Monday, November 13, 2023
Subject: Taking the Next Step - A Message from President Clark
Dear Campus Community,
We are very pleased to announce that Bridgewater State University has been selected to participate in a new national initiative, Transforming the Foundational Postsecondary Experience, which aims to reimagine the critical first two years of college education when students create the foundation for ultimate success and degree completion. BSU was one of only 11 institutions nationwide, and the only one in New England, selected by the John N. Gardner Institute for Excellence in Undergraduate Education to participate in its inaugural cohort.
The selection of BSU is a testament to the extraordinary work already undertaken by BSU faculty, librarians, and staff to advance the success of all students and close achievement gaps. It is also a recognition of our commitment to continuous improvement and our acknowledgment that more progress is needed that prioritizes equitable practice, removes barriers to student success, and inspires academic excellence.
BSU will leverage the expertise of the Gardner Institute team and the other 10 partner institutions to intentionally and strategically review and align our many ongoing efforts in support of student success and design a distinctive first- and second-year experience that takes our highly impactful retention efforts to the next level. This engagement also responds to the guidance offered by the New England Commission on Higher Education at the conclusion of our recent successful regional reaccreditation process.
Founded in 1999, the Gardner Institute has worked with more than 500 colleges and universities nationwide and has built a strong track record of helping institutions raise their retention and graduation rates, with a particular emphasis on eliminating factors of race/ethnicity and family income as the best predictors of success and completion.
“We are thrilled to welcome Bridgewater State University to the inaugural cohort of Transforming the Foundational Postsecondary Experience,” said Gardner Institute CEO Drew Koch. “The five-year commitment demonstrates the institution’s dedication to transforming the postsecondary experience for all their students. This is a bold action. The university clearly recognizes that doing hard things requires long-term commitment, and improving student success in ways that maintain access, eliminate performance gaps, and uphold quality is very hard. But Bridgewater State University is committed to doing this hard work. That is why it was selected to take part,” Koch added.
Transforming the Foundational Postsecondary Experience requires a five-year commitment, which was launched via the participation of a BSU team in a Leadership Academy beginning in July 2023. In the first year of the project, Gardner will work with BSU on discovery, capacity development, and planning phases, while implementation will begin in the second year. Ongoing scaling, evaluation, and capacity development will take place throughout the third through fifth years of the engagement.
The other participating institutions include:
- California State University, San Bernardino (San Bernardino, California)
- Capital University (Columbus, Ohio)
- CUNY Queensborough Community College (Bayside, New York)
- Columbia College Chicago (Chicago)
- Louisiana State University Shreveport (Shreveport, Louisiana)
- Mississippi State University (Starkville, Mississippi)
- Normandale Community College (Bloomington, Minnesota)
- Purdue Global (online university based in West Lafayette, Indiana)
- University of Alaska Fairbanks (Fairbanks, Alaska)
- University of Alaska Southeast (Juneau, Alaska)
As BSU’s student population continues to change in the years ahead, this work is increasingly central to fulfilling our mission. We want to thank you for all you do to retain and graduate our students and look forward to working with you as we advance BSU’s position as a national leader in supporting the success of all students, without exception.
Regards,
Frederick W. Clark, Jr., Esq.
President
Karim Ismaili, PhD
Executive Vice President and Provost