Supporting student success discussed at VU Trustee meeting

graduation

Enhanced efforts to support student success were discussed at the Vincennes University Board of Trustees meeting Wednesday at the VU Jasper Campus.

Chuck Johnson, interim president of VU,  says a great deal of effort is underway to focus on how VU can help students stay enrolled, find success academically, and hopefully graduate on time.

Laurel Smith, interim provost and vice president for Instructional Services, told the board one initiative is the the My Foundations Lab.  She says it has been significant, not only in giving students some skills for math or English, but also in establishing a connection to VU.  Through the program students can feel the college is a community that cares about them and wants them to succeed. Smith said that 286 students were invited to participate in the My Foundations Lab in the summer of 2014.. The invitations were based on a student risk profile.  56 of those students tested out of developmental courses after completion of the Lab.

Other initiatives include the Students with a Goal pilot program, operated by the Multicultural Affairs Office.  In the SWAG program students live on campus while building skills in English, math and reading.  Last summer, 11 out of 17 participants tested up or out of developmental courses.