As the new academic year begins, we’ve been planning this summer to improve our collective work for student success at MSU with feedback from each part of the ecosystem, new leadership, and growing partnerships. Here are some key activities and dates to keep in mind. We look forward to seeing you and advancing every student’s ability to learn, thrive, and graduate together.
Community Engagement for Student Success
Sept. 30, 2026
Please join us for the 14th annual Student Success Launch from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. with coffee and tea available starting at 8:30 a.m. Registration is now open! The Launch is an opportunity to create energy and excitement as we plan for the coming year. We also hope to foster belonging and community through polls, discussion, and collaborative input into our major projects and initiatives.
February 2027
Mid-year Forum on Research, Assessment, and Metrics will be held in February to provide updates and discussion about key findings in our student success data.
May 2027
One MSU for Student Success Week will be held the week of May 10 and on May 17. This year MSUIT, the Center for Teaching and Learning Innovation, and Office of Undergraduate Education will continue our partnership for the Student Success Summit and CTLI Spring TALK, and next spring will collaborate with the Academic Advisor Resources and Engagement team to address the needs and interests of academic advisors.
2026-2027 Academic Year
Finally, please join us for the third year of the Five Areas of Student Success Learning Community with my new co-lead, Dr. Matea Čaluk, Chief of Staff, Residential Education and Housing Services.
Sign up to participate in the learning community at this link: Form - Five Areas of Student Success Learning Community 2026-2027. The group is open to all educators, advisors, staff, and students.
Centered on advancing undergraduate student success through the five opportunity areas as outlined in the Spartan Undergraduate Experience Strategy Guide, we will come together monthly to share strategies, learn from one another, and offer mutual support. This is a collaborative space to build community, contribute ideas, and move our collective work into action.
Goals
- Contribute to learning and applying the curricular and co-curricular activities at MSU that contribute to each of the five opportunity areas of undergraduate student success
- Strengthen our community’s ability meet our student success goals by exploring the research, literature and strategies outlined in the Spartan Undergraduate Experience Resource Guide
Learning Community Schedule
Oct. 2
- Introduction to the Community
- Virtual, noon-1 p.m.
Oct. 28
- Theme: Self-Discovery of Purpose
- Hybrid, 8:30-9:30 a.m.
- Breakfast at 8 a.m.
Nov. 10
- Theme: Educational Success
- Hybrid, noon-1 p.m.
Dec. 7
- Theme: Developing a Sense of Belonging
- Virtual, 3-4 p.m.
Jan. 14
- Theme: Contributing to an Empowered Community
- Virtual, 8:30-9:30 a.m.
Feb. 24
- Theme: Developing Wellbeing
- Virtual, 8:30-9:30 a.m.
March 16
- Theme: Exploration of All Five Areas
- In-Person, 12:30-1:30 p.m.
- Lunch at noon
April 16
- Theme: Reflection & Program Wrap-Up
- Virtual, noon-1 p.m.
Undergraduate Advice and Deliberation (UGAAD)
Interim Vice Provost and Dean for Undergraduate Education Dr. Renata Opoczynski will be leading this group focusing on enhancing the campus community for undergraduate student success by facilitating stakeholder engagement that encourages collective action and an organizational growth mindset to enact the five opportunity areas for student success. We are encouraging all members of the community to join this year with multiple representatives from each unit/department so that we can gather a broad array of input into our efforts and ensure transparency in communication.
Goals 2026-2027
- Engage in change management process with the campus community through recommended stakeholder engagement processes.
- Incorporate feedback in planning and implementation of initiatives and organizational change (present various units org changes to the community).
- Provide a venue for Vice Provost and Dean of Undergraduate Education engagement with the broader community.
- Recognize innovation and excellence in alignment with student success definitions, outcomes and metrics.
Campus Student Success Group (CSSG)
This active and engaged group will continue our efforts with the onboarding of new co-leadership: Dr. Christina Bridges, assistant dean for Student Success Operations and Policy. Some of our efforts will include:
- Addressing needs for data access through IR training and engagement
- Complete root cause analysis of financial aid process pain points, student involvement processes and practices pain points
- Regularly review progress on previous root cause analysis and solution activities and the work of SPIRE
- Determine any additional pain points to be address
SUES Student Advisory Council
We are seeking members to join the 2026-2027 Student Advisory Council for the Spartan Undergrad Experience Strategy. The Office of Undergraduate Education is seeking student input on student success initiatives as they relate to the five areas of student success at MSU. Please email me at mart1742@msu.edu if you have students who are interested in joining the council.
What is the commitment for students?
- Time: 2–4 hours per month, depending on the activities.
- Dates of the meetings with Renata Opoczynski, interim vice provost and dean of Undergraduate Education, and Amy Martin, associate dean for Student Success Strategic Initiatives:
- Sept. 8, 3:30-4:30 p.m.
- Oct. 13, 3:30-4:30 p.m.
- Nov. 10, 3:30-4:30 p.m.
- Dec. 8, 3:30-4:30 p.m.
- Location of meetings will be 309 A/B Conference room in the Hannah Administration Building, on the third floor.
Elevating Recognition of Teaching Excellence, Educator Community, and Student Success Initiatives
The Center for Teaching and Learning Innovation (CTLI) through Jeremy Van Hof, the Office of Undergraduate Education (OUE) through Amy Martin, and MSU IT through Jason Beaudin are partnering to establish a premier annual Joint Awards Ceremony, with an initial target launch of May 2027, during the One Week, One MSU event.
Teaching excellence, educator community, and student success initiatives are distributed across Michigan State University, often operating in institutional silos. This ceremony aims to unify those efforts into a high-visibility event that elevates the culture of teaching and learning, showcases pedagogical innovation, and honors the individuals driving student success across campus.
Makena Neal, Center for Teaching and Learning Innovation (CTLI) has been charged with leading and developing a committee to meet this charge. Please join me in thanking Makena for leading this work!
