{"id":18396,"date":"2015-04-09T09:42:29","date_gmt":"2015-04-09T15:42:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/communique.uccs.edu\/?p=18396"},"modified":"2015-04-09T09:42:29","modified_gmt":"2015-04-09T15:42:29","slug":"texas-professor-to-share-student-success-and-retention-strategies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/communique.uccs.edu\/?p=18396","title":{"rendered":"Texas professor to share student success and retention strategies"},"content":{"rendered":"

A chemistry professor whose success helping low-income and minority students succeed in the classroom has drawn national acclaim will share his secrets during an April 24 visit to UCCS.<\/p>\n

\"David<\/a>
David Laude<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

David Laude, senior vice provost for enrollment and graduation management, University of Texas at Austin, will present a lecture series highlighting how campus culture can positively\u00a0affect student development and retention in University Center 116.<\/p>\n

Laude, 56, moved into his role as \u201cgraduation czar\u201d\u00a0at UT Austin after university officials set a goal to improve its graduation rate from roughly 52 percent to 70 percent by 2016.<\/p>\n

While many called the jump aspirational, Laude refocused the UT Student Success team to gather data to guide admissions and enhance new student orientation, modernize degree pathways and create financial aid programs that\u00a0provide incentives for\u00a0four-year graduation.<\/p>\n

Initial reports<\/a> indicate that the new measures are working. The UT Austin class of 2017, the first students to benefit the initiatives designed to increase four-year graduation rates, reported the highest one-year retention rate in the university\u2019s history for returning freshmen at 94.6 percent.<\/p>\n

According to Chancellor Pam Shockley-Zalabak, Laude\u2019s visit is a resource for UCCS faculty and staff.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile the University of Texas is different than UCCS in many ways, we share a goal of helping students \u2013 many of whom are the first in their families to go to college \u2013 be successful,\u201d Shockley-Zalabak said. \u201cI hope that faculty, particularly those who teach freshman and sophomore level courses, are able to attend these sessions and gain ideas about creating a high-standard, high-scaffolding approach to higher education.\u201d<\/p>\n

Space is limited. Please respond with your attendance to the lectures by\u00a0April 17 to chancellor@uccs.edu<\/a>.<\/p>\n

A schedule of events follows.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n