Thursday, November 8, 2018

Strategic Priority: Student Success


Strategic Priority: Student Success.

It’s no secret that enrollment at colleges and universities around the country has been declining for several years, including here at BU. Recently I spoke to our campus Forum (an open session for faculty, staff and student leaders) about our strategic priorities for the coming years. One of the top priorities for the coming year is student success.

By enrolling at our institution, our students have entrusted us with their future -- to provide them with high-quality relevant education in their chosen field of study, and to prepare them to compete in the 21st century.

Dr. Daniel Greenstein, our new State System Chancellor, stated this same sentiment during a recent visit to campus: “The challenges … boil down to one, really, how to sustain the system and our universities in order to ensure that all students can affordably get the education they need after high school to support themselves and their families; to participate in the 21st-century economy; and to contribute to their communities.”

To move our students towards that goal, we must be diligent in keeping our students involved with campus life, especially in their first year.  A theory called Alexander Astin's Theory of Involvement, details how student involvement in co-curricular activities such as student organizations, leadership positions, and activity in campus residence halls has a positive correlation with retention and academics (Kuh and Pike, 2005).  Because of the positive aspects of co-curricular involvement, universities have been encouraging students to become involved.  To foster development of that goal here at BU, we’ll look to expand our civic engagement and service learning opportunities along with co-curricular activities for our students.

I am charging our faculty and staff with the goal of raising the retention rate for first-year students by a modest one to two percent. Just a one percent increase is an additional 18 students.  Over four years, that amounts to an additional 72 students.  Our biggest area of concern is our undeclared student population where just 58 percent of the students persist into year two.  Helping these students find a direction will take much work, but we are committed to this goal.  I am confident that the BU family of faculty, staff and administrators are poised to meet and exceed this goal.

In addition, we are looking to increase transfer enrollment by two to three percent and graduate school enrollment by five percent in year one.

There is much work ahead of us in the coming years, but with everyone working towards the common goal, we will be successful.

It’s been said that it takes a village.  For us here at BU, we as a family are committed to ensuring student success – and as I stated during my inauguration address, I am determined to achieve this priority “with my pack of Huskies by my side.” 

Bashar