Temple’s newly opened Direct-TU One Stop Student Services Center, also known as “the Stop,” is reshaping how the university supports students. 

The center, located on the ground floor of Carnell Hall, is setting a new standard for student services by offering personalized, proactive support that breaks down common barriers to student success such as academic struggles, financial challenges and social isolation.

“Our goal with the Stop is to simplify and streamline,” said Shawn Fagan, assistant vice provost of student success in the Division of Enrollment Management. “We want students to be able to get the services they need quickly and efficiently. That’s key to helping them succeed.”

By providing students with access to critical services—including financial aid, registrar functions and billing—in one central location, the Stop eliminates confusion and delays that often arise when students need support in a number of areas. “Instead of scheduling multiple appointments and visiting various offices, students will have the convenience of addressing several concerns in a single visit,” continued Fagan.

One of the main functions of the Stop is to address challenges related to financial aid, which is a frequent source of stress for students.  

“The goal is to create a customer-focused experience by proactively addressing common barriers that students experience,” said Sandra Mejia, associate director of student financial services. 

The Stop will also play a role in improving student retention. “When students feel supported, they’re more likely to stay on track,” said Fagan. “Our goal is to create an environment where students not only feel comfortable seeking help but also know where to turn when they need it.” 

With that in mind, the Division of Enrollment Management recently launched a new peer ambassador program that offers peer support for students as they navigate their first years at Temple. The focus on early intervention, peer support and seamless integration of services adds up to a more positive overall experience for students. 

To further complement the Stop, the Division of Enrollment Management will also launch a Student Success Management Platform in fall 2025. This new online tool will allow advisors to monitor students’ actions such as missed assignments or late payments, enabling them to intervene and address potential issues before they escalate. 

“The Student Success Management Platform will also allow advisors to see critical data about students’ behaviors and needs. Instead of relying on static reports, the platform will allow us to track students based on their ongoing activity,” explained Fagan. “The goal is to be proactive, not reactive. We want to help students before small issues snowball into larger ones.”   

Eventually, the Stop and Student Success Management Platform will be joined into one unified digital-physical experience. The Stop will expand to include online self-service tools, allowing students to access support remotely, while the Student Success Management Platform will ensure all services are interconnected and easy to navigate.

“We want the Stop to feel like an Apple Store experience,” said Fagan. “The goal is to try to create as much automation and self-service as we can.”