SST Initiatives

Definition of Student Success

At its first meeting in Fall 2007, the SST Executive Committee approved the following definition of student success at Iowa that will guide the work of the SST:

University of Iowa students succeed when they achieve personal and institutional educational goals. Successful students develop skills and knowledge, become more mature in their thinking, assume greater responsibility for their own lives and learning, develop understanding of diversity and multiculturalism, and become effective leaders.

Student success at The University of Iowa is a shared enterprise. Students succeed by active engagement in educationally-purposeful activities. Faculty, staff, and students create formal and informal learning opportunities on campus and off, and policies, programs, and practices that foster student engagement.

The University measures student and institutional success in undergraduate education by examining a variety of indicators, including measures of learning, persistence, graduation, engagement, health and well-being, and opportunities after graduation.

Initiatives

Student success initiatives support the above definition by encouraging faculty/staff/student partnerships, promoting student engagement in educationally purposeful activities, and communicating clear pathways and supports for success. The following are a couple current initiatives:

Pick One (link to: http://www.uiowa.edu/admissions/undergrad/majors/pick-one.htm): Getting involved matters. Pick One is an SST-initiative to communicate the UI’s expectation that all first year students will get involved in an activity to enrich their educational experience. Support Pick One by wearing your Pick One button, posting a Pick One flyer in your office or reception area, and asking students if they’ve registered their Pick One choice.

The IOWA Challenge (link to: http://thechallenge.uiowa.edu/). The IOWA Challenge expresses important principles that help students succeed in the classroom and beyond. It establishes what The University of Iowa expects from its students, and what students should expect from themselves and each other. In essence, it’s a mission statement for UI students. Learn more about the Challenge and encourage students to engage, stretch, excel, choose, and serve.