Supporting the Success of All Students, Without Exception
Transforming the Foundational Postsecondary Experience focuses on improving outcomes associated with teaching, learning, retention, and graduation rates in support of BSU's strategic goal of advancing diversity and social justice.
Bridgewater State University has been selected to participate in a new, national initiative by the Gardner Institute. This initiative is in support of student success and will design a distinctive first and second-year experience that takes our highly impactful retention efforts to the next level. Our goals is to advance the success of all students and close achievement gaps. Bridgewater's selection by Gardner Institute is 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.
Work Currently in Progress
Academy on Emergency Aid and Basic Needs
A cross-divisional BSU team is currently participating in this academy to build sustainable emergency aid programs, leverage best practices for strategic resource allocation, and maximize educational experiences for traditionally marginalized and under-resourced students.
Academy on the First College Year
This cross-divisional BSU team has created some foundational material that will be used in the First Year Redesign process.
First Year Redesign
Beginning in Fall 2024, we will initiate our engagement with a process called First Year Redesign. This two-year process will engage many members of our university community examining the student experience through nine dimensions of the first college year.
Next steps
Summer and Fall 2024 will be focused on two key priorities.
- First, we will be developing material that will be housed on our BridgeNet site to assist faculty, librarians, administrators, staff, and students in understanding the initiative itself and stay connected to the outcomes of projects that are undertaken. The Enrollment, Marketing and Communications division will also help us develop an externally facing website for the project.
- Beginning in Fall 2024, we will initiate our engagement with a process called First Year Redesign. This two-year process will engage many members of our university community examining the student experience through nine dimensions of the first college year. This model, previously known as Foundations of Excellence in the First College Year, was successfully used by BSU from 2005-2007 in transforming first-year students' experience. We look forward to taking a fresh look at the BSU student experience to evolve and meet the needs of today’s students.
Call For Participants
Transforming the Foundational Postsecondary Experience is off to a good start at BSU, and there is more to come. If you are interested in being a part of this work or would like to recommend either a colleague or a student, please submit the interest form below or email the ProvostOffice@bridgew.edu with information about your areas of interest.
Thank you to the faculty, librarians, staff, administrators, and students who have contributed to the first year of this work. We are looking forward to involving even more members of the university community in the coming years of this exciting partnership.
BSU Project Leadership Team
Amanda Colligan, Executive Director Office of Institutional Research and Decision Support
Lauren Folloni, Executive Director Academic Achievement Center
Cindy Kane, Assistant Provost for Strategic Initiatives Office of the Provost
Uma Shama, Professor, Department of Mathematics
Michael Young, Senior Associate Provost and Chief Data Officer Office of the Provost
Transformative Foundational Student Experience Steering Committee
Diane Bell, Vice President for Outreach and Engagement
Lucy Croft, Vice President for Student Life
Sabrina Gentlewarrior, Vice President for Student Success, Equity and Diversity
Paul Jean, Vice President for Enrollment, Marketing and Communications
Deniz Leuenberger, Chief of Staff and Vice President for Planning and Strategy
Uma Shama, Professor, Department of Mathematics
Doug Shropshire, Vice President for Finance
Michael Young, Senior Associate Provost and Chief Data Officer
