“What worked for college students 20 years ago is not what works now,” said Ginny Smith, the first director of Student Success at the College of Business (COB).
When students succeed, everyone wins. That recognition across the COB has led to several new initiatives and processes in the last year with more ahead. The overarching goal is helping students feel connected and supported while they develop both the content knowledge and soft skills employers are looking for.
Through her newly created role, Smith collaborates with COB colleagues, other areas at Illinois State University, alumni, and employers. Together, they identify, create, promote, and refine various supports and experiences students need to sustain their momentum from recruitment through graduation and employment.
Smith is especially thankful for the leadership team in the college and the support of colleagues. “They are willing to embrace change and not get stuck on policies and ways of operating that make no sense for this current generation of students.”
According to Smith, student success initiatives are varied to meet the range of needs among today’s students. Access to scholarships is crucial for many. For others, having advisors and faculty who lean in with coaching and encouragement when academic challenges emerge is pivotal. Even fun activities like Popcorn Thursdays or trick-or-treating around the COB are important because they help students feel connected and valued outside the classroom.
“At the end of the day, we want to retain our students and make sure they are not just getting through but thriving.”
Ginny Smith
Early and sustained engagement
Several important operational enhancements have been piloted with excellent results as part of student success efforts in the college.
At one time academic advisors had an average caseload of 800 students. “With such large numbers it was difficult for advisors to provide the personal attention they wanted to give students,” said Smith. “The college has added more advisors and now each serves about 350 business majors, which is a game-changer.”
By collaborating to re-imagine the early student journey, faculty, and administrators created opportunities for business students to enroll in courses specific to their majors by sophomore year. “Creating this richer student experience really demonstrates the broad commitment to student success at the college,” added Smith.
The Redbird Career Portfolio is an online soft skill badging system that has also been given a boost under this initiative. Now several of the competencies endorsed by the National Association of Colleges and Employers are baked into Business 100. With that as a foundation, students can continue to grow and document their expanding competencies in the system by participating in registered organizations, Business Week, internships, and other preprofessional experiences each semester.
After a refresh has been completed, the former COB interview suite will become a physical space dedicated to sustaining and expanding the efforts underway. Smith shared that employers and alumni will also be able to use the Student Success Center as a place to hold interviews or work between meetings while on campus.
Retention
“At the end of the day, we want to retain our students and make sure they are not just getting through but thriving. We want them to experience supports and connections throughout their College of Business journey,” said Smith. “And if all this makes you wish you were a COB student today instead of when you attended, that’s good!”
