Student Success and Retention

http://www.rockford.edu/community/studentsuccess/

The Office of Student Success & Retention (SSR) is available to assist all students in their success at Rockford University in order to achieve the ultimate goal of a proud walk across the stage at commencement. The staff is available to meet with students who are experiencing academic, personal, or financial difficulties. We work to remove obstacles to students' achieving academic success by working closely with students experiencing academic difficulties and providing a connection to a valuable support network including tutors in the Center for Learning Strategies (CLS), Writing Center, Math/Science Lab as well as faculty/staff mentors and counselors at Lang Health.

SSR initiatives include tracking academic success of all students, monitoring academic alerts received by all students, and working closely with First-Year Advisors and all faculty. We collaborate with offices across campus to determine best practices for proactive interventions, provide connections to resources available on campus and assist students in their transition to Rockford University.

SSR programs include:

• Individual Student Meetings—SSR provides individual meetings with students to help in evaluating and correcting academic challenges. Students at any level are encouraged to seek academic consulting to develop skills that can improve areas of their lives such a time management, note taking, study skills and test taking. These meetings can be a single event or a periodic check in. Students will meet to discuss their academic and related concerns and then work to create an action plan for the semester.
• Faculty Staff Mentoring—The Faculty Staff Mentoring Program supports students in their transition to university through an informal mentoring program. New first-year students are assigned a mentor. The mentors help to strengthen and sustain students and help make college an exciting, fulfilling and successful experience.
• Rock Solid Regents—The ROCK SOLID REGENT program recognizes students for their academic excellence and contributions to the University and the community. Students are nominated by faculty and featured on the Portal and in the Regent Weekly.
• Rock Solid Strategy Sessions—Current students, including Rock Solid Regents, facilitate “lunch and learn” sessions with incoming students. These sessions are designed to share practical strategies used by students who are thriving in their pursuit of their undergraduate degree. Attendees leave these sessions motivated and knowledgeable on the next steps they can take to insure a successful completion of their coursework.

For more information about the Office for Student Success and Retention, call 815-394-5241.