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.
Get notifications.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, fellows 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 student success plan with a small group of peers.
Who Should Participate
- Provosts, Associate/Vice 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 and experienced provosts, as well as national experts in areas such as leadership, student success, and data utilization.
- Develop critical skills necessary for leading institutional change. Fellows 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 fellows 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, fellows will have valuable time to engage in thoughtful reflection about their own assumptions and practices.
- Build a portfolio of source material. Throughout the program, fellows 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 are critical agents of the president or chancellor in transforming their institutions to achieve greater student outcomes.
- Provosts are charged with overseeing the academic enterprise of an institution, while also building and managing effective relationships with their student affairs counterparts.
- Academic and Student Affairs leaders are critical agents of the president or chancellor in transforming their institutions to achieve greater student outcomes.
Provosts, Associate/Vice 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.
The 2023 SSI will take place from February 2023 to July 2023.
Programming will be delivered in a blended format, with in-person and virtual programming. Virtual programming will take place on select Fridays (exact dates TBD) between 2 and 4 p.m. ET. Workshops will be two hours in length and small group discussions will be one hour in length. In-person programming will not be livestreamed or otherwise recorded. One-hundred percent attendance and participation is expected.
- Program Onboarding (virtual): January 2023
- In-Person Meeting (Washington, D.C.): February 2023
- Virtual Workshops: March, April, and June 2023
- Virtual Small Group Discussions: March, April, and June 2023
- Closing gathering scheduled in conjunction with the AASCU 2023 Academic Affairs Summer Meeting (Baltimore, MD): July 18 and 19 2023
Dates for future SSI cohorts are to be announced.
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, vice presidents of student affairs and others driving student success initiatives. 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. Multiple participants working from the same institution are encouraged to participate together as they will work together to develop or refine the campus student success plan.
- No formal application is required. Upon registration, participants will be asked to share their leadership and student success goals.
2023 Registration Fees
- Participants from AASCU member institutions: $3,500
- Participants from non-member institutions: $4,500 (admitted if space allows)
- The registration fee covers program administration, meals during the in-person intensives, 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

Michelle
DenBeste
Provost and Vice President for Academic Life
Central Washington 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

Britt
Rios-Ellis
Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost
Oakland University (MI)

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)
Application Details
The registration period for SSI is now closed. Registration for future SSI cohorts will be announced. All eligible members will be admitted as space allows. Eligible nonmembers will be allowed to register if space is available.
Application Requirements
- Provost, associate/vice 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
- Sign up to be notified for future SSI deadlines and dates.
Sign up to be notified for 2024 applications.
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