Focus on Student Success: Academic Affairs Retreat

This winter, our Academic Affairs team dedicated three focused days to reviewing fall student data, analyzing outcomes, and identifying opportunities to enhance institutional effectiveness. While we celebrated an incredible 94% student retention rate and impressive student satisfaction scores, we also took this time to dive deeper—examining how students are demonstrating key competencies, ensuring academic rigor, and strengthening the feedback loops that drive meaningful growth.

A core focus of this work was ensuring that our students are not just progressing through courses but truly mastering the skills and knowledge needed to create impact in their communities. This means continually refining our approach to student support, course design, and assessment practices—making sure that every student receives the high-quality feedback and mentorship that helps them advance their practice.

According to faculty member, Jennifer Ventura, "This retreat was a powerful space for collaboration, reflection, and strategic planning. It allowed us to align our efforts in meaningful ways to better support our students’ success. Reflection is the foundation of growth—it invites us to refine our approach, deepen our impact, and continuously evolve in our work."

Through this work, EDvance remains committed to academic excellence, ensuring that our students are equipped with the competencies, support, and feedback they need to thrive. We are proud to continue creating intentional, student-centered strategies that elevate practice, enhance outcomes, and strengthen our community impact.