Centered On Success

During President Brian O. Hemphill’s alumni tour in summer 2016, he discussed his ideas with alumni regarding the University’s work in helping students along the way to succeed and earn their Radford University degree.

Glenwood Morgan ’02, M.S. ’06 said that President Hemphill’s ideas on increasing student success hit home. “I liked his ideas about increasing the retention rate. I struggled at Radford and almost got caught up in the statistic. I was lucky and connected with the right people. But, I’ve been there and know what it’s like,” said Morgan, who graduated with two degrees from Radford University’s College of Education and Human Development.

Radford University’s Board of Visitors approved the adoption of a new retention plan — a direct result of conversations across campus, the region and with alumni across the state and beyond.

The Student Success and Retention Action Plan’s core mission is grounded in the belief that all students admitted to Radford University can be successful and graduate.

As part of the shift of focus to examine Radford University’s retention rate, the University formed the Council on Student Engagement and Success (CSES).

“The CSES has brought together a diverse group of voices from across campus and introduced a richness to conversations about student success,” said Assistant Vice Provost of High Impact Practices Jeanne Mekolichick. “We are asking ourselves if our practices, policies and actions align with helping students learn, and we are building relationships that support student success.”

The 12 CSES action teams developed five themes to improve retention: remove barriers; support the classroom experience; ensure effective, efficient advising; engage in clear, unified communication; and address the unique needs of each group of students.

The University will continue to implement High Impact Practices (HIP), student-centered and engaged learning practices both inside and outside of the classroom, to keep students engaged and involved. “Radford University is known for these deeply engaging hands-on learning practices both within and beyond the classroom. In this area, the retention action plan focuses on strategic approaches to more systematically bring these experiences to our students. The more opportunities we can create to bring faculty and students together in meaningful dialogue, the more powerful the experience for all,” said Mekolichick.

The plan will redesign the one credit University 100 courses that all new students take to help them transition to Radford University. The courses will provide more experience-based learning.

As a critical component of student success, effective and efficient advising helps students make the most of their academic careers. A few methods aimed to improve advising are to design and implement advising standard procedures; hire additional professional advisors; and develop a student ambassador peer-mentoring program to assist advisors during peak advising periods.

A purposeful, strategic coordination of communication is part of the plan to engage in clear, unified and targeted efforts to help students persist with their studies.

Part of this implementation is the Starfish Connect ™ software, which promotes engagement and removes obstacles between students and their advisors, tutors and instructors. This system provides case management, appointment scheduling, and communication tools to promote engagement and help students stay on track.

Exit interview processes and procedures are also being developed to identify reasons behind a student’s choice to leave Radford. Social media tactics and strategies — designed to improve communication with students — are being revised. Each student and group have unique needs. A way to help address these varying needs is to better coordinate and develop existing programs and services, keeping students on task to timely degree completion and celebrating the success of students from their first year through graduation.

To help achieve these goals, the Division of Student Affairs is working with the Student Government Association (SGA) to better connect and work with students. Some of the co-sponsored activities include a check-in campaign, in which SGA members and Students Affairs staff members knocked on over 2,000 doors to personally check in with students.

The initiatives in the Student Success and Retention Action Plan are designed to realize the potential of the students attending Radford University and the potential that lies within the University. “The experience continues to spark new conversations and bring alternative perspectives, sharpening our focus on excellence in all that we do,” said Mekolichick. ■