Elizabeth Bleicher, dean of student success and retention, joined Koehler on stage to share detailed updates on the work coming out of the Center for Student Success and Retention. Launched in August 2022, the center already served over 300 students throughout the fall semester.
“When we try to describe the kinds of work that we're doing, it's complex,” Bleicher said. “We're trying to achieve things at both a macro level and at a micro level. Across campus, there's a constellation of experiences that students are having…Our goal in the center is to improve our awareness of what's happening in that ecosystem the student is interacting with, so that we can understand the student experience better.”
The work of the center is grounded around six primary initiatives, one of which is the development of a research agenda to identify key opportunities to impact the overall student experience, which in turn influences retention and graduation rates.
“As we uncover new, significant relationships, we're looking for the story that the data tells, and building a narrative to understand why our findings are meaningful,” said Koehler.
Another initiative coming out of CSSR is the development of the Student Success Dashboard. The dashboard features visualizations of key student data, such as GPA and credit- hour enrollment, throughout their time at Ithaca College to help faculty and staff identify any “red flags” that could indicate a student needs additional support resources. The dashboard also features the Student Success Network, which maps out each key faculty and staff member involved in that student’s IC experience — everyone from academic advisors and athletic coaches to scholarship program directors and residence directors.
The Student Success Dashboard is currently in beta testing. Access to each student’s dashboard will be exclusively granted to faculty and staff based on their relationship with the student to protect student privacy while ensuring students get the support they need.
Other upcoming projects from the Center for Student Success and Retention include an overhaul of the academic concerns system, a policy review on deadlines and final grade options, and engagement with the Center for Faculty Excellence.
“I cannot thank you enough for the ways in which you have been open and generous with your time and your expertise and your caring as we undertake this work. We are pulling people together from across campus, and we will continue to forge these partnerships with you. We're grateful for the ways in which you've been willing to collaborate with us,” said Bleicher.
The gathering closed with President Cornish sharing a message that resonated with her when reading faculty files for tenure applications: “I’m asking as we walk out of here that we dedicate ourselves as a community to be more flexible with our students and one another, more patient with our students and one another, and more kind with our students and one another.”
