William “Bill” McGuire, director of the Academic Success Center, is new to his position, which he began in March.
McGuire said his purpose in working for the Academic Success Center is to make a difference to the students.
“What’s really important is helping students discover who they are and where they are going,” McGuire said.
“Teaching them how to make the decisions that will get them to their goals is what matters to me.”
McGuire has been advising for more than 25 years. He taught biochemistry, genetics, introductory chemistry and problem solving classes for 20 years before that.
He has lived in many different places as well. “I lived in Wisconsin, which is where I am originally from, then I moved to Ohio, California, Kansas, Illinois, Nevada and now Indiana,” McGuire said.
“When I came for my interview at IU Southeast, I thought this would be a place I would really like to work and live,” McGuire said.
“I got the call offering me the position. It was a 2,100 mile move, but I had already made the decision,” McGuire said. “You know you have made the right decision when everything falls into place, and that is what happened.”
“The people are wonderful. I haven’t met anyone at IUS that I have not liked,” McGuire said. “I actually have not met anyone in Indiana that I have not liked.”
“Over the years, I have worked with several hundred advisers; the advisers here are definitely the best,” McGuire said.
The staff in the Academic Success Center said he is enjoyable to work with.
Matt Springer, coordinator of the Office of Disability Services, whom is also new to his position, said, “Bill is a fantastic supervisor. We can come to him with any questions we have and he will offer good, constructive feedback. It is enjoyable working with Bill because he has a good sense of humor yet is committed to student success.”
“I feel strongly that who you are is more important than what you do,” McGuire said. “In the Academic Success Center, things happen because of the people we are, not what we do.”
“I chose advising, because it’s what I do,” McGuire said. “Helping students find classes and informing them is the least important. Helping people find out things about themselves they did not know, such as having more potential than they thought is the important part.”
McGuire said helping students be more successful is what he’s all about.
“When I was in Kansas, I was advising a student that had been academically dismissed a few times,” McGuire said.
“She had many problems; substance abuse, family abuse. She then started to fix things in her life. She went to rehab, moved out of her parents’ house. She and I worked together and made up a class schedule for her. Well, a week before the semester began, she came to me and said she had to quit because she could not pay the tuition; her financial aid had ran out and she was not eligible for any more loans. I looked at her and said, ‘I will pay your tuition and you do not have to repay me, if you finish the semester with a GPA of 3.5 or higher.’ She finished the semester with a 4.0.”
“Sometimes you can make a difference,” McGuire said.
“He’s very easy to work with,” Debbie Vietzke, front counter office assistant of the Academic Success Center said. “He cares about the people who are working for him.”
Outside of the Academic Success Center, McGuire does stay busy. “I have a new house that I absolutely love,” McGuire said. “I enjoy ‘around the house’ work. I like model railroading and I am very active in my church. I do the audio and visual there. I am also a lay preacher (not ordained). The spiritual aspect in my life is a very important part of who I am.”
McGuire is a first generation student. “No one in my family went to college. I was the first one from my family to go,” McGuire said. “Our family never talked about academics. We talked about the skilled trades. My father was an electrician. Growing up, what I learned is very different than what most people in the academic profession(s) have in their background.”
“There are two cultures to me,” McGuire said. “One is the academic side, and two is far more real world and practical.”
McGuire said he believes he relates to students and other staff in the ways that are not typical. “I am not typical,” McGuire said.
Kim Well, record specialist of the Academic Success Center, said, “Bill is very supportive of his staff and is attentive to our concerns. He is really great about getting us the resources we need.”
McGuire said results depend on the choices you make.
“My message to students is we are all given opportunities to move toward the person we want to be,” McGuire said. “Whether we take advantage of those opportunities, is up to us.”
By KRISTINA BLEUEL
Staff Writer
kcbleuel@ius.edu
