: deanofstudents@jcu.edu
• Website: https://jcu.edu/about-us/administrative-offices/dean-of-students
• File a report:  https://cm.maxient.com/reporting.php?JohnCarrollUniv

Information Technology Services

• Location: Saint Ignatius Hall, SIH 37
• Phone: 216-397-3005
• Email: helpdesk@jcu.edu
• Website: https://jcu.edu/its

Learning Commons

• Location: Grasselli Library & Breen Learning Center, 2nd floor near the computer commons
• Phone: 216-397- 4233
• Email: askthelib.jcu.edu
• Website: https://researchguides.jcu.edu/learningcommons/calendar

Residence Life

• Location: Lombardo Student Center, Ground Level
• Phone: 216-397-4408
• Email: residencelife@jcu.edu
• Website: https://jcu.edu/student-life/welcome-campus-living/about-office-residence-life

Student Accessibility Services

• Location: Dolan Science Center-109 East (down the hall from the Physics Department)
• Phone: 216.397.4967
• Email:sas@jcu.edu
• Website: http://sites.jcu.edu/accessibility/

Student Health Center

• Location: Murphy Hall, Lower Level
• Phone: 216-397-4349
• Email: studenthealthcenter@jcu.edu
• Website: https://jcu.edu/student-life/health-wellness-and-safety/health-center-services

The Writing Center

• Location: O’Malley Center 207
• Phone: 216-397-4592
• Email: writingcenter@jcu.edu
• Website: www.jcu.edu/writingcenter

University Counseling Center

• Location: Murphy Hall, Lower Level
• Phone: 216.397.4283
• Email: counselingcenter@jcu.edu 
• Website: http://sites.jcu.edu/counselingcenter/

The Dr. William F. O’Hearn Award for Faculty Advising recognizes a full-time John Carroll University faculty member who demonstrates exceptional commitment to, and skill in, the academic advising of undergraduates.

This commitment manifests itself in the time and care the faculty member takes to assist students with short and long term curricular planning, discuss their personal and professional goals, and offer thoughtful counsel and guidance.

Dr. William F. O’Hearn served on the faculty of the JCU Department of Physics for four decades, retiring in 1996. As associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, he created the Office of Academic Advising. This award honors the memory of Dr. O’Hearn and celebrates his dedication to supporting and mentoring students at all stages of their John Carroll University education.

Nominations

Current JCU undergraduates nominated full-time JCU faculty members who participated in either the pre-major or the major advising program (or both).

In addition to nominations for the O’Hearn Award recipients, students provided inspiring testimonials in support of other faculty and staff advisors.

Congratulations to the O’Hearn Award recipients for their contribution to Excellent Advising at JCU:

Click here to see winners from previous years!

Meet Your Major Event!

Monday, September 30

3:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m., Dolan Science Center

Calling all first-year students, deciding students, and those interested in changing majors!!

Are you 100% certain about your choice of major? Do you have questions about a particular field of study?

Attend this event to get more information to inform your choice.  Event schedule is below:

• 3:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. - Dolan Center for Science & Technology - Visit tables in the Atrium, Atrium Balcony, and Reading room to learn about each major.
• 3:10 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. and 3:40 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. - Two presentation sessions for an in-depth look at any major of interest. Presentation schedules and locations are posted on this schedule: 2024 Meet Your Major Table and Room Session Schedule