Voices are briefs and interviews that highlight “bright spots” in the CSU and examples of middle leadership across the system and within Network activities.
Campus-wide Roles to Improve Student Success
March 2018
Many CSU campuses over the past few years have created senior-level campus-wide positions charged with improving student success. The trend is not unique to the CSU or to California, and the number of online job postings for senior-level positions focusing on “student success” has more than tripled nationally since 2010. No matter which university you call home, refocusing campus structures and culture around student learning and success can be challenging. In the following story, Elizabeth Boretz shares some of her experiences helping CSU Fullerton strengthen its campus-wide approach to student success.
A Two-Way Street: Building a Culture of Data Use by Engaging with Faculty and Staff
February 20118
In May 2017, the CSU Student Success Network convened, and Fresno State hosted, a one-day meeting focused on data use. The convening drew participation from teams of faculty and staff from ten CSU campuses. Afterwards, the team from CSU San Marcos (CSUSM) decided to create a data fellows program to improve their campus’ capacity to use data in decision-making. This is their story of why—and how—they created their program.
Middle Leadership Academy Kicks Off
December 2017
Over three days in November, teams of faculty, staff, and students from nine CSU campuses gathered at Lake Arrowhead to consider strategies for reforming developmental mathematics at their campus. The teams were part of the first CSU Student Success Network Middle Leadership Academy, a structured, year-long, professional learning experience designed to support efforts to improve student learning, engagement, progression, and completion in the CSU.
How “Small Data” Can Address the Limitations of Predictive Analytics
October 2017
Inspired by the CSU Student Success Network’s May convening on data use in the CSU, Ioakim Boutakidis, Associate Professor of Child & Adolescent Studies and Faculty Fellow of Student Success at CSU Fullerton, writes about the “small data” strategies his campus has developed to improve student learning.
Sharing Strategies for Student Success Across CSU Campuses: An Interview with James Drnek
September 2017
Thad Nodine, senior fellow at the Education Insights Center (EdInsights) at Sacramento State, caught up with James Drnek, Associate Vice President of Student Affairs at CSU Bakersfield, after a recent board meeting to discuss his participation in the CSU Student Success Network and its impacts on his campus.
CSU Student Success Network Annual Report 2016-17
August 2017
The CSU Student Success Network completed its first year of operation as a state-supported effort (in addition to funding from the Kresge and College Futures Foundations). The main areas of focus for 2016-17 were to develop a sound infrastructure for the Network (such as building relationships, creating an appropriate staffing structure, and hiring an evaluator) and operationalizing each strand of work.
What is Your Campus Working on to Support Students’ College Readiness?
May 2017
The CSU Student Success Network in the California State University kicked off its 2017 cross-campus convenings by bringing together teams of faculty, staff, and administrators from six CSU campuses to share strategies related to college readiness.
Get Involved in the CSU Student Success Network
May 2017
After two years of planning, the CSU Student Success Network has launched, thanks to the support and involvement of many in the CSU. The Network is connecting faculty, staff, administrators, and students working to improve student learning, engagement, progression, and completion.