To address the No. 1 theme of the University’s strategic plan—building a culture that supports student success— Student Success encourages students to perform well academically and develop holistically: mind, body and spirit. Student Success set the tone with a one-stop service center for onboarding all new students, revised the First-Year Experience 2.0 course and established a robust new student orientation.
The one-stop service center allows new and transfer students to receive personalized guidance with staff from various offices: the bursar, residence and student life, financial aid and health services. The FYE course was redesigned to accentuate the challenges a first-year student may face academically and socially. It also includes rigor and legacy, the meaning of a liberal arts education, library research, computer and financial literacy, as well as writing, speaking, critical thinking and problem-solving. Among the essential questions that are stressed for students: “Who am I now that I am a Lincoln student and what will be my Lincoln legacy?”
The New Student Orientation (NSO) week creates an atmosphere that minimizes anxiety, promotes positive attitudes and stimulates excitement for learning with a great emphasis on establishing a sense of belonging. It emphasizes liberal arts education, high-impact practices, the value of placement test, academic advisement and course selection. NSO also hosts minisessions on the purpose of a liberal arts education, essential skills, an introduction to the University’s institutional learning outcomes, values and the rules of engagement for the campus community.
Student Success also established two new units: a Deans’ Council and High-Impact Co-Curricular Student Engagement, which provides programming and services that integrate with the academic experience to facilitate student success. It includes the Office of Community Engagement and Service Learning; the Office of Internship Services; and a pre-professional biomedical program.
The Office of Community Service and Engagement creates and sustains a culturally rich, engaging on-campus student experience—including expanding the Lincoln legacy, leadership, activism, service learning, programming, learning communities and enhancing co-curricular experiences. Through strategic local, regional, national and international partnerships, it also aims to develop the property, conduct research, solve campus and surrounding areas problems, and contribute to the community’s cultural life.
The Office of Internship Services engages students in planned practical educational purposeful experiences in professional, work-related settings that relate to or complement students’ academic and career goals.
The new co-curricular pre-professional biomedical program’s goal is to increase the number of Lincoln students entering graduate and professional degree programs in biomedical sciences and health care. The first cohort of 20 participants is receiving personalized advising, attending skills workshops, conducting research, attending trainings and engaging in mock interviews.
The Deans’ Council consists of three class deans—first-year, transition and pre-graduate—who support students’ needs at specific stages of their matriculation. Collectively, they also navigate and chart academic excellence, serve as advocates and monitor academic progress.
Student Success also adopted several apps to advance student success. The LiveSafe app’s tracking system promotes personal safety. ECheckUp is designed to reduce alcohol poisoning, drug use and sexual violence. WellTrack is a self-help therapy app that tracks stress levels in between therapy sessions. Engage Lincoln Lions allows students to sign up for community service projects and on- and off-campus internships and job offers.
As Student Success continues to advance the legacy, this spring it will launch a food pantry program for students in need, a care team for students in crisis and a platform to cultivate character and values for campus-wide community standards of excellence.
