In Fall 2024, Academic Affairs and the Center for Advancing Student Learning (CASL) hosted over 220 faculty and staff in departmental teams to develop scalable action plans for improving student success and learning at UWM via intentional action at the course level. The inaugural Student Success in the Classroom Summit focused on integrating and scaling three evidence-based practices: high-level performance expectations, transparent assignment purposes, and inclusive student feedback. A follow-up gathering later in the semester focused on change strategies that emerged from the departmental action plans: creating space to share practice, using mid-semester feedback surveys, and utilizing peer review processes.
Setting the Context: Why Focus on Classrooms?
Chanceller Mark Mone provided opening remarks, sharing how a focus on a consistent student experience across classes could improve student retention and overall success. Watch the welcome remarks from Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs, Canan Bilen-Green, Chancellor Mone, and Provost Andrew Daire.
National and local UWM data were shared by EAB presenters to help faculty and staff better understand the student populations of today including their needs and success indicators. Watch the EAB presentation, view their slideshow, or review the EAB handout.
Current Practices and Efforts
There are a variety of initiatives and efforts underway across UWM to support advancing student success in the classroom. As part of the Fall event, Vice Provost for Academic Affairs, Dave Clark, moderated a faculty panel including Anja Blecking (Chemistry & Biochemistry), Benjamin Church (Materials Science and Engineering), Kent Redding (Sociology), and Kristin Sziarto (Geography). Watch the faculty panel share how they are implementing student success related practices in their courses ranging from online to large lecture hall to seminars.
Implementing Evidence-Based Success Practices
The focus of the department teams implementing student success in the classroom efforts is the intentional scaling of high-impact evidence-based practices across courses. Department teams explored, within their context, how to ensure that every student experienced the same evidence-based success practices. View the slides from the CASL team presentation. An infographic with additional resources and recordings is provided below.
Change Strategies to Support Teaching and Learning
Following the initial gathering, departmental teams returned to share updates on their action plans and learn more about three change strategies identified in the majority of action plans. View the slides on student success strategies from the CASL and Academic Affairs presentation. An infographic with additional resources and tools is provided below.