The document summarizes research from a study on how different stakeholder groups define student success. Through interviews and focus groups with over 370 participants from 13 Ontario institutions, the researchers found that while faculty and administrators primarily defined success as retention, graduation, and academic metrics, staff and students emphasized personal growth, sense of belonging, and achieving personal goals. The study highlights both the shared and differing views among groups and implications for institutions to develop collaboration and enhance the student experience.

1. WHAT DEFINES STUDENT
SUCCESS: A MULTIPLE
CHOICE QUESTION
Tricia Seifert, Ph.D.
Diliana Peregrina-Kretz
Ontario Institute for Studies in Education

2. WHAT DEFINES STUDENT
SUCCESS: A MULTIPLE
CHOICE QUESTION
Tricia Seifert, Ph.D.
Diliana Peregrina-Kretz
Ontario Institute for Studies in Education

3. Supporting Student Success Study
To understand how stakeholder groups perceive their
institution's organization and approach to supporting
student success.

4. Methodology
• Constructivist methodology – participants play a role in
the data interpretation
• Interviews with senior administrators, faculty
collaborators & individual faculty
• Focus groups with faculty, SAS staff, students & student
leaders

5. Sample
80 Faculty
42 Senior Leaders
122 SASS
128 Students
N=372
▪Two publically-funded
education sectors:
Colleges (4) and
Universities (9)
Varied geographic
location, size, mandate
and programming
▪Eastern, Western and
Northern Ontario, GTA
▪Research intensive,
primarily undergraduate,
applied degrees, diploma,
certificate programs
▪Diverse communities

6. Data Analysis
1. Data was coded
2. Overarching domains developed
3. Take-away statements drafted
4. Synthesized institutional statements
and supported with evidence
5. Met with peer de-briefer
6. Drafted site visit report
7. Cross site comparison

7. What Defines Student
Success?

8. Is it:
a) Retention and graduation
b) Year-to-year persistence
c) Employment after graduation
d) Sense of belonging
e) Student engagement
f) Student satisfaction
g) Community Building
h) Taking risks
i) ….
j) ….

9. Theoretical Framework
Kuh and colleagues, 2006
Institutional
Conditions
Post College
Outcomes
Pre-College
Student
Behaviour

10. How is Student Success Defined?

11. Faculty
Senior
Administrators
Staff Students
1. Mastering
Academic
Content
2. Retention and
Graduation
3. Personal
Success
1. Retention and
Graduation
2. Holistic
Success
3. Academic
Success
1. Personal
Success
2. Holistic
Success
3. Engaging
Students
1. Personal
Success
2. Academic
Success
3. Sense of
Belonging
Top Definitions of Student Success

12. Academic Success
•Retention and Graduation
•G.P.A.
•Content Learning
•Finding Correct Program Fit
•Student Engagement

13. Personal Success
•Achieve what students came to
achieve
•Taking risks and challenges
•Day-to-day success
•Engagement
•Sense of belonging
•Building community

14. Making Sense of Student Success
Academic Success
Retention and Graduation
G.P.A.
Content Knowledge
Finding a good program fit
Being prepared for the workforce
Personal Success
Achieve what students came to
achieve
Taking risks and challenges
Day-to-day success
Holistic
Varies by Student

15. Faculty Perceptions
….the focus on decreasing the number of students
who aren't successful and don't continue
To me success is giving them the tools they
need to access the services, supports, the
delivery model of courses, how material is
taught that makes it so they can do well

16. Senior Administrators’ Perceptions
….it is a strategic direction for the college and a
board's ends policy, they actually define a metric that
we have to measure and [it is] the biggest
component [graduation rates].
Broadening their understanding of the world. A lot of
social issues are learned here. It is a time of
developmental growth.

17. Staff Perceptions
One thing that we hear from the top is student
success is graduation rate, and I don't necessarily
define it that way. And I don't even necessarily define
it as job ready because some use college as a
stepping-stone to get to university, and it works the
other way to…To me it needs to be kept flexible, and
should have a student focus to help them achieve
their goals in life …I would like to keep it general.

18. Students’ Perceptions
To me, its not just marks. I think you have more
success when you are involved and around other
students. So your extracurricular, your time
management skills are part of your success. I get
good grades, but I do a lot of extra things on campus.
I work with the student pub on campus, I work at the
convenience store. Student success is not just about
getting good marks, its about making yourself a well
rounded individual.

19. Summary
All of the Above
Faculty and Senior Administrators Definitions
Staff and Students Definitions
The influence of the institution's organizational structure in
defining student success

20. Implications
Shared Vision and mission that enhances student success
Collaboration and communication are key
Student Experience and Satisfaction

21. Follow our Research on:
Blog: http://supportingstudentsuccess.wordpress.com/
Twitter: @CdnStdntSuccess
Facebook: Supporting Student Success