Student Success Institute
The Student Success Institute (SSI) is a leadership development program tailored to the needs of campus leaders driving student success initiatives. SSI will help individuals lead and implement transformational change necessary to meet the evolving needs of today’s diverse student body.
Apply by Feb. 10
Prepare to lead transformational institutional change for student success.
The Student Success Institute (SSI) provides the most current and relevant expertise on promising practices in student success, leadership, data and assessment, teaching and learning, and equity. Throughout the program, participants have the opportunity to build a strong and supportive network of peers, learn from leading experts in the field, and develop a core set of critical skills necessary for leading institutional change. A key feature of the program is structured time and space to reflect on and advance one’s own institutional student success plan with a small group of peers.
Who Should Participate
- Provosts and Vice Presidents for Student Affairs with more than one year in their role
How You’ll Benefit
- Learn from leading experts in the field. Program speakers will include sitting presidents, experienced provosts and vice presidents for student affairs, as well as national experts in areas such as leadership, student success, and data utilization.
- Develop critical skills necessary for leading institutional change. Participants will learn about key leadership skills and have opportunities to practically apply them to their work via a student success plan.
- Build a strong and supportive network of peers. Throughout the program, there will be multiple opportunities for participants to work together, in small groups and one-to-one settings, developing a group of trusted colleagues who can be called upon after the program is over.
- Have opportunities for reflection. Through guided discussions, short reflection prompts, small group discussions, and other activities, participants will have valuable time to engage in thoughtful reflection about their own assumptions and practices.
- Build a portfolio of source material. Throughout the program, participants will be given space and structure to collect and organize curricular materials to share at their institutions or to keep as reference following the conclusion of the program.
what to expect
- Student success is a key contributor to a more equitable society. Studies have shown that student success in college can increase economic mobility, reshape opportunities, and transform the lives of both students and their families.
- There is empirical evidence that changing institutional practices and policies can increase student success outcomes and narrow achievement and opportunity gaps among all students.
- Provosts and vice presidents for student affairs are critical agents of the president or chancellor in transforming their institutions to achieve greater student outcomes.
- Provosts, charged with overseeing the academic enterprise of an institution, and vice presidents for student affairs, charged with the support for the well-being of the whole student, are essential partners in student success.
Provosts and Vice Presidents for Student Affairs who participate in the SSI will:
- be able to assess and develop their leadership styles to more effectively drive positive change at their institutions.
- deepen their understanding of student success practices and further develop their skills to effectively implement promising practices.
- understand the specific roles data play and how to leverage data to increase and accelerate student success initiatives at their institutions.
- understand and be able to articulate the critical role of teaching and learning and supporting faculty development for equitable student success.
- critically reflect on their own implicit biases and build their skills to become equity conscious leaders.
- understand how to work in partnership with their Cabinet-level peers to develop and implement effective plans for student success initiatives.
Programming will be a blended experience, with in-person and virtual programming. In-person programming will not be livestreamed or otherwise recorded. 100% attendance and participation is expected. Virtual programming will take place on select dates between 3 and 5 p.m. ET (exact dates TBD).
- An intensive in-person program at AASCU’s Washington, D.C. office (September 9-11, 2025)
- Two interactive virtual workshops (November 2025 and February 2026)
- Regular coaching sessions with program faculty (December 2025 – June 2026)
- A student success plan that the participant designs for their campus
- Campus plan presentations at the AASCU 2026 Summer Meeting for Academic and Student Affairs Leaders (July 2026, date and location TBA)
In addition to the above meetings, all SSI participants will apply their learnings to a self-directed student success plan.
- Leadership
- Student Success
- Equity
- Data
- Teaching and Learning
The Student Success Institute (SSI) is a leadership development program tailored to the needs of campus leaders driving student success initiatives. Participants include provosts and vice presidents of student affairs. Participants must have at least one year in their current role.
All eligible members will be admitted as space allows. Nonmembers who are eligible will be allowed to register if space is available. Participants may register and attend as a pair from the same institution, or individually. Participants from the same institution will work together to develop or refine the campus student success plan.
The application period for the 2025 SSI Cohort will open in November 2024. A complete application for the Student Success Institute includes the following:
- Applications and endorsements are due by February 10, 2025
- Nomination or endorsement from the president or chancellor from your home institution. (Only one endorsement required per provost/VPSA pair.)
- Clear and concise summary of your leadership and student success goals.
- Commitment to 100% participation.
Preference is given to applicants from AASCU member institutions.
2025 Registration Fees
- Participants from AASCU member institutions: $4,200
- Participants from non-member institutions: $5,200 (admitted if space allows)
The program fee covers program administration, meals during the in-person intensives, registration for the 2025 AASCU Summer Meeting for Academic and Student Affairs Leaders and all materials. Participants are responsible for their own travel and accommodation.
Scholarships
- Limited scholarships are available to accepted applicants from AASCU member institutions.
Testimonial
Meet the 2023 Cohort
Martin
Abraham
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
State University of New York at Brockport
Pamela G.
Arrington
Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs and Undergraduate Studies
Alabama A&M University
Laura
Boren
Executive Vice President for Student Engagement & Success
Georgia Southwestern State University
Kristin
Landis-Piwowar
Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education, Quality Assurance, and Accreditation
Oakland University (MI)
Jessica
Lavariega Monforti
Vice Provost, Academic Affairs
California State University Channel Islands
Shay
Little
Vice President for Student Affairs
Georgia Southern University
Glendalí
Rodríguez
Provost and Vice Chancellor- Academic Affairs
University of Wisconsin-Stout
Debbie
Storrs
Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Yoshiko
Takahashi
Dean of Undergraduate Studies
Central Washington University
Catherine M.
Wehlburg
Interim President
Athens State University (AL)
Applications and endorsements for our 2025-2026 SSI cohort are due on Feb. 10, 2025.
Application Requirements
- Provost or vice president for student affairs with at least one year of experience
- committed to advancing significantly better and more equitable outcomes for your students
Important Dates
- The SSI program will take place from September 2025 to July 2026.
- Applications and endorsements are due on February 10, 2025.
