Higher Ed Student Success: A Snapshot of Progress and Opportunity

Defining student success in higher education is complex. Colleges and universities are navigating a dynamic era marked by shifting student expectations, technological advancements, and complex societal challenges. What was once measured by grades and graduation rates has now transformed into an ever-changing concept encompassing holistic well-being, meaningful campus experiences, and preparation for life after college.

However you, your students, and your school define it, student success is the heartbeat of higher education, driving institutions to innovate, adapt, and prioritize what truly matters: empowering students to thrive academically, personally, and professionally.

Inside Higher Ed’s inaugural survey of college and university student success administrators, “2024 Survey of College and University Student Success Administrators,” offers a revealing look into how institutions of higher education are navigating the complexities of modern student success. An expert panel of higher education leaders discussed the findings in a recent webinar that offered valuable insights into what colleges are doing well and what improvements are needed. The panel focused on better serving students in four core areas of student success: academic life, health and wellness, college experience, and career readiness.

Academic life: Data as a compass

Nearly all administrators rated undergraduate education quality as good or excellent, and about 60% believe their institution prioritizes student success effectively. However, fewer feel confident about their institution’s ability to collect and analyze student success data. This disconnect highlights an opportunity to refine data strategies for targeted improvement.

“Data is basically our GPS. It tells us how we’re doing, where to go, how to deploy targeted supports and resources,” said Jhenai Chandler, Vice President for Research and Policy at NASPA. “Improving data capacity and accessibility of student success data is really critical to inform and drive student success efforts on campuses.”

At The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), Senior Vice Provost for Student Success Tammy Wyatt agreed and shared how her team is leveraging data to drive results.

“We should commit not only to using data more effectively, but also fostering a culture of data fluency across all of our teams to ensure that those actionable insights lead to meaningful improvements for our students,” said Wyatt.

UTSA has “purposefully and strategically implemented a comprehensive assessment plan to evaluate the impact of their initiatives regularly.” Wyatt emphasized the need for cross-functional collaboration, highlighting her office’s work in partnership with the university’s Office of Institutional Research to foster a culture of data fluency across the institution to ensure everyone has the skills and access to interpret data and feels empowered to act on that data effectively.

“It’s okay to make changes. It’s okay to even sunset things,” said Wyatt. “I think that’s an important aspect…that we have to be okay with that and go where the data tells us we need to go.”

Wyatt also points out the need to help students better understand and use generative AI in an increasingly technology-driven world.

“By integrating AI literacy into the curriculum, offering hands-on experiences, and building partnerships with industry, we can equip students with the skills to thrive in the modern workforce,” said Wyatt. “I think both data and the role of AI underscore the need for higher education to remain adaptive and innovative as we focus on empowering our students to succeed in this very rapidly changing landscape.”

The college experience: Fostering belonging and inclusion

Holistic student success hinges on creating environments where students can thrive academically, socially, and personally. Chandler underscored the importance of creating environments where every student, regardless of their background, has access to data-informed high-impact practices, mentorship, and resources to thrive academically and personally. This approach involves recognizing the value of the diverse identities and cultural wealth students bring to campus and integrating that into their curriculum to contextualize content and make it relevant to their experiences.

The panel also discussed the need for increased emphasis on student belonging and campus involvement, focusing on helping students see the connection between their participation and success.

Health and wellness: Bridging the gaps

While institutions are making strides in mental health support, there is still work to be done – particularly in addressing students’ financial well-being. According to Inside Higher Ed’s annual Student Voice survey, while 75% of administrators rated their institutions as doing well in promoting overall well-being, only 52% of students agreed. While Inside Higher Ed editors said the two surveys are not parallel, they were made with each other in mind to help further draw comparisons between perceptions of administrators versus students.

Wyatt applauds the progress colleges and universities have made in increasing mental health services, including at UTSA, where the university system scaled telehealth with TimelyCare, professional development for faculty to identify and address distress, and targeted wellness initiatives. However, Wyatt points out a critical gap in addressing financial stress for students who often juggle work, family responsibilities, and education.

“Financial stress is a significant barrier to their success,” she said, underscoring the importance of embedding financial literacy in first-year programming, offering one-on-one coaching, and standardizing paid internships to mitigate what they described as “the cost of experience.”

Chandler referenced NASPA’s “2024 Top Issues in Student Affairs” report, highlighting overlooked challenges like the need for peer-support training and campus-wide collaboration on mental health and financial resources. She stressed the importance of clear communication so students know where to turn during crises.

“How do you ensure that students know where to go on campus, who to contact when they’re having a financial or mental health crisis?” she asked, calling for more integrated and accessible support systems.

Career readiness: The value of experience

While administrators and students agree on the importance of career readiness, their priorities differ. Administrators primarily focus on general career exploration, but students emphasize internships and job opportunities as the most valuable preparation.

Institutions must bridge this gap by prioritizing experiential learning, from paid internships to hands-on industry partnerships, that align with students’ career aspirations.

Moving forward: Intentionality and collaboration

As institutions aim to enhance student outcomes, campus leaders must prioritize aligning resources, data, and student needs. Whether through bolstering mental health initiatives, fostering career readiness, or embracing innovative technologies, the message is clear: student success requires intentionality, collaboration, and a commitment to continuous improvement.

By addressing gaps in data utilization, prioritizing affordability, and ensuring holistic support, institutions can better meet the needs of today’s diverse and dynamic student body.