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Clay N. Hixson Student Success Center

Welcome from the Director

Harry Ingle portraitWelcome to the Clay N. Hixson Student Success Center for the College of Engineering at Tennessee Tech University. We are excited to serve as a resource for engineering students as they pursue their engineering degree. Our center provides engineering-specific tutoring, academic advising, supplemental instruction and peer mentoring to support students both academically and personally. Additionally, we oversee the college’s Student Ambassador program, annual student awards program, engineering residence hall, dozens of student organizations and college-based scholarships.

We are extremely proud that our peer tutoring, supplemental instruction and peer mentoring programs are led by trained student peers who have excelled in their subjects and share their knowledge so their fellow students become self-sufficient and intrepid lifelong learners. Our Peer Tutors engage students in active learning, explaining difficult concepts and providing examples for exploration while encouraging and empowering them to develop confidence in their academic abilities. Our Supplemental Instruction program is an evidence-based, learning enhancement program widely used by institutions across the country. Trained students serve as SI Leaders for specific subjects outside of class, providing students with a systematic and disciplined approach for processing the subject material assigned by the professor.

Beyond the support we provide students in their learning, we also offer student success workshops to assist them in reaching their personal, academic and professional goals. Workshops are centered on students’ academic and non-academic issues, technical communications and other student-related topics.

The Clay N. Hixson Student Success Center is also the central hub for students to get engaged in engineering activities. Whether they are participating in one of more than 30 student organizations and competition teams, or become an elite Student Ambassador, students have tremendous opportunity to develop leadership skills, networking, professional experience and more.

With so many students serving others in these various programs, we make a sincere effort to acknowledge their achievements with annual awards that recognize their hard work, as well as the impact they have made on the college and others.

The Clay N. Hixson Student Success Center grows and evolves its programs every year, and has one message for our students: Our mission is your success!

Kindest Regards,

H. Ingle signature block

 
 
 
Harry Ingle, Jr., Ed.D.
Director of Diversity, Recruitment, & Student Success
College of Engineering
Tennessee Tech University
 
 
  • Clay N. Hixson

    Clay N. Hixson portraitIt has often been said that actions speak louder than words. This could not be any truer than in the life of the late Tennessee Tech alum Clay Hixson. Though practically speechless the last 13 years of his life, his giving spirit led Clay to make one of the largest gifts in engineering’s history.
     
    Clay Newell Hixson grew up on a rural Bledsoe County farm, learning as a young boy the value of hard work. Clay carried this trait with him as he served, like many men of his age, in the Navy during World War II. After leaving the service, Clay entered Tennessee Tech in the spring of 1950.Wiring houses in the evenings and on the weekends, Clay scraped the money together to pay for his education. Through hard work and dedication, Clay managed to earn an electrical engineering degree in just three years, graduating in December 1953.
     
    Shortly after graduation, Clay was hired on by the Tennessee Valley Authority as an electrical engineer, and spent the next 30 years with the organization. He retired to his Cleveland, TN home in 1983 to enjoy the good life.
     
    Though he never married, Clay was fortunate to have met a wonderful lady who not only became a “traveling” companion, but also a special friend and caregiver. Mary Northrup and Clay became good friends in the 1960’s. After Clay retired, they enjoyed traveling together to various parts of the country.
     
    Clay’s happy retirement was dampened in 1996 when he suffered a stroke. Among other things, the stroke severely affected his speech. Fortunately, Mary was there to help, and she became Clay’s full-time caregiver.
     
    Though he was unable to express it verbally in his later years, one of Clay’s greatest loves was Tennessee Tech. Any conversation that centered on the university brought a look of delight on his face. Surrounding himself in his home with Tennessee Tech memorabilia, Clay always made it clear that in his mind, his success in life was due much to his experiences at the university.
     
    Sadly, Clay passed away in April 2009. However, his legacy will live on through a $1.5 million unrestricted estate gift to the College of Engineering. Clay’s wishes are to ensure that Tech grows and delivers to others the excellent education it gave him. With this undying love, Clay Hixson will prove, once again, that actions truly speak louder than words.
     
    The Clay N. Hixson Student Success Center opened as a resource for students in the fall of 2013 and was dedicated on October 25, 2013.

 

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Location:

Student Success Center, Clement 208

Hours:

Monday-Friday
8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. CST 

Call or email:

931-372-3553
engineeringssc@tntech.edu