The Student Experience and Student Success
I have been holding “study breaks” with students for my 11 years as a college president. These informal sit-downs give me a chance to hear what students want and need from me and the campus. Sometimes I like what I hear and sometimes I don’t but, in either case, hearing it is important. Communication is important and it is an important part of our plans for the future. Those plans are guided by five themes and one of those themes is aimed squarely at you, our students. It is the theme of the Student Experience and Success. I want to zero in on that theme in this first entry on my blog (my attempt to better communicate with you) because it is the one that is most important to you each day.
We know from a lot of research that your success on the campus is tied to how much you are connected to the campus. For example, do you belong to a club, or are you involved in student government, athletics, Greek Life, or do you have a faculty mentor (the list goes on and on)? The more you are engaged, the more you are connected, the more likely you will stay with us and graduate and the more likely you will feel “good” about the experience you have had. Why is that outcome important? For two reasons: first, we want you to be successful and we want you to enjoy your days with us; second, an institution builds on its reputation and that reputation in many ways is determined by the feedback that is provided by our graduates and their employers.
When you look back at your years with us we want you to have enjoyed the experience and received good education — have had fun but also worked hard and learned. We also know you will share those thoughts with many others as the years pass. We are doing a lot to make this outcome a reality beginning with the new student orientation and welcome week and Fabulous February, through enhanced Student Life activities, through working with the SGA and ORG, and through mandatory advising to make sure that each of you is aware where you are in your educational journey and what choices you have ahead of you. This past January, for example, we held two conferences for faculty: one focused on advising and one focused on the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) which provides feedback about academic quality and the student experience as it relates to that quality.
It is time we listen to you the students and hear what you have to say on a more regular basis. What does Student Experience and Success mean to you? How can we make it happen together? We are trying to do our part. We need all of you to do yours. Get connected and make a difference. Get involved, be engaged and communicate with us too. Help build this institution to “the next level.” If you do, we will both gain as will many generations of students that follow.
Think about it. Become a part of the Towson University Community. And remember, it is great to have fun, but don’t lose the opportunity to grow and learn too. You can do both. Have a great semester.
NOTE: Take a look at the “Jump In” link for some of the activities coming up in the next few weeks that could involve you.
