The Lions Den Classroom is a retention-focused initiative to engage the Deans of the college with more impactful interactions with students majoring in the College of Education and Human Services. It is our belief that students want to have more of a connection with the Deans and want to know who they are. As the Deans visit classrooms with goodies throughout the academic year, it allows students to ask questions, understand the college on a deeper level, and provides them with the opportunity to get a firsthand view of the Deans. Lions Den Classroom most importantly provides students the chance to discover information they would not be able to find anywhere else.

DELIVERY FORMAT: The program is in-person only.

PROGRAM SCALE: Medium-scale (reaches between 10 and 25 percent of its target population)

APPROXIMATE PARTICIPANTS SERVED IN 2021-22: 300-400

HOW TO ENROLL: any student enrolled in classes under COEHS

EVALUATION STATUS: No data related to outcomes have been collected from this program

DEPARTMENT(S) OVERSEEING PROGRAM: College of Education and Human Services

CONTACT FOR MORE INFO: Yolanda Willis at yolanda.willis@tamuc.edu or 2149543611

At LSC-Houston North, we put students first. Each first-time college student enrolled in EDUC 1300 Learning Frameworks course receives a faculty mentor to help guide them through their first semester. Upon completing EDUC 1300, students can opt in to an America Mentor program and be assigned a faculty or staff mentor. Our mentors are devoted to guiding our students and steering them in the right direction.

Each mentor will provide the following benefits:
Practical advice, encouragement, and academic support
Learn from faculty experience
Increase your social and academic confidence
Become more empowered to make decisions
Develop communication, personal, and study skills
Develop strategies for dealing with both personal and academic issues
Identify goals and establish a sense of direction
Increase awareness on campus resources and wraparound services
Increase engagement in campus activities and student organizations

Students and mentors review the program expectations.

Goal: To increase first-time in college students course completion and persistence.
Goal: To increase faculty engagement towards student success.
Target population: First-time in college students and at-risk students.
Objective: To match a student with a mentor each semester.

DELIVERY FORMAT: The program has a hybrid format or has both online and in-person components.

PROGRAM SCALE: Medium-scale (reaches between 10 and 25 percent of its target population)

DEPARTMENT(S) OVERSEEING PROGRAM: Office of Strategic Planning and Innovation Excellence

CONTACT FOR MORE INFO: Barry Horn at Barry.L.Horn@LoneStar.edu or 281-260-3561

Initially funded by a Title V grant for Hispanic-Serving Institutions from the US Department of Education, CASA is Connecting students to the campus community, Acclimating them to the rigors of academic life, helping them Succeed academically, and preparing them to Achieve and compete in college and beyond. The program guides students through the four CASA phases through three initiatives. Information Technology Enhanced Multidisciplinary Academic Learning Lounges (iMALLS) and the Center for Academic Advising and Transition (CAST) are designed to connect students to resources and opportunities to improve academic preparedness while Meaningfully Aligned Targeted Curriculum for Hispanic Students (MATCH) ensures students are receiving best-fit instruction based on proven methods. These three initiatives encompass twelve activities to engage students in research-based programs that facilitate in students a sense of belonging, influence, competence and efficacy. MATCH activities have assisted in increasing the number of students graduating with a degree or certificate within three years from a baseline of 14% to 26%. Hispanic completion was 25%. CAST tutoring and advising activities assisted in increasing the three-year transfer rate of students from a baseline of 6% to 12%. Hispanic transfer was 11%. iMALL activities have assisted in increasing the fall-to-fall persistence of FTIC fulltime students by 7% over the 2014 baseline of 50%. Hispanic student persistence was 61%.

DELIVERY FORMAT: The program has a hybrid format.

PROGRAM SCALE: Large-scale (reaches more than 25 percent of its intended target population)

APPROXIMATE PARTICIPANTS SERVED IN 2021-22: 2,400 as of May 2022

HOW TO ENROLL: All stakeholders have access to most of the activities in this program with the exception of Puente (MI Casa) and the English/Spanish Interpreter Program.

EVALUATION STATUS: Data related to program outcomes are currently being internally collected

DEPARTMENT(S) OVERSEEING PROGRAM: Lone Star College-North Harris Office of Academic Affairs

CONTACT FOR MORE INFO: Anne Albarelli at Anne.T.Albarelli@lonestar.edu or 281-618-5784

The Global GRIT Experience (GGE) has a mission to infuse the principles of grit mindset and behaviors into local and global communities. As a diverse campus, Lone Star College-Tomball seeks to be recognized as a leader in utilizing grit mindset to develop human potential. Some of the goals related to GGE are: make a difference in shifting negative experiences to positives experiences for students, create a Grit focused community that centers on redefining student abilities, support student success beyond college completion, make connection between policies and procedures and student needs in order to inform better practices, work with community partners to promote Grit within our students both on and off campus, create Grit mindset awareness and be a resource for other higher education institutions, increase student persistence, retention, and completion by 2% each academic year, and develop a Grit certification program for the LSC-Tomball community. The target population for GGE is all students enrolled at Lone Star College-Tomball. Additionally, we are seeking ways to increase participation with African American and Hispanic male students.

DELIVERY FORMAT: The program has a hybrid format.

PROGRAM SCALE: Large-scale (reaches more than 25 percent of its intended target population)

HOW TO ENROLL: All stakeholders have access to this program. As such, there is no enrollment process

EVALUATION STATUS: Data related to program outcomes have been internally collected in the past

DEPARTMENT(S) OVERSEEING PROGRAM: Office of Academic Affairs

CONTACT FOR MORE INFO: Katerina Wingfield at katerina.r.wingfield@lonestar.edu or 281-655-3618

The mental Health Awareness Training CErT program is based on the UHCL Counseling and Mental Health Center's mission, “Connect, Empower, Thrive”. The "Connect, Empower, refer, and Thrive (CErT)", training is a research-based program for UHCL students, faculty, and staff on recognizing signs of mental health issues, connecting to resources, preventing poor mental health outcomes, and ensuring student retention and success. The 2-3-hour training contains modules separately targeting faculty/staff; general students and student leaders; veterans; and students seeking teacher certification. The main learning objectives for this training are for participants to learn to identify emerging signs and symptoms of mental health concerns, be able to distinguish skillful ways to intervene with individuals who are experiencing mental health concerns and make referrals to appropriate services, and be able to identify at least two ways to engage in self-care.

DELIVERY FORMAT: The program has a hybrid format or has both online and in-person components.

PROGRAM SCALE: Unknown

DEPARTMENT(S) OVERSEEING PROGRAM: UHCL Counseling and Mental Health Center

CONTACT FOR MORE INFO: Cynthia Cook at cert@uhcl.edu or 2812832580

The Mental Health and Financial Support for the Underserved Students in South Texas program supports students' sense of belonging by providing behavioral health support, career/goal-setting counseling, and financial support to address the primary threats to students' persistence, and/or hesitancy to return for their degree.

DELIVERY FORMAT: The program has a hybrid format or has both online and in-person components.

PROGRAM SCALE: Small-scale (reaches fewer than 10 percent of its target population)

DEPARTMENT(S) OVERSEEING PROGRAM: Student Conduct and Community Engagement

CONTACT FOR MORE INFO: Mayra Hernandez at mghernandez@tamiu.edu or 956-326-2288

Faculty onboarding at TJC includes many components to ensure new and seasoned teachers are prepared to be leaders in the classroom and at the College. Topics covered in this year-long onboarding include: higher education overview, principles of learning, designing curriculum, instructional strategies, assessing outcomes, the role of technology and online learning, the faculty role at TJC, and TJC resources.

DELIVERY FORMAT: The program has a hybrid format.

PROGRAM SCALE: Large-scale (reaches more than 25 percent of its intended target population)

APPROXIMATE PARTICIPANTS SERVED IN 2021-22: 28

HOW TO ENROLL: Participants are automatically enrolled in this program if they meet eligibility requirements

EVALUATION STATUS: Data related to program outcomes are currently being internally collected

DEPARTMENT(S) OVERSEEING PROGRAM: TJC Learning Commons - Office of Professional Development

CONTACT FOR MORE INFO: Katie Moses at katie.craddock@tjc.edu or 903-510-3139

Del Mar College has developed a two-level, asynchronous online training course offered via Canvas, the College’s designated learning management system. In order to achieve the goal of following consistent and effective advising practices, the training course will be made available to faculty and staff members who also serve in advising capacities. The course will be offered twice per year. If there are enough faculty and staff members enrolled, then there will be two sections made available: one for faculty members and one for other personnel who advise students such as chairs, embedded advisors, and enrollment specialists.The College has set a goal of 140 faculty members and 50 staff to complete the Advising Certification Course between 2020-2024.

DELIVERY FORMAT: The program is online only.

PROGRAM SCALE: Medium-scale (reaches between 10 and 25 percent of its target population)

APPROXIMATE PARTICIPANTS SERVED IN 2021-22: 39

HOW TO ENROLL: All stakeholders have access to this program. As such, there is no enrollment process

EVALUATION STATUS: Data related to program outcomes have been internally and externally collected in the past

DEPARTMENT(S) OVERSEEING PROGRAM: Leticia Wilson, Director of Advising Initiatives, Student Affairs, Del Mar College

CONTACT FOR MORE INFO: Leticia Wilson at lwilson21@delmar.edu or 361-698-2129

As food insecurity becomes a growing concern for college campuses, Rice is proud to join the efforts of campus food pantries nationwide. The Pantry operates on a good faith basis and is an anonymous resource for all students, faculty, staff, and community members. It is our goal to ensure The Pantry is a space where individuals feel welcome and that this is an accessible resource.

DELIVERY FORMAT: The program is in-person only.

PROGRAM SCALE: Small-scale (reaches fewer than 10 percent of its target population)

PROGRAM OUTCOMES: The anonymous student surveys allow our office to receive up to date feedback from our repeat community members and new users. The findings display the needs of our community members and their experience when utilizing the service. We are able to use the evaluations to ensure that our goal for the space is being maintained and upheld to the accessibility standard.

DEPARTMENT(S) OVERSEEING PROGRAM: The Office of Student Success Initiatives

CONTACT FOR MORE INFO: Chelsea Blake at cb106@rice.edu or 713-348-7478

The Pathways Academic Assistance Center's (PAAC) mission is to help students become successful and confident academically by: modeling the AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) Socratic Tutorial strategies by providing the tools and resources necessary to assume responsibility for their own learning; asking higher-level questions to gain a deeper understanding of their rigorous content through critical thinking and inquiry process; and utilizing Cornell note-taking as a method for mastering information, stressing Writing, Inquiry, Collaboration, Organization, and Reading (WICOR). Our tutors understand that students encounter the learning process with different degrees of strength and comfort; therefore, a collaborative approach guides our practice. Tutors and students engage in one-on-one and/or peer conversations about the subject area while sharing knowledge and granting authority to both the tutor and student. We recognize that differences in proficiency, linguistic and cultural background need to be taken into consideration when helping students to become efficient learners.

DELIVERY FORMAT: The program has a hybrid format.

PROGRAM SCALE: Medium-scale (reaches between 10 and 25 percent of its target population)

APPROXIMATE PARTICIPANTS SERVED IN 2021-22: 1000

HOW TO ENROLL: All stakeholders have access to this program. As such, there is no enrollment process

DEPARTMENT(S) OVERSEEING PROGRAM: Center for Student Success

CONTACT FOR MORE INFO: Christina Gonzalez at christina.rodriguez-gonzalez@tamuk.edu or 3615935250

Peer-Led Team Learning (PLTL) allows student to work in small groups of 8 facilitated by peers who have successfully passed the course. Students in PLTL work on practice problem sets developed by UTA faculty. PLTL sessions are facilitated once a week and attendance is mandatory. After a weekly meeting with faculty, PLTL Leaders will meet with the group throughout the entire semester to help with conceptual content and study skills.

DELIVERY FORMAT: The program is in-person only.

PROGRAM SCALE: Medium-scale (reaches between 10 and 25 percent of its target population)

PROGRAM OUTCOMES: The PLTL model was successful in decreasing the DFW rate in PLTL supported courses in 21-22. PLTL decreased DFW rates between 4% to 40% across courses. Supported courses are MATH 1426 (Calculus I), MATH 2425 (Calculus II), MATH 2326 (Calculus III), CHEM 1441 (General Chemistry I), CHEM 1442 (General Chemistry II) and CHEM 1465 (Chemistry for Engineers).

DEPARTMENT(S) OVERSEEING PROGRAM: Academic Success Center - Division of Student Success

CONTACT FOR MORE INFO: Catherine Unite - Director at unitec@uta.edu or 817-272-0761

We created two writing instruction (WI) courses for each discipline where specific aspects of writing within that discipline were taught, practiced, and refined. We encouraged programs to have one WI course early in the curriculum and one later in the curriculum. We worked to align the University Writing Center and Library with these efforts. We offered grants, stipends, and learning experiences for faculty engaged in these efforts.

DELIVERY FORMAT: The program has a hybrid format or has both online and in-person components.

PROGRAM SCALE: Large-scale (reaches more than 25 percent of its intended target population)

DEPARTMENT(S) OVERSEEING PROGRAM: Provost's Office

CONTACT FOR MORE INFO: Lisa Bunkowski at lisa.bunkowski@tamuct.edu or 2545195493

The Racial Justice Habit Building 21-Day challenge is intended to engage faculty and staff in learning about racial injustice and advocating for anti-racism related to a different culture each termination. Throughout the challenge, participants will build in-depth knowledge and awareness about the experiences within a broader cultural or ethnic community. The 21-Day challenge involves a five-week curriculum of short daily assignments and virtual group discussions. The 2021 challenge centered on African-American experiences, and the 2022 challenge focused on Latinx/Latine experiences.

DELIVERY FORMAT: The program is online only.

PROGRAM SCALE: Small-scale (reaches fewer than 10 percent of its target population)

APPROXIMATE PARTICIPANTS SERVED IN 2021-22: 60

HOW TO ENROLL: Participants must apply to enroll in this program

WEBSITE TO APPLY: https://www.utsa.edu/students/multicultural/trainings/21DayChallenge.html

EVALUATION STATUS: Data related to program outcomes are currently being internally collected

DEPARTMENT(S) OVERSEEING PROGRAM: Multicultural Student Center for Equity and Justice and the Office of Inclusive Excellence

CONTACT FOR MORE INFO: Dr. Brandi Scott at brandi.scott@utsa.edu or 210-458-4770

The Rise as One for UT Tyler Students’ Success Project will: 1) implement a multilayered series of professional development opportunities for faculty and advisors, specifically targeting faculty teaching courses serving incoming first-time in college (FTIC) and transfer students, thereby promoting a growth mindset, increasing students’ sense of belonging, elevating engagement in academic courses, and supporting underprepared learners; and 2) implement new engaging virtual orientation experiences and onboarding opportunities for undergraduate students.

DELIVERY FORMAT: The program has a hybrid format or has both online and in-person components.

PROGRAM SCALE: Medium-scale (reaches between 10 and 25 percent of its target population)

DEPARTMENT(S) OVERSEEING PROGRAM: Student Success for Orientation, Academic Success for Professional Development

CONTACT FOR MORE INFO: Colleen Swain at cswain@uttyler.edu or 903.565.5898

SOAR support first-time students to CTC in fall 2022, spring of 2023 and fall of 2023. Additionally, workshops and sponsored programming for faculty, staff and students will be continued from the Planning Grant, but the focus will be on relationship-building with students using an equity and success mindset. Specific components of SOAR include:
• Success mentoring to include direct aid for CTC students
• Success and equity programming and support for CTC students
• Campus Dialogues on equity, success and mentoring targeting students, faculty and staff
• Directed and intentional student communication and assessment regarding the CTC experience

SOAR builds on CTC’s Planning Grant whereby a workshop series on success, equity and engagement for faculty and staff was held in order to collect valuable feedback about initiatives being pursued and those that should be pursued. SOAR also builds on the work of the Student Success Advisory Team (SSAT) who studied first time at CTC cohorts in fall of 2019, 2020 and 2021 and determined that CTC loses the first-time population in the fall or immediately following the fall and that over half of the cohort are part-time, do not access a Pell, and do not complete the classes that they initially enroll in. Intentional support for these students and the issues that they face and continued training to the faculty and staff who serve them are required.

DELIVERY FORMAT: The program has a hybrid format or has both online and in-person components.

PROGRAM SCALE: Medium-scale (reaches between 10 and 25 percent of its target population)

DEPARTMENT(S) OVERSEEING PROGRAM: Academic Success Center/ Student Success and Persistence

CONTACT FOR MORE INFO: Julie Starkey at jstarkey@ctcd.edu or 254-526-1450

The STEP Learning Assistants (LAs) Program in the Teaching, Learning & Professional Development Center (TLPDC) began in Fall 2019 and was adapted for remote instruction during the COVID-19 pandemic. LAs returned to face to face classrooms in Spring of 2022. As of May 2022, the STEP Program had 67 LAs across six STEM course sections, in three departments involving approximately 1500 students at TTU. Learning Assistants offer a student persistence/retention strategy that complements other resources on campus. LAs attend the course and are directed by Instructors of Record during applied problem-solving portions of the class. They provide real-time, hands-on learning assistance for enrolled students. The LAs are provided pedagogical training and are supervised by the TLPDC at Texas Tech University. Learning Assistants have been shown to increase student persistence by lowering DFW rates among all LA-course enrolled students (Loes, Saichaie & Pascarella, 2017), as well as a reduction in DFW rates for underrepresented groups (Alzen, Langdon, Otero 2017). Additional research shows improved outcomes for the LAs themselves, as compared to their non-LA peers (Otero 2015). The STEP LA Program continues to grow in popularity among students, faculty and administration at Texas Tech University.

DELIVERY FORMAT: The program is in-person only.

PROGRAM SCALE: Small-scale (reaches fewer than 10 percent of its target population)

APPROXIMATE PARTICIPANTS SERVED IN 2021-22: 3000

HOW TO ENROLL: No barrier to entry for students enrolled in LA-staffed courses benefit. LAs must Apply to serve as an LA

EVALUATION STATUS: Data related to program outcomes are currently being internally collected

DEPARTMENT(S) OVERSEEING PROGRAM: Teaching, Learning & Professional Development Program

CONTACT FOR MORE INFO: Dr. Ken Griffith at ken.griffith@ttu.edu or 8068344865

UTRGV has developed a model for student success partnerships that brings together faculty alongside staff from our Center for Teaching Excellence, Center for Online Learning & Teaching with Technology, Learning Center, and Writing Center, with the goals of 1) analyzing student success data in key gatekeeper courses and 2) co-designing strategies and initiatives that will positively impact student persistence and completion. Faculty and Student Success staff work together to better understand students' unique needs and to determine how to best address them. Specific strategies implemented include integrated academic supports such as embedded peer collaborative learning, targeted professional development for faculty teaching gatekeeper courses, opportunities for trained student assistants to provide feedback to faculty on their course materials and pedagogical strategies, and "second chance" opportunities for students who haven't mastered course material to extend their semester by a few weeks in an effort to avoid having to re-enroll in the course the next semester.

DELIVERY FORMAT: The program has a hybrid format or has both online and in-person components.

PROGRAM SCALE: Medium-scale (reaches between 10 and 25 percent of its target population)

PROGRAM OUTCOMES: Preliminary grade data from Spring 2023 is trending in a positive direction year over year, with notable decreases in DFW rates in ENGL 1301 and MATH 1314. Preliminary data from student surveys has yielded positive feedback, as well, noting that students are experiencing a greater sense of understanding of course content and greater confidence to interact with peers and university resources. These early indicators are usually markers for persistence and retention.

DEPARTMENT(S) OVERSEEING PROGRAM: Office of Student Success

CONTACT FOR MORE INFO: Dr. Jonikka Charlton, Associate Provost of Student Success at jonikka.charlton@utrgv.edu or 956-665-7919

Service-learning is utilized as a teaching method by faculty at UTEP as a way to help students meet class learning objectives, and to practice what they learn in the classroom out in the community. It is also utilized to help students develop professional preparedness skills, civic engagement mindset and social responsibility, and personal development awareness. Service-learning helps students persist through their education and to develop a sense of self in society.

Service-learning is integrated in over 400 course sections at UTEP and is adopted by over 300 faculty. At least one course in each department is community engaged or a service-learning course. Students in these courses are granted academic credit for their learning and participation in the experiences. Programming support for students and faculty is offered through the university's Center for Community Engagement which has existed since 1998.

DELIVERY FORMAT: The program has a hybrid format.

PROGRAM SCALE: Large-scale (reaches more than 25 percent of its intended target population)

APPROXIMATE PARTICIPANTS SERVED IN 2021-22: 6000

HOW TO ENROLL: Participants enrolled in certain courses are automatically enrolled in the program or practice

EVALUATION STATUS: Data related to program outcomes have been internally and externally collected in the past

DEPARTMENT(S) OVERSEEING PROGRAM: Center for Community Engagement

CONTACT FOR MORE INFO: Azuri Gonzalez at azurig@utep.edu or 9157477969

The Somos Unidos “ One Word Project" is a student success initiative designed to accelerate mentor training and knowledge to support first-generation students and positively increase student retention and graduation rates. In partnership with the UIW FLIGHT Mentor Center, this project further expands UIWs ability to improve outcomes for first-generation students through curricular and co-curricular programming as well as professional development for faculty and staff. The intent is to create a sense of belonging for our students and methods to help students develop confidence and their own voices, ultimately strengthening retention rates amongst first-generation students. The Somos Unidos “ One Word Project seeks to raise the UIW retention rate to its institutional goal of 75% and close the gap each semester between these underserved populations and all other groups combined.

DELIVERY FORMAT: The program is in-person only.

PROGRAM SCALE: Medium-scale (reaches between 10 and 25 percent of its target population)

PROGRAM OUTCOMES: First-Generation Celebration Survey
64% of respondents identified as first-generation.
19% of respondents usually tell their classmates they are first generation, while 27% only reveal in relevant situations
63% of respondents felt their was more academic support than expected before starting at the university
The most important services most helpful for first generation students were identified as celebration events, advising support, and financial aid support.
A low awareness of support services for first generation students indicates the need for opportunities for the institution to increase efforts to help first generation students know what supports are available.

DEPARTMENT(S) OVERSEEING PROGRAM: Office of Student Success (website to be launched in Fall 2023)

CONTACT FOR MORE INFO: Dr. Monica Ayala Jimenez at monica.jimenez@uiwtx.edu or 210-805-3005

Rebranded and launched in 2020, the Student Experience Internship (SEI) Program, formerly known as Student Employment Initiative, was created through the Career Center in partnership between Office of Student Success, Human Resources, Dean of Students, and Academic Advising. The SEI Program is an initiative that provides on-campus internship opportunities for undergraduate students to grow in skill, expand in learning, and realize their potential through an enriched internship experience.

The Student Experience Internship Program will:

1. Allow colleges and departments of The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley to develop and offer quality internship experiences with learning outcomes related to a student's field of study
2. Provide opportunities for department supervisors, faculty, and mentors to train and guide SEI talent throughout the entire program
3. Allow students to engage with faculty, staff, and peers of different backgrounds and acquire social, cultural, and ethical development
4. Positively impact our students' time to graduate
5. Offer student the opportunity to obtain knowledge and experience that will be beneficial to their career and professional development
6. Provide students with skill development and improve their leadership abilities

DELIVERY FORMAT: The program has a hybrid format.

APPROXIMATE PARTICIPANTS SERVED IN 2021-22: 73

HOW TO ENROLL: Participants must apply to enroll in this program

WEBSITE TO APPLY: Handshake, the university's job platform

EVALUATION STATUS: Data related to program outcomes are currently being internally collected

DEPARTMENT(S) OVERSEEING PROGRAM: Career Center

CONTACT FOR MORE INFO: Jack Kaufold at jack.kaufold@utrgv.edu or 956-665-2246