New Director Appointed for Structured Curriculum Program
Christopher Mattson, a long-time Student Affairs employee, was recently appointed the director of the Structured Curriculum Program in the Center for Academic Support.
Mattson, who graduated with a Master of Education from USC, most recently served as the coordinator of testing accommodations for disability services. He previously worked with Student Affairs as an academic support counselor and a Program Board advisor.
The Structured Curriculum Program targets incoming undergraduates whose applications have demonstrated more potential that their lower SAT scores or GPAs support, providing advisement and direction to bring their academic accomplishment in line with their ability and passion.
"These students all have something about them that made at least one person at the university say, 'They need to be here'," Mattson says. "There's really no stereotypical SAP student. I think of them as the coolest kids on campus."
Students chosen for the program sign a contract upon admission agreeing to certain directed studies as well as periodic advisement and evaluation through the first couple of years of their undergraduate education. But Mattson hopes to extend the program through graduation, supporting them not only in their transition to university life but through their whole academic career.
"I think this is a great program and a great student population," he says. "I'm looking to add anything I can to the university to make their experience even better."