Thursday, September 9, 2010
Student Success, the University’s student services organization, is looking to create some more success of its own.
This summer, Marlesa A. Roney, the vice provost for Student Success, initiated changes in more than 20 of Student Success’ departments. A realignment placed all of its deparments within three areas — advising and academic support; health and wellness; and recruitment, scholarships and financial aid. Before, each department acted more like a separate entity.
With the reorganization, Student Success hopes to strengthen its presence among struggling students and help meet Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little’s goals of increased retention and graduation rates. Jeffrey Vitter, provost and executive vice chancellor, said Student Succes would use data-based, real time programs — such as an early alert system run by faculty members — to help achieve this.
Under the early alert system, once a faculty member recognized a student had a problem — for example, if the student had poor attendance or came to class smelling of alcohol — they would notify Student Success, which would then reach out to the student, assess the problem and find a solution.
Lori Reesor, associate vice provost and head of the advising and academic support deparment, said they would ask the referred students, for example, if they had thought about tutoring or using other Student Success services.
Notification about holds is another service that Roney said Student Services would like to improve. Roney said they would like to implement an e-mail notification system, for example, to let a student know well in advance about parking or tuition holds so they could take care of the problems before enrollment.
Student Success also took a more hands-on approach at the beginning of the school year to strengthen its student presence.
During the first weeks of school, Brenda Maigaard, assistant vice provost for Financial Aid and Scholarships, organized help desks near Strong Hall to create a point of contact as students entered the building.
“During those 10 business days, University representatives assisted 2,468 students,” Maigaard said.
Maigaard said students asked questions about class locations, directions to various building on campus and for general assistance, such as where to go for academic advising, financial aid, enrollment and paying a bill.
Sam Shelton, a freshman from Olathe, said he found the information useful.
“It was really helpful because they told me where to go so I wouldn’t be wandering around for hours,” Shelton said.
Reesor said more effective marketing could also go a long way toward achieving a greater Student Success presence. She said she often heard from seniors that they didn’t know about various services and that there seemed to be a disconnect between what Student Success offered and the amount of students who took advantage of those resources.
— Edited by Dana Meredith
Strategic recruitment in Student Success
The new associate vice provost for recruitment and enrollment hopes to improve ...
Administrative reshuffling targets low retention rates
The University ranks among the lowest in the Big 12 with 20 ...
University to review piracy policy
Student senate and University administration have a one-month period to research the ...
University looks to reverse recent enrollment trend
University officials are looking for new ways to increase enrollment at KU.
Editorial: Raising admission standards will benefit all ...
Upping requirements would improve student retention and graduation rates.
Task force wants pickier admissions
A group formed by Gray-Little has recommendations for increasing retention and graduation ...
Vice provost of student success to resign
Marlesa Roney, who has been the head of Student Success since 2003, ...
Advisers help students find way
Advisers are assigned to help, not hinder your school life. Kathryn Nemeth ...
Gray-Little plans University initiative
Chancellor wants to improve school’s national academic rankings and retention rate.
Student Senate passes alcohol resolution
Survey says students rely on University services, know little about community resources.
Task force shares plan for retention, grad ...
Only 32 percent of students graduate in four years — 61 percent ...
Policies vary for dealing with displaced students
FIJI faces hazing investigation for injury
The University placed Phi Gamma Delta fraternity under interim suspension after a ...
Shooting tests university’s emergency response plan
Alerts help to keep students safe during emergencies on campus.
Chancellor examines University standards
University committee will work with Gray-Little to possibly change admissions and recruitment ...
Alcohol policy adds amnesty, parent notification
The University’s revised alcohol policy also includes an online assessment for incoming ...
University re-examines privacy policy
Following Jason Wren’s death, University considers allowing parents more access to student’s ...
A sobering reality
Two years after Jason Wren's death, what has changed?
Students struggle to raise grades
Freshmen seeing impact of poor performance during first college semester
University should take closer look at graduation ...
The editorial board advises the University to take stronger measures to improve ...
Coalitions plan financial advising office
Plans will offer students opportunities to advise peers and get real-life experience ...
University changes alcohol policy, adds amnesty clause
Officials will notify parents of underage students who violate alcohol or drug ...
Program gives voice to HALO issues
Campus tutoring services help students succeed
Here are a few places where students can find affordable peer tutoring.
Subcommittee to meet Wednesday to revise alcohol ...
Senate group met last night to discuss rules with student body.
Editorial: KU needs stronger policies on alcohol
The Kansan supports establishing tighter controls on underage drinking.
Furloughs won’t affect student jobs
Students will be safe from temporary layoffs that could be implemented after ...
Student Senate delivers some platform promises, others ...
Did the Student Senate earn a passing grade for the platforms it ...
Endowment’s contribution to the University will decrease ...
Because of a 26.6 percent decline in the association’s long-term investment program, ...
Senate leaders working with new administrators
Mason Heilman and May Davis are focusing on recruitment and setting groundwork.
Senate outlines new goals for the year
University Student Senate trains new members and defines desired changes for the ...
University protocol for student deaths
An outline of how different departments handle the tragedy.
Conference Realignment affects academics
Big 12 lacks formal academic ties that Big 10 boasts.
Text messages will alert students
Beginning today, students can sign up to receive text messages from the ...
Degrees of success: athletes after college
College athletes' payment is their degree. But what if they never get ...
Student Senate candidate talks about his party's ...
Adam Wood, Student Senate presidential hopeful, discusses strategies to help with dorm ...
A KUnited platform won’t be met this ...
Student Senate’s KUnited platform to create a student services center at the ...
Senior board to choose class motto, gift ...
Past gifts include the bronze Jayhawk in front of Strong Hall and ...
Chancellor names interim provost
Joseph Steinmetz, CLAS dean, will take over as provost on July 1.
LMH sees increase in alcohol-related visits
KU students make up a major portion of hospital's alcohol abuse admissions.
Kansas Jayhawk fans hold aloft a reproduction of ...
2 comments
Erin Saupe, a Ph.D. student from St. Cloud, ...
1 comment
0 comments
Armed robbers continue to threaten.
3 comments
Lecture from Greg Mortenson, co-author of New York ...
0 comments
KUnited presidential candidate Libby Johnson and vice presidential ...
1 comment
Comments
Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.
Sign in to comment
Or login with:
OpenID