2022-2023 Annual Report: UTK Division of Student Success

UT Success Academy

Academic Success Center

Center for Career Development & Academic Exploration

Academic Advising Initiatives

First-Year Programs

STUDENT SUCCESS 2022-2023

University Honors

New Student Orientation

First-Generation Initiatives

Undergraduate Research & Fellowships

Veterans Success Center

Student Success Impact

90% Positive Career Outcomes

UT Flagship Institute experienced 100% persistence rate from fall to spring

96.14% Vols in good academic standing

53,065

Total Advising Appointments

UT named Fulbright Top-Producing Institution 5th year in row

99% Persistence rate from fall to spring for Veteran Impact Program participants

6,814 Participants in FY Seminars

From the Desk of the Vice Provost Page 4

Student Success Mission Pages 5

Signature Programs Pages 6-13

Additional Activities

Pages 14-16

Path Forward Pages 17-18

From the Desk of the Vice Provost

It is with great pleasure that I share with you the remarkable achievements and advancements in student success at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. As the vice provost for Student Success, I am proud to celebrate the positive transformation taking place within our institution. We are a university on the rise!

Allow me to highlight some notable data points that demonstrate our continued progress:

• 90 percent of our student scholars reported positive career outcomes, measured by the percentage of scholars employed or in graduate school within six months, an all-time high and eight points higher than just three years earlier.

• 20 percent increase in our graduates’ mean salaries from 2019 with the current average reaching $56,625.

• 89 percent retention rate, improving three points over the past five years to the highest on record.

• 99.5 percent of our over 8,000 first-year scholars met with a core member of their Vol Success Teams, including their academic advisor and academic coach.

• 99.5 percent of eligible first-year students enrolled in a first-year seminar course, a highimpact practice known for fostering engagement.

These outstanding outcomes are a result of the unwavering dedication of our faculty and staff. Within the Division of Student Success, we have implemented a range of initiatives to ensure the success of each student. To support our incoming students, we assigned over 8,000 individuals to Vol Success Teams consisting of academic advisors, academic coaches, and One Stop counselors. Moreover, the UT Success Academy has played a crucial role in the rise of retention among underrepresented students, with 140 Men of Color enrolling each year.

In addition to these efforts, we are proud to introduce the Veterans Impact Program, which provides holistic support to student veterans, recognizing and addressing their unique needs as they pursue their education at UT.

Every student has a story, and we firmly believe that every story matters. UT stands apart as a university that offers a personalized experience, empowering students to realize their full potential.

I extend my heartfelt congratulations to our students for their outstanding accomplishments and express my gratitude to our faculty and staff for their tireless dedication to fostering student success. Together, we are shaping the future leaders of our community and beyond.

Amber Williams, Vice Provost for Student Success

2022-2023

Student Success Mission

The Division of Student Success at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, works to engage each student scholar’s experience by supporting their unique strengths and goals.

We collaborate with UT faculty and staff to help each student scholar maximize their individual strengths and understand how their strengths contribute to their academic dreams, career paths, and personal well-being.

2022-2023

Signature Programs

Center for Career Development & Academic Exploration (CCDAE)

The CCDAE hosted and supported 14 career fairs during the 2022-2023 academic year. These fairs welcomed 1,100 employers and 6,000+ students who connected with organizations leading to internships, job offers, and a better understanding of their career prospects.

The CCDAE had 25,000 unique users, a 9 percent increase from the 2021-2022 academic year, for qualifying services (e.g., Handshake profiles, coaching appointments, and attendance at events and presentations).

90% Positive career outcomes, highest on record at UT

64% Graduates who gained employment

26% Graduates who will be continuing education

$56K Median starting salary of $56,284 for grads

900 Unique employers who visited campus for events

CCDAE Program Spotlight: VolTreks

VolTreks are organizational visits in various industries that allow students to learn more about roles available and organizational culture. These engaging experiences help bring to life careers for students because they see the work environment first-hand and learn from the professionals at those organizations. This year the CCDAE arranged 14 treks that included oncampus visits to the health center, libraries, and special events; local area visits to employers like Cirrus Aircraft and the Knoxville Ice Bears; and out-of-town visits to the Gaylord Opryland Resort in Nashville and multiple employers in Memphis.

“I wanted to also let you know that by taking the VolTrek trip, doing the speed networking event, meeting people in the different companies, and updating my resume/LinkedIn account, it helped me to land a few internship offers for the summer. I appreciate what you guys do tremendously.” - VolTrek Participant

Career Champion Recognized

2022-2023

Signature Programs

Vol Success Teams

Vol Success Teams continued their efforts to support first-year student scholars through academic and student support services. Each team is comprised of a student’s academic advisor, academic coach, One Stop counselor, and faculty, and is designed to assist student scholars in their holistic development.

Through the efforts of the Vol Success Team, academic advisors conducted:

Overall, during the 2022-2023 academic year:

• 13,956 coaching engagements (e.g., one-on-one appointments, outreach activities, etc.) were conducted, an 11 percent increase year over year

• 53,065 academic advising appointments were conducted

13,956 Coaching engagements

Vols Study Together

53,065 Advising appointments

The Vol Study Center continued its efforts to increase study sessions, strengthen academic support with Supplemental Instruction (SI), and collaborate with campus partners to expand study spaces and study sessions.

These interactions resulted in the following:

28.4% Increase

Signature Programs

Academic Support Outcomes

• 96 percent of first-year student scholars achieved good academic standing at the conclusion of their first academic year at UT, the highest in UT history.

• First-year students attending at least one Supplemental Instruction session had an average GPA of 3.37, compared to the 3.30 overall average term GPA for all first-year cohort students.

• First-year students who regularly attended SI sessions – 10 or more sessions – had an average GPA of 3.59, 8 percent higher than the overall average term GPA for all first-year cohort students.

96% First-year class in good academic standing

• Students who responded to academic alert outreach efforts yielded higher GPAs (2.63) than students who did not respond (2.22).

Best Ever Academic Standing Rates for First-Year Students

Academic coaches began reaching out to first-year students placed on probation after fall term and by the end of spring 2023, 96.14 percent of the first-year class was in good standing, the highest percentage in UT’s history. Data shows that students in good standing at the end of their first year are far more likely to graduate than those who leave the first year on probation.

Signature Programs

Cultivating a Culture of Well-Being

Faculty Fellows

Central to UT’s Strategic Vision, the Volunteer Experience is a comprehensive, university-wide approach to promoting student well-being and career readiness in all aspects of a student scholar’s experience. The Volunteer Experience Faculty Fellows program comprises 18 faculty across the university interested in engaging in well-being pedagogy and promoting well-being constructs amongst the faculty in their use of a well-being framework to promote best practices in respective undergraduate instruction departments.

After spring 2023, faculty fellows developed packaged resources to support fellows’ presentations to their units and implementation plans to roll out wellbeing constructs amongst the faculty in their respective departments.

Faculty Fellows Spotlight

Dr. Laura Knight

Assistant Professor of Practice and Outreach & Engagement Coordinator

Working with colleagues across campus and disciplines has helped me identify shared challenges we all face every day and develop straight-forward tools to make us better faculty and members of our shared community.

Although generally, STEM students and faculty might demand a slightly different set of tools than those used in a humanities classroom, by working together, we are realizing the similarities and synergies of teaching with a shared PERMA model.

I can see opportunities for immediate positive impact on student and faculty well-being through the tools, methods, and relationships we are building together as fellows.

Faculty Fellows

‘23 Cohort List

2022-2023

Signature Programs

Student Success Grants

To support UT’s Strategic Vision, UT has committed funding to prioritize active, inclusive, and sustainable learning environments to increase academic achievement and support UT faculty in reimagining learning experiences from this perspective. Desired results for Student Success Grants include:

• Reducing DFW rates in high-enrollment, entry-level courses

• Enhancing student well-being

• Closing academic achievement gaps

Grants are awarded to departments to redesign a course or a set of sequenced classes. In the 2022-2023 academic year, there were three active grants:

Biological Sciences - Grant: Biology Booster Shot

The BIOL 150/160 grant introduced embedded peer learning assistants (PLAs) into their classrooms. Based on survey and focus group assessments, students were:

• Aware of the PLA (95.2%), attended at least one session (59.9%), or attended two or three times (26.7%).

• Felt comfortable asking the PLA for help and believed PLA would help them get a better and connect them to resources.

• Felt positive about the inclusion of PLAs and gained confidence by working with them.

• Felt more engaged with the material and less stressed about asking for help.

Engineering Fundamentals - Grant: Developing Self-Efficacy and Confidence Among PreCalculus Engineering Students

• Students’ final grades increased as their positive emotion and sense of accomplishment increased.

• Focus groups indicated that the structure and features of the course have helped students build confidence (self-efficacy) in their ability to solve problems.

English - Grant: Equitable Assessment in First-Year Composition

• PERMA and well-being scores increased by half a point, on average, over time. Relationships was highest and increased most, while engagement was lowest overall.

• On average, 60 percent of students believed the grading practice positively affected their writing, 50 percent believe it did so fairly often or very often, and over 60 percent believed the grading practice created a fair grading environment.

“If we can help students find meaning in the content and connection through relationships with their peers, their tutors, and their instructors, we hope that will sustain their interest in biology and push these students to continue to learn and engage with science.” - Biology Lecturer Caroline Wienhold

Student Success

Promote Grants

2022-2023

Signature Programs

UT Success Academy

Concluding its second year, the UT Success Academy (UTSA) provided high-level support for first-and-second-year Black and Hispanic men in the program. Key focuses of UTSA this year included developing authentic sources of community, leveraging strengths to identify and clarify career goals, and increasing student academic belonging.

90%

UTSA scholars achieved good academic standing 95%

Retained from fall 2022 to spring 2023

93%

Completed a VolTrek or informational interview in desired field

“Thank you and UTSA for the experiences this year, it has proven to be so much more than a scholarship but also a community.” – UTSA Student Scholar

2022-2023

Signature Programs

Veterans Impact Program

The Veterans Success Center introduced new student veterans in the Veteran Impact Program (VIP) to the academic success skills and resources that will enhance their collegiate journey. VIP is a one-semester cohort program for incoming student veterans during which these Vols participate in a unique veteran orientation program, receive customized individual academic plans and strengths-based coaching with a veteran-specific academic coach, enroll in a Veterans Transition course, engage with financial wellness and programming to support peer engagement, and much more.

Outcomes include:

• 99 percent persistence from fall to spring

• 3.36 cohort GPA (compared with 3.23 average GPA for student veterans not engaged in VIP)

• 94 percent of VIP students feel a part of the UT community

• 94 percent of VIP students feel they will excel academically at UT

“The VIP has helped me connect with like-minded people on campus and make friendships I wouldn’t have otherwise.” - VIP Cohort Participant

“It’s helped me transition from active duty to being a college student better than I would’ve been able to do alone” - VIP Cohort Participant

Student Veteran

2022-2023

Signature Programs

Undergraduate Research & Fellowships

Undergraduate Research & Fellowships (URF) hosted their annual Discovery Day and EURēCA competitions, showcasing undergraduate research and faculty mentorship. Together, both exhibitions featured 1,292 student presenters and 401 faculty mentors. The colleges at EURēCA gave 174 research awards.

URF conducted campus interviews, composed evaluations, and submitted applications for 164 student scholars applying for national and international awards, a 53 percent increase from last year. In addition, they grew participation in the Gilman application writing workshop, comprised of 84 Pell-eligible students who would like to study abroad. Of those students, 26 (31 percent) were named Gilman Scholars, UT’s highest number ever.

URF assisted 336 students in finding undergraduate research placements, including 58 Departmental Research Assistantships placements - an initiative designed to increase research employment for Pell-eligible and first-generation UT undergraduate students.

Top Producing

164 Student scholars applying for national and international awards - 53% increase

336

26

Undergraduate research placements

Gilman scholars designated - UT’s highest number ever

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has been named a Fulbright U.S. Student Program Top Producing Institution for the fifth consecutive year. Fourteen students and recent graduates were offered Fulbright awards for the 2022-23 academic year.

‘22-23 Fellowship Recipients

Student Fulbright

2022-2023

Additional Activities

Vols Start Back

In spring 2023, New Student Orientation launched Vols Start Back, a program designed to jumpstart the semester with events and programs centered around how to thrive academically, plan for career success, and get inVOLved. Schedule highlights included sessions on thriving academically at UT, setting goals and coaching for success, gaining career experience, resume critiques and LinkedIn photos, strengths coaching, and more.

• 449 students participated in the program’s inaugural year

• 97% of surveyed participants said they felt prepared to succeed academically after attending Vol Start Back

• 99% of surveyed participants said they felt excited for the spring semester after attending Vol Start Back

First-Year Programs

To enhance student scholars’ persistence and sense of belonging, the First-Year Programs (FYP) engages first-year students through a onecredit-hour course. Students are auto enrolled prior to their first semester. The course is taught by faculty and staff with the additional support of a peer mentor. The topics include well-being, strengths, academic success strategies, and student life.

Outcomes included:

• 99.5 percent of first-year students enrolled in FYS 101 or their collegeequivalent course.

• FYP hosted the inaugural Instructor Kick-Off for all new 175+ instructors teaching a FYS 101 or TRNS 201 course in the FA23 semester.

6,814 Participants in First-Year Seminar

3.30 FYS Participants’ GPA

“Really made adjusting to college so much easier. I knew I always had people to turn to for help.” -FYS 101 Student

“This class was an amazing class for mental health, and the instructor and Peer Mentor provided many opportunities to learn more information about the workings of the campus.” -FYS 101 Student

99% Felt excited for spring semester 14

449 Participants in Vol Start Back

Additional Activities

First-Generation Initiatives

Through mentorship programs, tailored resources, and a strong support network, we ensure that our first-generation scholars have the tools they need to succeed and embrace the vast opportunities that lie ahead. Outcomes include:

• Forty-six students participated in UT Flagship Institute (UTFI). There was a 100 percent persistence rate from fall 2022 semester to spring 2023 semester.

• 37 first-year, first-generation college students participated in the UT LEAD Living Learning Community (LLC). As of June 1, 2023, 86 percent of the UT LEAD cohort is currently enrolled for the fall 2023 semester.

• Inducted 126 undergraduate scholars and two honorary members into UT’s second class of Tri Alpha National Honorary Society for first-generation college students.

46 Participated in UT Flagship Institute

First-Gen Vols

37 Participated in UT LEAD LLC

126 Inductees in Tri Alpha society’s 2nd class

“This journey started for me 43 years ago as a young boy who swore someday that he would go to the University of Tennessee. Life and a 21-year military career stood in the way of that, but the promise I made to my parents then will now come to fruition this fall. I think it’s amazing what you’re doing for all the first-generation students (even old ones like me), because it really is a special thing for us.”-First-Generation Senior

2022-2023

Additional Activities

University Honors

University Honors made deep student connections through unique coaching visits and engagement interactions while hosting several important programs this year.

We are welcoming a diverse group of scholars into University Honors for fall 2023. 567 scholars, representative from the state of Tennessee and beyond, chose to attend the University Honors program. They average a 33 ACT score and 4.5 GPA.

Torchbearer

Feature

Path Forward

Streamlining First-Generations Initiatives to Better Serve First-Generation Students

Beginning July 1, 2023, First-Generation Initiatives (FGI) was integrated into the Academic Success Center (ASC) allowing us to provide a more comprehensive and cohesive support system that empowers first-generation students to excel academically and achieve their full potential. Our commitment to First-Generation Initiatives and programs, such as UT LEAD and UT Flagship Institute, remains strong and will continue to garner our support and devotion.

By folding FGI into ASC, we aim to streamline our resources, expertise, and programming, ensuring a seamless and holistic approach to supporting first-generation students. This integration will foster collaboration and synergy among our dedicated staff, enabling us to address better this critical student population’s unique needs and challenges.

Academic Course Community

The College of Arts & Sciences and the Tickle College of Engineering, in collaboration with the Office of the Provost and the Division of Student Success, are piloting an exciting new initiative in fall 2023 - Academic Course Communities.

Incoming first-year scholars selected for the pre-health community and the Tickle College of Engineering community will be enrolled in several courses relevant to their degree program. They will benefit from taking them together as a cohort and have access to specialized resources, including success workshops, academic coaching, and peer learning assistance throughout fall 2023.

Courses within the Academic Course Community will allow for tight-knit relationships with peers and faculty and active engagement between courses. Specialized on-site student success resources will be available at key points during the semester to aid in each scholar’s success.

In its pilot year, the Academic Course Community experience will be available to select incoming pre-health scholars as well as select incoming engineering scholars, roughly 400 scholars overall.

2022-2023

Path Forward

University Honors Redesigning Curriculum

The inaugural class of University Honors Faculty Fellows within the Division of Student Success was selected in 2023. The University Honors Faculty Fellows consist of 12 faculty members from various campus colleges with the goal and purpose of developing a core honors curriculum that places a strong emphasis on the application of innovative methodologies, such as design thinking to address complex problem solving.

Using the Honors external review and reimagining process, which took place in fall 2022, the Faculty Fellows have started laying the groundwork for the development of a comprehensive and engaging curriculum to ensure students will be equipped with the necessary tools to effectively navigate their path to success in their academic and professional pursuits. By helping honors students engage in problem-solving approaches, such as “design thinking,” the focus will also be on creating practical solutions and providing a structured framework for approaching sophisticated, multilayered issues.

Vol Advising Support

Launched in 2023, Vol Advising Support serves as a central support service for campus-wide academic advising at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. This support includes helping to facilitate: New Student Advising support (orientation), general academic advising inquiries, U.S. History requirement, tracking change of major request academic petition requests, and additional projects as needs determine.

Deep Student Engagement

Piloting with select groups in fall 2023 with a full campus roll out expected in 2024, the Vol EDGE program will be a flexible menu of learning and engagement activities that foster wellbeing and purposeful life-career readiness preparation, guiding students through content and experiences to set them up for success. To complete Vol EDGE, each student scholar will engage with career preparation activities and an experiential learning opportunity individualized to their interests and career goals.

New Customer Relationship Management System

Powered by Salesforce, the new CRM system will launch in 2024 and create a connected community that amplifies the success of our students and supports our employees. It will modernize the student experience by integrating information, personalizing communications, and streamlining student services.

Cultivating the Volunteer experience for a brighter future

New in 2022-2023

Volunteer Experience Faculty Fellows

Veteran Impact Program

Student Success Grants

UT Flagship Institute

Student Success