COMMUNITY Everyone To Support Student Success As part of the 2021 reorganization, leaders at UAFS took a step back to look at student success and retention in a holistic way. The newly-formed Division of Student Success and Retention led by Dr. Blake Johnson aims to centralize efforts to guide students on the path to graduation, including developing new student support initiatives and increasing graduation rates. Johnson, an accomplished writer, researcher, and presenter on the subject, says
NEW DIVISION: Blake Johnson wants to involve everyone in student success initiatives.
his focus as assistant provost is to create a cohesive climate of student support, a climate that addresses obstacles and promotes meaningful responses. “I talk a lot about four primary barriers students face in college,” Johnson said. “Cost, academic preparedness, sense of belonging, and career applicability. These are things nearly every student has to address in order to justify persistence. And if these are the things students are facing, then our programs and services need
10 THE BELL TOWER SPRING 2022
ELLIOT NEMETH
FIGHTING ALZHEIMER’S: UAFS students participate in the 2021 Walk to End Alzheimer’s – Arkansas River Valley. The walk aims to raise awareness of the disease and funds to fight it.
to be connecting with them in a significant way.” Core to his approach in addressing barriers is creating an atmosphere of support from application to graduation, and creating a campus culture where everyone – from dining staff to academic deans – understands the tremendous importance of their role in student success. “The world of retention has undergone many changes in the past 20 years,” Johnson said. “The question is much bigger than how do we attract students or how can they get in the door? It’s really, are we creating the right environment for them to be successful over the next 4-6 years of their lives? That is a deep, holistic question. This new division is solely focused on ensuring UAFS is aligned correctly and empowering students with the right resources, interventions, and learning experiences necessary to help them succeed in the classroom and ultimately, in their careers.” Beyond retention, Johnson said collaborative efforts with admissions means UAFS will have even more students to retain moving forward. “Applications for first-time students are up, and admits are up,” he said. “There is a new wave of energy to get students involved and better connected, and it appears 2022 is going to bring back a more immersive student experience.”
