Today@Sam Article

SHSU Selected For Prestigious Intensive

Sept. 16, 2022
SHSU Media Contact: Campbell Atkins

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Sam Houston State University was selected to participate in the American Association of State Colleges and Universities’ (AASCU) Student Success Equity Intensive (SSEI), a comprehensive multiyear initiative designed to help institutions close equity gaps for Black, Latinx, Indigenous and low-income students.

“This is one of several initiatives we have on campus to promote student success in alignment with strategic priority number one: student success and student access,” said SHSU Vice Provost Anne Gaillard. “We are very excited to once again partner with AASCU and look forward to a productive two years.”

AASCU is among six national and regional organizations selected for this initiative by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. SHSU is one of 19 AASCU institutions involved in SSEI, formerly known as the Transformation Accelerator Cohort. This is the second national cohort with the selected institutions going through a highly competitive application process.

“I think it reflects AASCU’s recognition of the hard work we have been doing and shows we have the potential to move the needle even further,” Gaillard said.

The cohort comprises the following AASCU institutions, along with SHSU:  

California State University, Stanislaus; Fort Lewis College (CO); Georgia College & State University; Lehman College, The City University of New York; Middle Tennessee State University; Nevada State College; Portland State University (OR); Tarleton State University (TX); Texas A&M International University; Texas A&M University; Texas A&M University – Central Texas; Texas A&M University – Commerce; Texas A&M University – Texarkana; University of Guam; University of North Georgia; University of Washington Bothell; West Texas A&M University; Western Kentucky University.

“AASCU is proud to be one of six recipients of funding from the Gates Foundation,” said AASCU President Mildred García. “The level of support is significant and means that AASCU member institutions will continue to lead the nation on postsecondary student success for America’s new majority at state colleges and universities.”

The comprehensive, team-based learning journey accelerates institutional transformation by providing customized support for making data-informed decisions grounded in students’ realities. Campus leaders will work as a cohort and learn promising practices to close equity gaps and achieve student success goals for Black, Latinx, Indigenous, and low-income students to ensure that race and income are no longer predictors of success. 

The SSEI cohort approach involves peer-to-peer learning across institutions via in-person and virtual Student Success Academies. Participants will have access to resources, such as online modules and webinars, and receive support from subject matter experts in data analytics, equity, student success, advising, institutional transformation, and strategic and systems planning.  

Each institution must assemble a team of key campus leaders. President engagement is an integral component to the model to promote sustainable transformation. 

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