FAQs

Launched in 2016, the Network hosts a slate of activities to help middle leaders circle-info develop skills to lead from where they sit. It also produces original research to help people within the system learn more about a range of issues that affect student success. Participants in Network activities have access to a growing community of colleagues who share a commitment to strengthening student success.

Through our activities, we create spaces for passionate middle leaders throughout the system to collaborate, experiment, and share evidence. Teams come together to support system goals, like increasing four-and six-year graduation rates; closing critical opportunity gaps; and supporting equity-minded evidence-based inquiry and action.

The Network is facilitated by the Education Insights Center (EdInsights), which is housed at Sacramento State. The Network hosts activities across the state and is committed to making all events and activities accessible to every campus.

All of us, whether we are in formal positions of power or not, have the ability to make positive changes. In the CSU Student Success Network we believe that “middle leaders” are an under-supported resource for making student-focused change on campus. Education research identifies these, or parallel positions, as central to change management opportunities in both K-12 and postsecondary settings. At the CSU, these positions can include students, student services staff, faculty, department chairs, deans and associate deans, directors and assistant directors, and institutional researchers, among others. Many middle leaders do not have formal leadership duties but tend to:

• Have long tenures on campus;
• Work closely with students and understand their needs;
• Serve on policy, budget, and hiring committees;
• Be well versed in the intricacies of their institutions; and
• Advance during their careers to increasing levels of authority.

Middle leaders who are well informed about and engaged in a change process can be pivotal in (1) shaping systems and programs to focus on students and serve them equitably, and (2) encouraging colleagues to join efforts to improve equitable student learning and success.

Topics are chosen in response to a number of factors, including campus demand, consultation with the Advisory Board, and input from the Chancellor’s Office. The Network seeks out issues that are important to a substantial percentage of campuses. If you would like to recommend a topic that you think would be relevant to other middle leaders in the CSU system, please contact us at studentsuccessnetwork@edinsightscenter.org. 

The Network is guided by an Advisory Board composed of representatives from CSU campuses who serve in a variety of roles. The Advisory Board meets six times a year to provide oversight and direction for all Network activities.

The Network supports three primary activities: the Middle Leadership Academy, Convenings and Applied Research.

The Middle Leadership Academy is a year-long leadership program that empowers participants to forge deeper relationships with colleagues and develop skills for making change from where they sit. The Academy brings together campus-based, cross-role teams in a collaborative and supportive environment, with a peer facilitator from another campus, to work on issues that support equitable student success. Together, team members identify common challenges faced by students at their campus, develop a shared vision to improve practices, and communicate about what works (and what doesn’t) for students on their respective campuses.

Convenings are one-day workshops built around a student success issue of importance to CSU campuses. Each workshop is hosted by a CSU campus, and is designed to stimulate conversations, build cross-campus relationships around shared problems of practice and ensure that each campus team leaves with a plan of action it developed over the course of the workshop. Every campus is invited to assemble a team of faculty, staff, administrators and students who are working on issues related to the workshop topic. There, teams will familiarize themselves with the relevant literature, share knowledge with colleagues, and explore their own campus’s student level data.

Applied Research seeks to make sense of the different aspects of students’ experiences in the CSU. Network research helps develop shared language and knowledge on key topics. Findings from this and all other Network activities are shared with CSU stakeholders via the Knowledge Center to help bring about mutual understanding and equity-minded evidence-based change.

The CSU Student Success Network Conference was a virtual conference designed by and for middle leaders and students in the CSU, held in 2020, 2021 and 2022. Its purpose was to advance equitable student success by providing faculty, staff, administrators, and students with an annual statewide opportunity to share actionable research, evidence, and practices for use or adaptation on our own campuses. 

The Network’s Equity in Action Grant Program sought to invest resources back into the system to identify, understand, and disrupt inequities, as well as focusing on opportunities for students to learn, engage, progress, and complete courses on time. The intention of this program was to draw faculty, staff, students, and middle level administrators to support innovative thinking, research, and evidence-based practices that lead to institutional change, which specifically address equity-related challenges.

Attendance is mandatory. A commitment to participate in Network events should be treated like any other mandatory professional obligation. Public dollars support this work and must be used responsibly. Part of the success of the Academy is your professional development and growth alongside coworkers and colleagues at your and other institutions. If you know in advance that you will not be able to attend every session, we recommend that you apply again next year.

For more information, visit the Middle Leadership Academy FAQs.

Participation is free for people in the CSU. Reasonable travel expenses for attending Network events are generally covered too, please see each event’s relevant travel information.

Everyone has their own reasons for participating in Network events: looking for a community of like-minded colleagues who share a passion for improving student outcomes; interest in a particular convening topic; and/or looking to develop leadership skills. The Network is committed to making the experiences as meaningful as possible.

Because many Network activities require a significant commitment of time, attendees are expected to have the support and approval that they would have for any other professional development or travel obligation. Middle Leadership Academy teams are required to submit a letter of support from an appropriate administrator. In many cases, attending an event will be considered a professional learning experience; however, it is important to review your campus leave policy to avoid surprises.