Building on its commitment to student achievement, Wayne State University launched Student Success 2.0: Every Warrior Rises, a bold campuswide initiative to further propel students toward graduation and career success. Announced by President Kimberly Andrews Espy, Ph.D., on April 16 during an event prior to a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the newly renovated Student Success Hub, it is the second initiative to drive Wayne State’s commitment to Accelerate Mobility for Our Students, the first pillar of its Prosperity Agenda.
Watch video of the announcement.
Led by Provost Laurie Lauzon Clabo, Ph.D., and the Division of Academic Affairs, Every Warrior Rises invites every member of the campus community to play a role in helping students reach their full potential. The initiative will provide personalized support, essential resources and transformative experiences for every Warrior, from recruitment to graduation.
“We know that every student — regardless of background, origin or personal journey —= has a real opportunity to thrive at Wayne State. Every Warrior Rises puts us all in a position to lead this work, and live this work, by providing individualized support, guidance, clarity and purpose,” said President Espy. “At Wayne State, we will not expect a student to adjust to the university; rather, we will tailor our approach to recognize each asset they bring to the table and individually hone for each student’s success. Our students are a pluralistic mosaic in every sense — we must meet them exactly where they are and give them everything they need to rise.”
Leveraging data and predictive analytics, Every Warrior Rises emphasizes precision-targeted strategies throughout student success programs: academic advising and career coaching, strong start programing, coordinated learning support, holistic student support and more.
“As a top-tier research university, we are doing what we do best and looking at the data to discover new opportunities, track progress and work proactively to help students who need it most,” said Clabo. “A one-size-fits-all approach can only go so far, and Every Warrior Rises leverages precision-targeted strategies to create a personal experience and take student success to the next level.”
For more than a decade, Wayne State has been nationally recognized for its dramatic improvement in graduation rates and comprehensive student success work, more than doubling six-year graduation rates, with significant growth among PELL-eligible and first-generation students. Student Success 2.0 aims to further boost the university’s six-year graduation rate with a “Drive to 75%” — a goal significantly higher than both the national averages for urban research universities and all four-year degree-granting institutions.
“From day one, every student will connect with academic advisors and career coaches tailored to their aspirations. They will benefit from structured first-year experiences, expanded earning support and a safety net of both targeted outreach and holistic care. Helping every student start strong, even before they officially start their first class, will help them to finish with excellence,” said President Espy. “Our next goal of a 75% six-year graduation rate is a next step in our institutional journey, but the real goal is that 100% of our students succeed,” said President Espy.
Every Warrior Rises compliments the university’s College to Career initiative, which has highlighted efforts across campus to connect deep classroom learning with applied, career-relevant “learning by doing” experiences that promote the development of marketable skills. Together, the initiatives mobilize the Wayne State’s commitment to students’ long-term success, academically and professionally.
The university’s commitment to making student success resources accessible was also on display at the grand opening celebration for the newly renovated Student Success Hub, which followed the announcement of Every Warrior Rises. Located inside the David Adamany Undergraduate Library, the Student Success Hub provides a dynamic, shared space for much of this important work, offering a one-stop location for students to easily access multiple services, seek help and connect. “The Hub” includes 30,000 square feet of support space with 75 full-time staff and between 50 to70 student leaders to support up to 300 students at a time. The space is home to academic advising, Career Services, Warrior 360, academic persistence, student disability services and other critical resources including training for peer mentors and supplemental instructors.
Following the announcement, leaders from across campus joined in a panel discussion about the resources, strategies and focus areas driving Every Warrior Rises. They discussed the power of leveraging predictive analytics, coordinating and collaborating more intentionally around onboarding and first- and second-year experiences, early career coaching, and more. Panelists included Darryl Gardner, Ph.D., vice provost for student success, support and engagement; Charles Cotton, Ed.D., vice provost for strategic enrollment; Christine Jackson, Ph.D., vice provost for partnerships and workforce; Bernard Costello, M.D., D.M.D., senior vice president of health affairs; and Valeria Zarate, a third-year student in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and College of Fine, Performing and Communication Arts.
Zarate, a first-generation student double majoring in neuroscience and fashion merchandising, discussed the impact of campus resources and faculty support. After initially facing academic challenges in her first-year biology class, she took advantage of Supplemental Instruction and raised her grade. The experience inspired her to further connect with peers and faculty, and she now excels in the classroom and works as tutor at the Academic Success Center. Zarate’s experience reflects the supportive culture of success Every Warrior Rises aims to foster.
“I love paying it forward and being able to help other students that were in the same position as me, especially knowing that students might not know of all the resources on campus,” she said. “It’s provided me with great opportunities, and I feel so connected to this campus. I know everyone at Wayne State supports my goals.”