National Institute for Student Success Engagement (NISS)
Project leads: Dr. Yvette Mozie-ross and Dr. Carlos Jensen. Through the strategic work of four dedicated workgroups, the NISS project has already led to significant improvements in our student success infrastructure. These accomplishments include: 1) Revising the SAP review process to occur each semester rather than annually which enhanced access to SAP indicators for both students and advisors to better support academic planning and recovery. 2) Establishing the Academic Advising Council to promote greater consistency and quality in advising across campus. 3) Launching the Course Outcomes Committee to monitor and address courses with high DFW rates that hinder students’ progress toward degree completion. 4) Reviewing student-facing communications to better understand how students prefer to receive information and which communication methods are most effective.6
Black Student Success Initiative (BSSI)
Project Lead: Dr. Ronita Walker. The UIA STARS (Students Transferring and Redefining Success) Program is a scholarship program available to entering transfer students. Program recipients receive a $1,000 scholarship ($500 per semester) for their first year at UMBC. This program employs a cohort-based model with peer mentoring/advocacy, support services and scholarships.
Learning Innovations Grant (Faculty Fellow)
Project Lead: Dr. Liz Patton. Project object is to identify and document existing learning interventions and facilitate adoption of the best-fit intervention across additional campuses. UMBC’s Faculty Fellow Dr. Liz Patton completed a Metacognitive workshop with STARS UNIV 301 course and helped students identify their learning style. Students’ insights on UMBC resources were analyzed and evaluated.
Degree Completion Grant
Project Lead: Dr. Yvette Mozie-Ross. Received a $45K grant to pilot UIA Degree Completion Grant Playbook and to explore the use of asset-based language in financial award notification. Grants awarded to students with outstanding balances preventing enrollment in Fall 2022 and Spring 2023.
Work+Collective Institute
Project Lead: Annie Bryd, James Devita, Melody Wright.
Purpose: The Working Group is charged with examining and reimagining our institution’s understanding of on-campus student employment. Specifically, the group will explore how student employment can better serve working learners and supervisors by identifying strategies and structures that ensure equitable access to, and facilitation of, meaningful high impact work-based learning experiences.
University Innovation Lab
Lab Lead/ Ambassador: Dr. Ronita Walker
- Unlimited access for UMBC faculty and staff
- A robust, growing library full of actionable resources
- Virtual workshops and interactive discussions
- Professional development opportunities, including self-paced courses
- Onboarding and support
- Access to additional UIA experiences, including learning cohorts and in person UIA-only events
Academic Recovery Grant Project
Project Lead: Dr. Delana Gregg. UIA Campus Observer. Project object is to and study academic recovery interventions with each participating university scaling the interventions from GSU’s Accelerator Academy.
Listening Lab (Focus Group) Initiative
Project Lead: Michelle Breen.Exploring student awareness, utilization, and perceived value of career center services, we aim to identify gaps in engagement and barriers to access. The insights gathered will inform targeted strategies to enhance student outreach, increase participation, and communicate the tangible return on investment (ROI) of engaging with career services.