Dear Colleagues,
I hope everyone’s semester is going well thus far. It is hard to believe it is already the beginning of October. The cooler mornings lately are a nice reminder that fall weather is indeed on its way.
I am pleased to share some encouraging developments in our ongoing commitment to student success and academic excellence. As we continue to provide transformative educational experiences, I want to highlight some recent achievements and our path forward.
In 2023, when I first came to KU, the College DFW rate was 12.5%. We are now at a five-year low in terms of overall DFW rate at 10.1%. I would like to thank you all for your collective effort— it has paid off immensely. Because of your hard work, the percentage of students who do not get a passing grade is now 20% lower than two years ago. You all rose to the task and made this happen. It is fantastic to see the passion and energy going into student success across the College.
In particular, I would like to highlight the amazing work that has been done by the College Academic Affairs team under the leadership of Associate Dean Alesha Doan. They have conducted 15 DFW Consultations with departments across the College, which shows excellent collaboration between the departments and the dean’s office. A big thank you from my heart to all of you!
Similarly, starting last academic year, the same Dean’s Office team began offering “360 Consultations” to all College departments. The consultation is truly all-encompassing, taking into account department metrics, online courses, student success initiatives, curriculum, student recruitment strategies, retention resources, and in-depth discussion. Fourteen departments have participated thus far.
These successes aren't happening by accident. They are the result of the work you're doing every day—trying new approaches in the classroom, supporting students in new ways, and finding creative solutions to old problems.
These positive trends demonstrate the direct impact of your innovative teaching methodologies, enhanced student support services, and collaborative efforts to remove barriers to student success. Your commitment to evidence-based practices and student-centered approaches continues to yield meaningful results.
I'd like to take a moment to congratulate all of you on the good work. Let’s keep up the momentum.
To keep attracting and retaining students, we need to keep evolving. We must continue to enhance our programs to meet the changing needs of our students and the workforce, and to remain relevant and forward-thinking without compromising academic rigor and excellence.
Key areas for continued progress include:
