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Initiative Strives To Bring Success To All Students

Keri Rogers Sam Houston State University is extending the borders of its First-Year Experience to create a comprehensive program that “will strive to improve the success of all students by continuing to offer quality initiatives for first-year students.”

Beginning this fall, the Student Success Initiatives will continue FYE programs such as the SAM 136: “Introduction to Collegiate Studies” class, the Freshman Learning Community, New Student Convocation, and Bearkats Read to Succeed, while creating new initiatives that will address issues concerning both SHSU and the student body.

These new ventures include conducting a study of reasons students leave SHSU after their second year of enrollment, which will assist the SSI to make informed decisions on programming for sophomore students, as well as a study that will contribute to efforts in improving the transfer student experience, according to Keri Rogers, SSI director.

“When enrollment is bound with higher education funding, it is imperative that SHSU take measures to sustain at least the current rate of enrollment,” Rogers said. “Faculty, staff, and administration recognize the importance of preparing students, whether incoming freshmen or transfer students, to take full advantage of their sojourn with SHSU.”

The Student Success Initiative will continue to collaborate with many university offices including the SAM Center, Enrollment Management and Student Services, as well as faculty and staff, “to make our students’ experiences at SHSU the best that they can be.

“We want our students to be successful at SHSU, which means that we want them to graduate from SHSU,” Rogers said.

Rogers, who served as the FYE director from its inception in 2004, was named Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs for Student Success Initiatives in April.

She previously worked at the University of North Texas and West Texas A&M University and came to SHSU in 2002.

Rogers earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from West Texas A&M and her doctorate in higher education administration from the University of North Texas.

The Student Success Initiative office is located in Academic Building IV Room 202.

For more information on the program, call 936.294.3422.

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SHSU Media Contacts: Jennifer Gauntt
Oct. 6, 2008
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