Building a culture of student success doesn’t happen by chance, it requires focus, discipline, and shared accountability. In this episode, we explore how National University uses Quarterly Operating Reviews (QORs) as a powerful, and often overlooked, culture-building practice.

Based on the their write-up in ASCEND To Higher Retention Rates (Vol. 3), “The Unlikely Culture Builder: Using Operating Reviews to Drive Student Success,” this conversation highlights how structured, data-informed reviews align leaders around strategy, create a shared language for student success, and foster collaboration without blame. Listeners will hear how the simple rhythm of “get grounded, get real, get going” keeps student outcomes front and center while turning insight into action.

A practical listen for higher education leaders looking to build a strong culture of alignment, accountability, and a sustained focus on student success.

In this episode, we explore how Moore College of Art & Design is improving student retention through a deeply intentional, holistic support model. Dr. Joshua Wilkin, Dean of Students, shares how Moore’s multipronged approach (spanning academic early alerts, mental health services, and financial wellness initiatives) has strengthened student success and belonging at a small, mission-driven institution. The conversation highlights cross-campus collaboration, data-informed decision-making, and the real impact of meeting students where they are, resulting in the college’s highest first-year retention rate in nine years.

College affordability doesn’t end with tuition, and for many students, hidden financial barriers can be the difference between stopping out and graduating. In this episode, we explore how financial gaps, aid complexity, and basic needs insecurity impact student retention, particularly for Pell-eligible and first-generation students. Leaders from the University of South Carolina share a suite of innovative, cross-campus initiatives designed to remove these barriers; from micro-grants and debt relief to food security, fee transparency, and first-gen support. This conversation highlights how intentional, collaborative approaches to affordability can improve completion, advance equity, and ensure more students cross the finish line.

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Kris Bliss from Indiana Tech University to explore what it truly means to take a holistic view of students, and why breaking down data silos is essential to student success. Drawing on her experience, the conversation highlights how centralized student information, collaborative data practices, and both qualitative and quantitative insights can enable earlier, more effective interventions. From creative stopgap solutions like shared spreadsheets to the long-term vision of a comprehensive data warehouse, this chapter shows that institutions don’t need perfect systems to start doing better work for students.

In this episode we visit with Dr. Solomon Tention, Assistant Professor of Advanced Studies, Research, & Leadership at Morgan State University. We talk about how intentional outreach and proactive advising can bring stopped-out students back to the finish line. Through Project Graduate, a targeted “nudge” campaign at a large Texas community college, leaders re-engaged former students who were close to completion and provided the advising, degree planning, and financial guidance needed to help them return and persist. The conversation highlights the power of data-informed outreach, cross-campus collaboration, and intrusive student success strategies; resulting in meaningful gains in re-enrollment and completion.

In this episode, Eric Kirby visits with Dr. Brian Garsh to explore how institutions can strengthen student belonging and retention through intentional, cross-functional design. Using Kennesaw State University’s FLIGHT: Class-Year Connections Program as a case study, the conversation unpacks why the first year matters so deeply, how academic and social integration shape persistence, and what it looks like to support students holistically across their entire journey. From class identity and signature experiences to coordinated academic support and advising, this conversation offers practical insights for breaking down silos and helping students feel connected, supported, and positioned to succeed.

In this episode, we explore the transformative journey of the College of Western Idaho’s Enrollment & Student Services division as it embraced a unifying mantra: One Student at a Time. When rapid growth left staff searching for clarity, direction, and a deeper connection to their work, new leadership introduced a philosophy that centered on individualized student care, equity, and the belief that every student’s identity and life experience shapes their educational path. We unpack how this mindset reshaped professional development, strengthened staff morale, elevated collaboration, and drove measurable improvements. Through strengths-based training, identity-centered workshops, redesigned service experiences, and a culture that celebrated everyday wins, CWI created a division where staff felt valued and students felt seen. This episode offers a compelling look at why culture and clarity matter, and how an institution can transform itself by focusing on one student, one interaction, one moment at a time.

This episode features Dr. Amber Williams, Vice Provost for Student Success at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, who shares how the university’s Vol Success Teams have transformed support for first-year and transfer scholars. Launched in 2020, this holistic model unites advisors, One Stop counselors, Academic Coaches, peer mentors, and faculty to provide personalized, wraparound guidance. The impact has been remarkable: coaching connections have increased 277%, advising appointments are up 53%, and the percentage of students in good academic standing has climbed to 96.9%. Dr. Williams highlights how this collaborative approach reduces student stress, strengthens belonging, boosts confidence, and drives stronger academic outcomes, all positioning UT as a national leader in student success.