Strategies for Assessing and Improving Student Success
Strengthening student success is critical for higher education institutions. By assessing current conditions, developing targeted strategies, and fostering collaboration, institutions can improve student retention and completion, enhance academic performance and satisfaction, and contribute to community development. Here's how to approach projects aimed at assessing and enhancing institutional operations to increase student success.
Who should be involved?
Conducting a serious and effective assessment of an institution to strengthen student success involves collaboration with various departments, including Student Affairs, Academic Affairs, Enrollment Management, Student Financial Aid, and Institutional Research. Creating and implementing a guiding coalition is essential if there is no dedicated Student Success/Retention team. Engaging these stakeholders ensures a coordinated and comprehensive approach to student success initiatives.
How are these engagements managed?
Assessing the current state of an institution and developing strategies for student success requires a structured approach. Key initiatives include constituent journey mapping, which examines student, staff, and faculty experiences at critical touchpoints in the student lifecycle. This serves as a foundation for business process improvement sessions, aimed at identifying more effective and efficient processes for essential student functions. Additionally, selecting appropriate technology solutions that align with institutional needs is crucial. Ensuring independence and objectivity in decision-making helps institutions develop concrete plans that can be implemented immediately after the engagement.
Objectives and outcomes of the engagement
The primary goal is to align the institution's efforts with its mission of successfully educating future citizens and professionals. Streamlining processes such as class registration, financial aid, and student support allows institutions to focus on their students' intellectual growth and development, making the college experience more fulfilling and less challenging.
Key outcomes include:
Recommendations for Improvement: Making cost-effective recommendations for new programs or initiatives to enhance student success, which may occasionally require the creation of new staff positions. Implementing these recommendations can be complex, requiring approval and building momentum across the institution.
Enhanced Collaboration and Communication: Fostering buy-in, collaboration, and communication among different departments to break down isolated pockets within the institution and create a unified approach to student success. Involving faculty and staff in decision-making ensures a shared vision for the institution's future direction.
Improved Student Outcomes: Critical outcomes for students include improved academic performance, enhanced satisfaction with their college experience, increased opportunities to secure employment and achieve career goals, and increased opportunities to pursue professional, graduate, or advanced degrees.
Effective retention plans are vital for the economic and social development of communities. Graduates contribute to the workforce, innovation, and cultural enrichment, driving positive change and prosperity beyond the campus borders.
