Category: Student Success and Persistence

This week’s Student Success and Persistence highlight comes from Meghann Kuhlmann, instruction and research services librarian and associate professor for WSU Libraries.

• What is one small thing any faculty or staff member can do to make a student’s day or let them know they’re cared for?
  “When we interact with students, we can take an extra step beyond the inquiry at hand and ask how their studies are going in general or if there’s anything more they need to feel supported. That can go a long way toward making students feel welcome on campus and help identify issues they might not have thought to bring up initially.”
• How do you promote student success through your campus duties?
  “Students sometimes feel uncomfortable asking questions because of a belief that they ‘should’ already know certain things or be able to figure it out themselves. I try to encourage students to ask questions by letting them know it’s a strength to seek out resources and reminding them that faculty and staff are here to support them every step of the way.”

Do you know of a faculty or staff member who promotes student success, or a student who has been helped by a faculty or staff member, that should be highlighted in WSU Today? Email your ideas to Caelin Bragg, newsletter editor with the Office of Strategic Communications, at caelin.bragg@wichita.edu.

This week’s Student Success and Persistence highlight comes from McKinzie McWilliam.

McKinzie — a junior majoring in elementary education and minoring in organizational leadership and learning — came to Wichita State after graduating from Miami High School in Amoret, Missouri.

McKinzie found support through working for Stephanie Cockrell, director of graduate programs in the Barton School of Business. She says that Cockrell’s support pushed her to succeed and eventually work as a peer coach and transition mentor in the Office of Student Success, helping other students succeed at Wichita State just as Cockrell did for her.

“I would have neither of these positions without Stephanie. When I met her, I had just failed a semester. After one semester with her, I made the dean’s list. If you had asked me when I met her where I saw myself in three years, it wouldn’t be here doing this. I have these jobs because of her, and I do them to try and be that person to someone else. Even though Stephanie is no longer my boss, I still do check-ins with her and think of what she would tell me to do when I am struggling.”

Cockrell says that faculty and staff have a unique responsibility in helping promote student success.

“Working closely with students to help them achieve their dreams is truly a privilege. As faculty and staff, it is our responsibility to meet students where they are and empower them to discover their full potential. The best thing we can do for students is connect them to the amazing resources available at WSU. Success Coaching, Shocker Learning Center, Care Team, ODI, Disability Services, advising, Financial Aid, Counseling and Prevention Services, TRIO and so much more are here to help students thrive both personally and academically. Together we can make a difference in a student reaching graduation. I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to watch McKinzie grow as a student and a leader on campus.”

Do you know of a faculty or staff member who promotes student success, or a student who has been helped by a faculty or staff member, that should be highlighted in WSU Today? Email your ideas to Caelin Bragg, newsletter editor with the Office of Strategic Communications, at caelin.bragg@wichita.edu.

Do you know of a faculty or staff member who promotes student success, or a student who has been helped by a faculty or staff member through the initiative, that should be highlighted in WSU Today? Email your ideas to Caelin Bragg, newsletter editor with the Office of Strategic Communications, at caelin.bragg@wichita.edu.

This week’s Student Success and Persistence highlight comes from senior Gregory VanDyke Jr.

Junior, as he’s more well known, is a criminal justice major, minoring in political science, organizational leadership and learning, and an honors track in leadership.

Junior found that becoming more involved in campus activities and leadership helped him get a better sense of who he is. But it was the guidance he received from a WSU faculty member that got him to that point.

“I will say that meeting Dr. Chelsea (Redger-Marquardt) has been the most helpful learning experience here at Wichita State. While I have a strong strong passion for criminal justice, I still felt like there was an ounce of passion for something else that was being left out, and I could not pinpoint it. It was not until Dr. Chelsea took the time to pour into me that I realized that the ounce of passion I was missing was a passion for leadership. Ever since I picked up a leadership minor and leadership track, Dr. Chelsea has not only been beneficial in my learning experience at Wichita State, but she also has been very supportive in helping me to find something in myself that I did not see before.”

Chelsea says students like Junior make her job at Wichita State enjoyable.

“I feel incredibly lucky to be able to connect with students each and every day, help them maximize their time at Wichita State, welcome them back as alumni, and see all the amazing things they are doing for our communities.”

Do you know of a faculty or staff member who promotes student success, or a student who has been helped by a faculty or staff member, that should be highlighted in WSU Today? Email your ideas to Caelin Bragg, newsletter editor with the Office of Strategic Communications, at caelin.bragg@wichita.edu.

Academic Affairs is proud to welcome Dr. Brett Bruner as the new assistant vice president for Student Success and Persistence.

Bruner will join Wichita State effective May 15. As the assistant vice president of Student Success and Persistence, he will focus on how to best serve our students as they pursue degree completion by developing and directing university-wide student success and retention strategies and programs that align with the university vision.

He began as a peer mentor 20 years ago and most recently served as the assistant vice president and dean of students in the Division of Student Affairs & Enrollment Management at Missouri Western State University.

Bruner received his bachelor’s degree from Emporia State University, his master’s from the University of Central Missouri and his doctorate from Baker University.

“I envisioned one day leading student success efforts on a campus that is innovative in its approaches to authentically supporting student success… I have assumed leadership roles in supervising nearly every possible student services functional area (and then some),” Bruner said. “I am excited about the opportunity to use my skills and unique background to support Wichita State University.”

Academic Affairs is proud to welcome Dr. Brett Bruner as the new assistant vice president for Student Success and Persistence.

Bruner will join Wichita State effective May 15. As the assistant vice president of Student Success and Persistence, he will focus on how to best serve our students as they pursue degree completion by developing and directing university-wide student success and retention strategies and programs that align with the university vision.

He began as a peer mentor 20 years ago and most recently served as the assistant vice president and dean of students in the Division of Student Affairs & Enrollment Management at Missouri Western State University.

Bruner received his bachelor’s degree from Emporia State University, his master’s from the University of Central Missouri and his doctorate from Baker University.

“I envisioned one day leading student success efforts on a campus that is innovative in its approaches to authentically supporting student success… I have assumed leadership roles in supervising nearly every possible student services functional area (and then some),” Bruner said. “I am excited about the opportunity to use my skills and unique background to support Wichita State University.”

Dear Shocker family:

We want to thank you for taking part in the town hall event in February, where we introduced our Student Success and Persistence (SSP) initiative, which focuses on giving our students the tools they need to succeed. If you were unable to attend, we hope you take the opportunity to watch a recording of the event, as this initiative requires that every member of our faculty and staff participate.

A key message shared during the town hall was “Student Success is everyone’s responsibility.” To help illustrate this point, members of the President’s Executive Team shared three strategies they are going to own to advance this ideal.

1. Foster a culture of empowerment, leadership and ownership.
2. Adopt an Equity-first mindset and student-centered approach that leads to increased graduation rates.
3. Provide strategic education on and promotion of financial wellness.

In addition, during the town hall, many of you participated in a workshop, where we shared our thoughts and ideas about how to support students and help them succeed. The following themes were aggregated from the results of those discussions:

• Connection and relationships: It’s critical that we establish connections among students, faculty, staff and mentors to create a welcoming and supportive environment for students to feel like they belong.
• Access to resources: Students need access to resources — such as academic support, mental health resources and financial aid — to succeed.
• Personalization: Instructors who engage with students, take an interest in their success and personalize their experiences can have a positive impact on student success.
• Decrease stigma associated with accessing resources: Students need to be encouraged to seek help from mentors and resources without feeling stigmatized.
• Student engagement: Encouraging students to get involved in research projects, organizations and events can help them feel connected to the university community.
• Faculty and staff engagement: Faculty and staff who care about students and make an effort to connect with them can have a positive impact on student success.
• Clarity: Clear processes and support are necessary for students to navigate their academic experiences, and advisers play a critical role in guiding students through these processes.
• Validation of student experiences: Students need to feel validated in their experiences, and their mental health should be a priority.
• Individuality: Students should be treated as individuals and not just as numbers.

Those themes will be the guideposts to creating programs and resources to ensure our students have what they need to succeed.

We have created a Student Success and Persistence Coalition to help us along this journey. Representatives from across the university have been chosen to drive this initiative.

• Gina Crabtree, interim assistant VP of SSP and Registrar’s Office
• Vince Altum, International Education
• Moriah Beck, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry/Retention Fellows coordinator
• Bobby Berry, College of Applied Studies and First-Generation Coordinating Council
• Brien Bolin, Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
• Jason Bosch, College of Engineering
• Zachary Brown, Barton School of Business
• Aaron Coffey, Graduate School
• Shelly Coleman-Martins, Strategic Communications
• Bobby Gandu, Undergraduate Admissions
• Linnea GlenMaye, Academic Affairs
• Teri Hall, Student Affairs
• Aaron Hamilton, OneStop Student Services/First-year Advising
• John Hammond, Department of Mathematics and Statistics
• Wendy Hanes, College of Fine Arts
• Ashlie Jack, Academic Affairs
• Shirley Lefever, Academic Affairs
• Sara Mata, Hispanic Service Institution (HSI) Initiatives
• Voncella McCleary-Jones, College of Health Professions
• Alicia Newell, Student Affairs
• John Perry, Barton School of Business
• Anna Porcaro, Office of Online and Adult Learning
• Chelsea Redger-Marquardt, Honors College
• Kim Sandlin, Office of Student Success
• Steven Skinner, College of Engineering
• Sheelu Surender, Office Financial Aid
• Sarah Taylor, Department of Public Health Sciences
• David Wright, Academic Affairs

As we said during the town hall, Student Success and Persistence is not something that we can tackle alone. This is very much a group project. It requires a commitment from each of us to help each individual student find resources to overcome any obstacles impeding their pathway to a degree. That might be connecting them to tutoring or financial aid, helping them find a paid applied learning opportunity, or simply creating a welcoming environment for them in your classroom or office. Each of us has the power to change a student’s trajectory and empower them to achieve their goals.

Just a few simple ideas that you can implement today:

• Course instructors might make a commitment to routinely use the Student Early Alert System to inform students that you recognize behaviors that may indicate additional academic support is warranted. SEAS is a system that generates an email to students outlining the reasons for faculty concerns, such as not attending classes or poor performance in assignments. This can then prompt faculty to take actions to discuss with students about how to improve classroom performance.
• All of us can engage with students when we see them in class or in the RSC. Check in with them, ask questions about how they are doing.
• For offices that employ students, get to know them as individuals and check in on them regularly.
• If a student comes to you with a problem, really listen. The phrase “tell me more about that” is a good way to get more information so that you can point to resources that help them.
• Make time for students. When we promptly return emails, texts and phone calls from students it sends the message they are important, and we care about their success.

Again, we encourage everyone to engage in this work and welcome any comments or ideas to help move this initiative forward. In the meantime, we urge you to stay updated on new developments, share ideas to improve student persistence, and connect with a student every day!

President Rick Muma
Provost Shirley Lefever

WSU’s Shocker Success Center — opening fall 2024 — is gaining national attention for its focus on a seamless student experience, combining 17 crucial student services into one spot.

Inside Higher Ed recently published a story where Provost Shirley Lefever and Vice President of Student Affairs Teri Hall were interviewed about the Shocker Success Center and how it will help students for years to come.

President Rick Muma and Provost Shirley Lefever hosted a town hall event on Tuesday, Feb. 7 to discuss Wichita State’s new Student Success and Persistence (SSP) initiative. The initiative is the next iteration of Wichita State’s implementation of recommendations from the National Institute for Student Success (NISS) in the report commissioned by the Kansas Board of Regents. 

The overall goal of Wichita State is to narrow the equity gap between the university’s underserved and non-underserved student populations. 

During the town hall, Lefever identified three strategies that faculty and staff are expected to embrace as part of the university’s efforts to foster student achievement and promote success.

• Foster a culture of empowerment, leadership and ownership.   
• Take an equity-first mindset and student-centered approach that will lead to increased graduation rates.   
• Increase strategic education and promotion of financial wellness. 

After remarks from Muma and Lefever, participants gathered in small groups to share feedback about the SSP initiative, the university’s culture regarding students, suggestions and experiences with student success.

President Rick Muma and Shirley Lefever, provost and executive vice president, are conducting a town hall for faculty and staff about WSU’s Student Success and Persistence (SSP) initiative. Join them 9-10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 7 in the Rhatigan Student Center ballroom to learn more.

The SSP initiative, which falls under the umbrella of Strategic Enrollment Management, includes comprehensive and holistic tactics to support students throughout their academic journeys.