Student Success

Prioritize Student Success

Complementing transformative learning is Shenandoah University’s unwavering commitment to student success. Shenandoah University will dedicate its time, ideas, and resources to provide the highest level of quality in career and graduate school preparation, life preparation, civic engagement, recreation, and degree completion.

As Measured by:

1. Enhance university-wide systems to improve undergraduate student retention and graduation rates to be in the top one-third of our institutional type.
   1. By 2026, 100% of students will have a plan on record in Hornet Hub to progress toward graduation within a 3 to 5 year timeframe.
   2. By 2028, 100% of SU’s undergraduate schools will participate in the early alert process.
   3. By 2029, 90% of residential students will agree that they have benefited from living on campus.
   4. By 2029, increase the first-year student retention rate to 86% for success.
   5. By 2030, increase the First-Year undergraduate six-year graduation rate to 75%.
   6. By 2027, 100% of undergraduate student professional development, research output, and conference participation will be catalogued and measured.
2. Enhance university-wide systems to improve graduate student recruitment, and achieve retention and graduation rates to be in the top one-third of our institutional type. 
   1. By 2027, 100% of graduate student professional development, research output, and conference participation will be catalogued and measured.
   2. By 2028, ensure that 100% of all graduate programs are providing their students with comprehensive information about campus resources during new student orientation.
   3. By 2030, 100% of applicable programs will continue to maintain first-time pass rates at or above national averages on national licensure/certification exams.
   4. By 2029, increase the number of Graduate Assistant positions by 10%.
   5. By 2030, increase the amount of scholarship funding available to graduate students by 10%.
3. Enhance and expand a comprehensive career center to broaden career development services and tools for students and alumni in all Shenandoah University programs.
   1. By 2027, 90% of first-year students will have a career readiness package.
   2. By 2028, increase alumni engagement with the career center by 10%.
   3. By 2030, 97% of graduating seniors will have gainful employment or graduate school placement in their chosen field within six months of graduating.
   4. By 2030, more than 90% agree or strongly agree that their Shenandoah education effectively prepared them for their chosen career or further study.
4. Foster a culture of student resiliency and preparation for professional life. 
   1. By 2027, capture post-grad intentions for 100% of incoming and current students.
   2. By 2028, increase student participation in preventative resilience programming by 10%.
   3. By 2030, demonstrate a 10% improvement in student self-reported resilience and adaptability scores from freshman to senior year.
   4. By 2029, ensure that 90% of undergraduate and graduate programs prepare students for how to ethically and effectively use AI in their chosen field.
   5. By 2030, increase by 10% the number of students participating in civic advocacy relating to their chosen profession, and add two additional course offerings in civics.
5. Ensure a campus culture, protected by university-wide policies and practices, that is intentionally designed to support a “culture of caring”, safety and satisfaction for students, faculty, and staff, including robust mental health resources. 
   1. By 2026, 100% of students will have access to a 24/7 telehealth/teletherapy platform.
   2. By 2027, increase faculty and staff utilization of the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) or institutional mental health benefits by 10% and employee utilization of the Wilkins Wellness Center by 10%.
   3. By 2028, increase the number of faculty, staff, and students participating in active care training by 10%.
   4. By 2028, establish a university-wide Culture of Care Index.
   5. By 2027, increase the percentage of students, faculty, and staff who report feeling “very safe” or extremely safe on campus to a minimum of 90% as measured by the campus climate survey.
   6. By 2030, SU will be recognized as an employer of choice as measured by the distinction of a “Great College to Work For.”
6. Ensure that a Shenandoah education is accessible, affordable and engaging for all SU students.
   1. By 2030, secure $5 million in new endowed scholarship commitments designated for “gap funding.”
   2. By 2030, increase the percentage of alumni giving to Shenandoah University by 15%.
   3. By 2030, establish a student emergency fund that distributes $10,000 per semester to prevent students from dropping out due to non-tuition financial shocks.
   4. By 2030, create new pathways to increase enrollment among transfer students by 10%.
   5. By 2030, increase graduate and online enrollment by 10%.
   6. By 2029, add 1 additional NCAA athletic team and 2 additional club sports.
   7. By 2030, increase the number of undergraduates actively engaged in SU “Plus One” activities by 20%. As well, increase the percentage of students involved in civic engagement by 20%.
   8. By 2029, achieve 90% student satisfaction with accessibility at SU.
   9. By 2030, remediate 90% of high-priority physical barriers throughout campus facilities and grounds.