Strengthening Academic Success: More Graduates for Wisconsin
Abstract
The University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point proposes $1.8M in Title III SIP program funding for
a project to improve the academic success of students through coordinated, high-impact academic support services. Achievement of these institutional goals will be measured by an increase of
0.5% in first to second year retention rates for each year of the grant period and a 3% increase in
the 4-year graduation rate by the conclusion of project year five. The method by which these objectives will be reached involves the coordinated implementation of the following, high-impact
academic support services: supplemental instruction, intrusive academic advising, targeted career
services and a conditional admit retention program.
Located in central Wisconsin, UW-Stevens Point is a dynamic institution with over 9,000 students, 375 faculty and 117 programs of study, including particularly strong programs in the sciences, natural resources, health sciences, and education. The university is adapting to an economy in transition and shrinking financial support from the State. These changes in tandem require
informed and thoughtful decision-making to strengthen and improve institutional effectiveness
and efficiencies in our ability to retain and graduate well-prepared, workforce-ready students.
A large majority of UWSP students have high-risk factors for failure which include low-income,
first-generation, underprepared, under-represented and probationary students. For example, 74%
of UWSP students receive financial aid and 34% are Pell-eligible. In addition, 8% of incoming
students test into remedial math, 20% are undeclared, and 19% have ACT scores at or below 20.
Recent institutional strategic planning and analysis processes identified the need for stronger,
well-coordinated and seamless academic support services. To address this need, the UWSP Title
III project will implement four strategic activities including supplemental instruction, intrusive
academic advising, and targeted career counseling along with a new conditional admit retention
program. These proven high-impact services were chosen because of their effectiveness in improving the academic success of at-risk students, where the impact of retention gains has the
greatest margin for improvement. The funded services will be available to all students and packaged for at-risk students to meet their individual needs.
Enthusiasm for the project is great and with the absolute trust of the Chancellor and Provost, the
Executive Director of Academic Success will provide the necessary leadership to ensure effective implementation and assessment of the project and its success. Granting of this Title III request will allow UWSP to address one of its greatest needs: strengthening academic programs to
graduate more students. Without this funding, implementation of the project will be delayed due
to cuts in State funding over the next biennium. Availability of Title III grant funds now, will
allow for timely implementation of these proven academic support, retention activities and acceleration of tuition revenue gains which can be re-invested for long-term sustainability of the
project.