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Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost

Student Success Task Force

Charge

children at USF entrance

Reporting to the Provost, and Vice President for Student Affairs, the Task Force will:

  1. Develop an operational definition of Student Success for USF,
  2. Through carefully structured Student Success Teams, conduct a comprehensive,  rigorous and evidence-based institutional assessment,
  3. Examine best practices at “like” institutions and conduct a performance “gap analysis”,
  4. Establish goals for USF, 2010/2011 through 2020/2021, framed around policy, practices, programs, personnel and performance,
  5. Present actionable and prioritized recommendations for radically transforming Student Success at USF (by April 15, 2010), and
  6. Include recommendations on how we most effectively engage the broader USF community in taking ownership of Student Success.  

Goals

To achieve institutional behaviors and outcomes consistent with our national peers and to establish a national model of excellence at USF through:

  • continuing our commitment to access and diversity
  • renewing our focus on academic attainment
  • improving levels of college preparedness for admitted students through shaping our student profile
  • enhancing academic progress, graduation rates and time-to-graduation and reducing disparities
  • reducing excess hours and thus SCH to degree
  • reducing student debt
  • enhancing student and alumni satisfaction
  • improving student progression rates to graduate school
  • improving career placement and competitiveness in the marketplace

Articulating a Vision for Student Success at USF

Successful undergraduate and graduate students will enter USF both academically and personally prepared to complete a rigorous and systematic path of learning that will enrich their lives and contribute to society’s wellbeing.  Along that path they will be provided the requisite support to ensure their timely progression and attainment of relevant knowledge, skills and competencies essential to contributing to, and competing successfully in, the global marketplace of ideas. By fully engaging with a safe, secure and diverse community of scholars, successful students will develop a high degree of satisfaction and pride in their USF experience and will demonstrate optimal levels of persistence and enhanced graduation rates, so maximizing their opportunities for progression to graduate and professional programs, enhancing career placement and minimizing their financial indebtedness through eliminating excess hours and related strategies.   

Task Force Documents

Task Force Teams

Student Readiness

Charge: Examine the extent to which USF students were and are prepared for success in their undergraduate studies.  The scope of the examination will include outreach and recruitment policies and programs; admissions policies and procedures; the application process up to and including enrollment; alignment with high schools and community colleges; state and national trends and policies.

Student Support Services and Policies

Charge: Examine the efficacy of student support programs throughout the university, including but not limited to: orientation or other transitional programs, advising; tutoring; mentoring; supplemental instruction; and college readiness programs (FSI, etc.).  The team will also review all policies that might facilitate or slow student progression.

Access and Affordability

Charge: Affordability is a critical factor that determines whether a student progresses toward a college degree.    The team will examine the extent to which national, state, and institutional financial aid facilitates student persistence and success.  The scope of the analysis will include but not be limited to the rising costs of higher education; national, state, and institutional financial aid programs and policies; and student borrowing and indebtedness.

Instruction

Charge: Examine the efficacy of instructional methods, support systems for faculty, learning technology, classroom facilities, library resources, and learning outcomes at the undergraduate level.

The Campus Experience

Charge: Among institutional conditions linked to persistence and satisfaction are systems, processes, practices, and procedures.    These factors include such activities as registration, paying their bill, getting medical attention, obtaining housing, securing meal plans, parking passes, etc.   The team will examine all non policies and procedures that require aspects of student life for students to be ready to study, work, be involved and live on campus. 

The Graduate Experience

Charge: Examine all aspects of the student graduate school experience, including time to degree, curriculum, program offerings, financial aid, career planning and placement.

The Student Experience

Charge: Examine the out of classroom experience and perceptions of USF held by current and former students to identify academic and non-academic areas in which USF can do more to facilitate student success.  The scope of work will include, but not be limited to residential life, health services, athletics, parking and transportation services, international affairs, enrollment management dining services, bookstore, Marshall Center, campus activities and events, diversity, and multiculturalism.

The Curriculum

Charge: Examine all aspects of the undergraduate curriculum to identify areas of improvement, including academic programs, scheduling, classroom facilities, and other issues that may impede a students’ progress.

Task Force Members

View a list of the Task Force Committee Members

Coordinator

Paul Dosal, Ph.D.
Director of Student Success and Executive Director of ENLACE Florida
Professor, Department of History

Resources