Student Success Council
Purpose or Function: The Student Success Council will analyze data (e.g., retention, withdrawal, time to degree, program and course completion success rates, campus climate, student satisfaction, etc.) and recommend to President's Cabinet strategies to improve retention and graduation rates. Recognizing that retention improves as the quality of student learning and student life is enhanced, the council will also recommend long-range strategies to address the ongoing needs of all students. The Student Success Council will partner with other campus constituencies in addressing the action items outlined below.
- Analyze and communicate retention data and best practices across the university
- Share ideas and initiate conversations on issues contributing to retention (e.g., advising processes, student engagement)
- Recommend the implementation of programs for identifiable target groups
- Foster curricular and co-curricular activities that provide opportunities for student-student interactions as well as for faculty-student interactions (e.g., teaching excellence, peer mentoring, research projects, outreach initiatives, clubs)
- Evaluate institutional practices and procedures as they pertain to the retention of students
Membership: The council is chaired by the Associate Vice President for Student Success as a voting ex-officio member. The remaining membership of the Student Success Council reflects the understanding that faculty, staff, and students play vital roles in creating opportunities for positive student interactions, experiences, and outcomes. The membership includes representatives from the following areas: Mary and Jeff Bell Library, Student Engagement & Success, Enrollment Management, Information Technology, Department Chairs Council, Academic Colleges/Schools (Assistant Dean/Director or Associate Dean/Director appointed by the Provost), Athletics, Institutional Advancement, and International Student Programs and Support. These representatives are appointed by the area supervisor for renewable, staggered 2-year terms. The council also includes appointed representatives from Staff Council, Faculty Senate, and Student Government Association serving 1-year, renewable terms. The following voting ex-officio members are on the council: Director of Student Success Data and Technology, University Registrar, Associate Vice President of Planning, Analytics, Institutional Research, and Strategic Initiatives, Director of Career and Professional Development, Director of Academic Advising and Coaching, Executive Director of Collage Access and Outreach, Director of College Readiness and Academic Support, and Director of the University Counseling Center.
Chair(s): Associate Vice President for Student Success
Responsible University Official: Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Name | Unit Represented | Term End |
---|---|---|
Andrew Johnson |
Associate Vice President for Student Success (Interim Chair) |
N/A |
Patricia Hernandez |
Mary and Jeff Bell Library |
August 31, 2026 |
Lisa Perez |
Student Engagement & Success |
August 31, 2026 |
Rene Zamora |
Enrollment Management |
August 31, 2025 |
Monica Martinez |
Information Technology |
August 31, 2026 |
Chuck Etheridge |
Department Chairs Council |
August 31, 2026 |
David Gurney |
Academic Colleges (Assoc/Asst Dean) |
August 31, 2025 |
Eric Schultz |
Athletics |
August 31, 2026 |
Susan La Torre |
International Student Programs and Support |
August 31, 2026 |
Elizabeth Rivera |
Institutional Advancement |
August 31, 2025 |
Lorena Newsome |
Staff Council |
May 31, 2025 |
Jeanine Birdwell |
Faculty Senate |
April 30, 2025 |
Maddy Elliott |
Student Government Association |
May 31, 2025 |
John Fortiscue |
Director, Student Success Data and Technology |
N/A |
Melissa Chapa |
University Registrar |
N/A |
Erin Mulligan-Nguyen |
Associate Vice President, Planning, Analytics, Institutional Research, and Strategic Initiatives |
N/A |
Leslie Mills |
Director, Career and Professional Development Center |
N/A |
Jessica Litz |
Assistant Director, Academic Advising and Coaching |
N/A |
D'Angelo Sands |
Executive Director, College Access and Outreach |
N/A |
Theresa Sharpe |
Director, University Counseling Center |
N/A |
Rita Sperry |
Director, College Readiness and Academic Support |
N/A |
Last Updated: 10/01/2024