Office of Academic Success

professor and student talking at the new student advising fair

Department Overview

The Office of Academic Success coordinates advising for students and connects students to academic resources and other services on campus. Our goal is to provide academic advising and resources that will help students to:

  • meet graduation requirements
  • navigate the college and plan for their lives beyond Swarthmore
  • choose courses of study including majors, minors, and Honors
  • prepare for graduate study or careers
  • find appropriate fellowships.

Further, our goal is to provide each student with the advising and resources to obtain a satisfying, enriching, balanced, and transformative liberal arts education.

Academic advising is coordinated through the office in partnership with academic departments and programs. Some learning resources are also coordinated through the office by the deans, Registrar's Office, Student Disability Services, Pre-Med and Pre-Law advising, Fellowships and Prizes, the Student Academic Mentor program, and tutor assignments. Other resources are based in departments (Ninjas, Science Associates, PiRates, Wizards, etc.) and in designated centers and offices on campus (the Writing Center, Career Services).

Most students use one or more of these resources during their time at Swarthmore to enhance their experience, strengthen their performance, or prepare for graduate school or career. As a small, caring institution, we strive to open up advising and resources to all and encourage students to collaborate with trained peer tutors and with professional advisors.

Office of Academic Success Staff

Eric Jensen

Walter Kemp Professor in the Natural Sciences

Dean of Academic Success

Student Affairs

Physics & Astronomy-Astronomy

Contact

  1. Phone: (610) 328-8249
  2. Science Center 123/122
  3. Parrish Hall 108

Links

  1. Profile
  2. Website

Research interests: Extrasolar planets and planet formation, particularly in binary star systems.

Photo of Eric Jensen

Mira Baric

Administrative Coordinator I

Student Affairs

Contact

  1. Phone: (610) 328-8367
  2. Parrish Hall 108
Mira Baric

Kristen Smith

Registrar

Registrar's Office

Contact

  1. Phone: (610) 328-8299
  2. Parrish Hall 132
  • Strategic direction and oversight of the College's registration policies and procedures
  • Compliance
  • FERPA
Kristen Smith

Usha Nair Jenemann

Associate Registrar

Registrar's Office

Contact

  • Manages the office and all technical systems supporting the work of the office
  • Manages data requests
  • Administers the Honors program 
Usha Jenemann

Jenna Hunt

Assistant Registrar

Registrar's Office

Contact

  1. Phone: (610) 328-8298
  2. Parrish Hall 128
  • Transcript requests
  • Enrollment certifications
  • AP credit and transfer credit
  • Study abroad transfer credit
  • Exchange liaison with Bryn Mawr, Haverford, UPenn, and Strath Haven High School
  • Veterans Affairs Certifying Official
Jenna Hunt

Kat Matekovic

(she-her-hers-herself)

Assistant Registrar

Registrar's Office

Contact

  1. Phone: (610) 328-7832
  2. Parrish Hall 124
  • College catalog
  • Course scheduling
  • Classroom scheduling
  • Course registration
Kat Matekovic

Liz Derickson ’01

(she-her-hers-herself)

Associate Dean, Academic Success

Student Affairs

Contact

  1. Phone: (610) 328-8475
  2. Parrish Hall 109
  1. Profile
photograph of Dean Liz Derickson smiling and standing outside of Parrish Hall

Andrea Vassar

(she-her-hers-herself)

Director, Student Disability Services

Student Disability Services

Contact

  1. Phone: (610) 328-7368
  2. Parrish Hall W113

Traci Huppman

Assistant Director, Disability Services

Student Affairs

Contact

  1. Phone: (610) 690-5538
  2. Parrish Hall 123 West

Melissa Mandos

Director, Student Academic Mentor

Student Affairs

Contact

  1. Phone: (610) 328-8363
  2. Parrish Hall 115

Links

  1. Profile
Melissa Mandos

Christine Jackson

Administrative Assistant II

Student Affairs

Contact

  1. Parrish Hall 119
  2. Office Hours: Monday - Friday 9 am - 5 pm   

Links

  1. Profile
Photo of Christine Jackson

Gigi Simeone

Health Sciences Advisor

Student Affairs

Contact

  1. Phone: (610) 328-8589
  2. Parrish Hall W125

Links

  1. Profile
Gigi Simeone

Jennifer Lenway

Advising Coordinator

Student Affairs

Contact

  1. Phone: (610) 328-8356
  2. Parrish Hall 121
jen lenway