Plowman, Williams Talk Student Success with Inside Higher Ed
Chancellor Donde Plowman and Vice Provost for Student Success Amber Williams discussed the university’s innovative work around student well-being and belonging with Inside Higher Ed this month, ahead of the university co-hosting the Student Success US conference.
Plowman and Williams co-authored an op-ed for Inside Higher Ed and sat down for a conversation with Student Success Editor Melissa Ezarik for IHE’s The Key podcast. The publication also featured the university’‘s Tennessee Saturday Night event in a story on its website.
In both the podcast conversation and the op-ed, the two leaders point to innovative approaches that support all students and provide specialized resources for specific student populations like veterans and first-generation students. The efforts have paid off with steadily improving retention and graduation rates that hit new records this fall at 91.9 percent and 74 percent, respectively.
“Finding ways to both personalize the support we offer and scale those resources for a large campus like UT has helped set us apart,” they wrote. “But perhaps what has moved the needle more than anything is the way student success has become both a point of pride and responsibility for the entire university.”
Campus partners, like the Division of Student Life, have contributed to success efforts by creating a sense of community and belonging on campus through signature Welcome Week events like Tennessee Saturday Night. More than 20 departments from across campus participate in the event to connect students with organizations and resources.
“The alignment piece is important, and something that I talk about a lot,” Williams said on the podcast. “There must be alignment amongst the administration on what the goals are. To have that backing and support, it sets the tone for the culture of the campus and has a lot to do with our success.”
Read the full op-ed on the Inside Higher Ed website and listen to the podcast on the website or wherever you get your podcasts.