Communications
SMART Lab Expands Professional Development and Technology to Support Student Success
At the 色色研究所, the SMART Lab has long served as a key resource for students navigating challenging math courses. In recent years, however, the lab has expanded its focus beyond tutoring鈥攊ntroducing professional development opportunities for student employees and implementing technology upgrades that enhance services for the thousands of students who use the lab each year.
One of the most significant developments is a structured professional development program for the SMART Lab鈥檚 undergraduate workforce. The lab employs more than 45 student staff members each semester, including tutors and front-desk assistants. Many begin working in the lab during their sophomore year and remain for about two years, creating an opportunity to build workplace skills alongside their academic experience.
Beginning in fall 2025, the SMART Lab launched a series of Canvas-based training modules aligned with the eight career readiness competencies identified by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE). These competencies鈥攊ncluding communication, leadership, teamwork, professionalism and critical thinking鈥攁re widely recognized by employers as essential skills for career success. Each semester, student employees complete two modules focused on a specific competency.
鈥淪tudents are not just learning the concepts,鈥 a Monica Quintero, director of the SMART Lab explained. 鈥淲e talk about how they demonstrate those skills here in the lab and how they can carry them forward into internships and future careers.鈥
The program also aligns with broader initiatives at USF, including the university鈥檚 Quality Enhancement Plan, which emphasizes experiential learning and workforce readiness as key components of student success.
Alongside these professional development efforts, the SMART Lab has introduced several technology upgrades to improve efficiency and the student experience.
A new digital help-request platform called 鈥淲ho鈥檚 Next鈥 replaced an outdated internal system that had been in use for more than a decade. The platform allows students to request tutoring assistance and see their position in the queue in real time. When a tutor accepts the request, students receive a notification identifying who is on the way to help.
The system also provides valuable data about tutoring sessions, including wait times, session length and the courses students are seeking help with. This information helps staff better understand usage patterns and refine services.
Another improvement is the introduction of RFID card taps for student check-in. Instead of manually entering their student identification number, students now tap their USF ID card at a touchscreen station when they arrive. The change has significantly reduced wait times during busy periods such as orientation sessions, when hundreds of students may enter the lab within a short time.
Additional upgrades include new scheduling and timekeeping software for student employees and relocating staff workspaces so program coordinators are positioned closer to the front desk, allowing them to better support tutors and students.
Together, these changes reflect the SMART Lab鈥檚 continued commitment to innovation and student success. With nearly 6,000 students using the lab each year, the impact extends well beyond academic support.
鈥淚t鈥檚 really a win-win,鈥 Quintero said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e strengthening the services we provide while also helping our student employees graduate with skills that will serve them long after they leave the lab.鈥