In Support of Student Success

In September 2006, President Michael Schwartz appointed a President's Commission on Student Success. Associate professors Elizabeth Lehfeldt, history, and Rodger Govea, political science, were named Special Assistants to the President for Student Success. During the past year these Special Assistants have been the driving forces behind the new commission. They have engaged the Commission members in sponsoring college specific forums on student faculty engagement. These forums featured a dialogue among faculty who shared their experiences in fostering student clubs, engaging students in research, and taking students to conferences.

The Special Assistants for Student Success have developed three initiatives that are noteworthy.

1. First, they devised a program for academically strong students that provides them with financial assistance while enhancing the college's and program's identity.
2. Second, they targeted academically struggling students by pursuing an early alert system, and enhancing advising.
3. Third, they pursued student-faculty engagement through ongoing forums, incentives/recognition, and a common book for first-year reading.

The Special Assistants have presented CSU faculty's perspectives on student learning at all weekly New Student Orientation Sessions since last April. These presentations are well received by prospective parents and students.