FOCUS
The mindset and behaviors of modern undergraduate students present new challenges for higher education at a time when colleges and universities—driven by accountability measures—are seeking to transform the way we think about and practice student success.
The recent focus on the value of higher education, degrees versus certificates, the costs and debt of college, the overall well-being of students, faculty, and staff, navigating civil discourse and discussions, and work/life balance have been amplified in recent years by a global pandemic ending, and a political divide widening. Universities and students must address these barriers to improve persistence, time-to-degree, and upward social mobility.
Successful colleges and universities are implementing comprehensive strategies that focus on academic as well as these non-academic issues, using all tools at their disposal—including big data and high tech—to deliver the right support, to the right student, at the right time.
Such innovative approaches help to not only remove the barriers that slow or halt student progression but enrich the student experience, leading to the ultimate student success—graduation and career achievement.
The theme of the 2025 National Student Success Conference is Empowering Tomorrow’s Graduates: Unleashing Potential through Adaptive Strategies and is hosted by the Florida Consortium of Metropolitan Research Universities. The NSSC brings together higher education innovators, thought leaders, and practitioners from across the nation to uncover and share their innovative approaches related to:
- A.I. in Education: Exploring how artificial intelligence can create personalized learning experiences and support individual student paths.
- Student Engagement/Success: Innovative practices to increase student involvement and connection with their learning communities, including effective communication strategies.
- Affordability Strategies: Addressing financial barriers, including FAFSA challenges, with creative solutions to make education accessible to all.
- Volunteerism and Leadership: Encouraging student participation in governance and volunteer activities as part of a holistic education experience.
- Workforce Development: Preparing students for the future workforce through tailored career development programs.
- Equity in Education: Addressing systemic inequalities to provide equitable access and opportunities for all students.
- Mental Health and Well-being: Supporting student success by integrating mental health resources and awareness into educational settings.
- Innovative Teaching Practices: Sharing cutting-edge teaching methodologies and technologies with educators to improve student outcomes.
- Academic Advocacy / Coaching & Advising Models: Content highlighting the differences in the two roles, recruiting, and retaining advising/coaching talent, innovations in program deployment, and implementing data-driven solutions for at-risk students.
- And more!
FORMAT
With multiple insightful plenary sessions and dozens of workshops, attendees of the in-person conference on February 23-25, 2025 in Orlando, the city beautiful will benefit from a forum focused on innovative and effective practices to further your institution’s student success initiatives.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
Higher education professionals, faculty, and staff leading, designing, and implementing policies, programs, and initiatives focused on enhancing the student experience and improving persistence and graduation rates for your institution will benefit from attending this conference. If your job impacts students, this is the conference for you!
