Sarah Piper joined the School of Computer, Data & Information (CDIS) as the inaugural director of the learning center on July 1 and is excited to enhance student learning and create a supportive and collaborative community of learners within the school. In her role she will create a welcoming space for CDIS students and coordinate learning support programs including tutoring, peer mentorship, and Wisconsin Emerging Scholars.
Before joining CDIS, she served as a Research Program Coordinator at the UW–Madison Center for Educational Research. In addition to serving as a high school mathematics teacher for nearly a decade, she has also advocated for public employees in Montana as the Director of Research & Public Policy at the Montana Federation of Public Employees.
“Sarah brings a unique blend of practical teaching experience and a strong understanding of how to build supportive learning environments. Her vision for the Learning Center perfectly aligns with our goals to foster a collaborative and inclusive community, where every student has the resources and support they need to thrive in their studies,” says Kristin Eschenfelder, Associate Director of the School of Computer, Data & Information Sciences.
The Learning Center will have a physical location in Morgridge Hall, the new School of Computer, Data & Information Sciences building, when the building opens in 2025. Students will be able to receive drop-in tutoring and support for the introductory classes within CDIS majors.
“The creation of the Learning Center was driven by our commitment to student success and the recognition that learning extends beyond the classroom. Sarah’s role as the Learning Center Director is pivotal in this mission and will help us build as space where students across the university not only excel academically, but also feel a strong sense of belonging,” says Eschenfelder.
However, the Learning Center extends beyond just the physical space, serving as a place where students can not only receive academic support but also build a sense of community by connecting with peers and mentors who have successfully navigated the same challenges and can offer both academic guidance and encouragement.
In her role, Piper is building off of the work currently being done in the different CDIS departments.
“We have three departments coming together who all have varying processes in place and have been doing a wonderful job supporting their students’ learning outside of the classroom. We’re taking these resources that already exist and sharing best practices among different departments and furthering excellence in teaching and learning,” says Piper.
A key goal of the Learning Center is to foster a welcoming, safe, and inclusive learning community where coming to learn is viewed positively, rather than as a form of remediation.
“I think there is sometimes a mental block with students, where they see tutoring as something you do when you are in trouble, failing your class, or on academic probation. But research study after research study has shown that the students who are the most successful are the ones who regularly go to a learning center,” says Piper.
Piper and the Learning Center will also focus on increasing the number of students graduating from UW–Madison with an understanding of computing, data, and information science, by providing outside-of-class learning support structures for entry-level CDIS courses.
“We want to make sure that students are passing at higher rates on their first attempt in CDIS classes. We want to do what we can to help every student at UW access these courses and achieve positive outcomes” says Piper.
Although Morgridge Hall does not open until fall 2025, Piper is busy preparing to enhance student learning. She is actively connecting with members across the CDIS community to identify areas of growth and opportunity, while also improving training for teaching assistants and tutors to ensure they feel confident in empowering undergraduate students.
“It is easy for students to feel lost in a sea of students. The Learning Center is a place where we can make sure that every student that comes through the University of Wisconsin-Madison finds success within their CDIS classes and gets exposure to concepts that are going to be very important for their futures,” says Piper.