Student Success Summit

Join us in Perdue Hall (PH) 156 at 9:30 a.m. as we explore our individual values and how they guide the work we do.

• Check-In, Coffee, & Poster/Tabling Session: 8:30 - 9:30 a.m.

• Welcome & Plenary Session: 9:30 - 10:30 a.m.

• Morning Breakout Sessions #1: 10:40 - 11:25 a.m.

• Morning Breakout Sessions #2: 11:35 - 12:20 p.m.

• Lunch & Affinity Group Conversations: 12:30 p.m. - 1:45 p.m.

• Afternoon Breakout Sessions: 1:55 - 2:40 p.m.

• Student Success Snapshots: 2:50–3:40 p.m.

• A “Spirited” Discussion & Prizes (Poster Session Continues): 3:45 - 5:00 p.m.

• • 8:30 – 9:30 a.m. | Poster/Tabling Presentations (Atrium Lobby)
    • Brian Steigler, Farren Christ, Connor Pass - Supporting International Student Success and Enhancing Regulatory Compliance
    • Carrianne Cicero – Mentoring Matters: Enhancing Engagement, Retention, and Growth in Higher Education
    • Chrys Egan, Angela Lookabill - Center for the Advancement of Faculty Excellence (CAFE)
    • Hannah Prouse – Racing the Clock: Time Management and Stress Among College Students with Disabilities
    • Holly Thompson, Myrana Ruzigamanzi, Alex Mattie - Engaging the Graduate Students at SU: the Past, Present, and Future of GSC
    • Mary Katherine Taylor - How to Develop an Updated and Adaptable Training Course through the MyClasses Platform
    • Ryan Weaver - SU Leadership for Public Purpose (Carnegie Elective Classification)
    • SU Libraries - SU Libraries Student Success Bookmobile
    • Terry Passano - Get to Know Your University Dietitian
  • 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. | Welcome & Plenary (PH 156)
  • 10:40 – 11:25 a.m. | Morning Breakout Sessions #1

    Career Gulls 101: Everything You Need to Know (and Didn’t Know You Needed!)
    Presenters – Lindsey Ward & Kim Fabbri, Career Services
    Tracks - Preparing for Life after SU/ Student Success Related Technology
    Classroom: PH 251

    In July 2024, Salisbury University Career Services adopted Symplicity as the platform of choice for the department. Symplicity is a global student experience company that provides smart platforms to more than 2,000 colleges and universities for managing all aspects of student life. Locally known as CareerGulls, it supports students, faculty, and staff in a variety of ways to improve efficiencies, share resources, and connect students and alumni to career opportunities. Join this presentation to learn about the technology, how it works, what resources it provides, and more!

    The Infamous UWC Monster: Lessons Learned from Building a Giant Dataset
    Presenter - Jeff Dean and Nancy Holton, University Writing Center
    Track - Student Success Related Technology
    Classroom: PH 249

    This interactive session will involve equal parts presentation and question-and-answer from attendees. The presentation will share lessons learned from the collaborative processes that the University Writing Center staff has used and developed for synthesizing a robust dataset from Qualtrics survey data, Navigate data, and GullNet query data. Presenters will use their own work as an example of what is possible using existing Salisbury University data gathering tools and lead a discussion about what SU researchers would like to have available to them as new capabilities become available.

    AI, Give Me a Topic: Implementing a Chatbot in HONR 111: Freshman Research Seminar
    Presenters – Viktoria Basham, Clarke Honors College, Janice Orcutt, ID&D, and Katie Delezenski, SU Libraries
    Track - Student Success Related Technology
    Classroom: PH 348

    Artificial intelligence (AI) tools have become a part of many industries and fields, including the world of higher education. While presenting opportunities for creativity and innovation, AI tools also pose questions and raise concerns, which should be addressed responsibly by the most important link in the chain—the human. In the Fall 2025 semester, a new AI tool, a chatbot created through the edcafe.ai platform, was implemented in two sections of the HONR 111: Freshman Research Seminar class. HONR 111 is a core class for all honors students at Salisbury University (SU) and satisfies the general education requirement Communicating through Writing. The class is highly scaffolded and leads students through the process of conducting ethical scholarly research using assignments such as an annotated bibliography, a literature review, a storyboard, and a conference presentation. The final project for the class is a 9–11-page research paper. Each student selects their own research topic and designs their own research question (RQ.) While this freedom can be exciting and inspiring, many students struggle with the initial step of finding a suitable topic and formulating a RQ that is specific, relevant, debatable, and allows for a unique contribution. As a result of this initial struggle, some students not only drop HONR 111, but also withdraw from the Clarke Honors College (CHC), which hurts retention. To address this problem and to assist students with selecting topics and formulating RQs, an edcafe.ai chatbot was developed and prompted using HONR 111 guidelines pertinent to paper topics and RQs. This presentation will focus on the benefits and the drawbacks of using the AI tool in the classroom and will discuss steps for improvement for future use.

    Making the Case for Campus Activities
    Presenter – Tricia Smith, Center for Student Involvement and Leadership
    Track - Engagement and Belonging
    Classroom: PH 275

    Reviewing the many ways students are involved in campus activities (not just clubs and orgs) and the impact that involvement has on belonging and retention.

    Making the Most of SU Nature Rx
    Presenter - Kim Quillin, Professor of Practice Biological Sciences
    Tracks – Classroom Wins/Curriculum/Engagement and Belonging/High Impact Practices/Student Well-being
    Classroom: PH 277

    This session will introduce the mission of SU's new Nature Rx program, provide diverse examples of ways that courses, clubs, programs, and events can participate, and solicit ideas and action items from the broad community of stakeholders.

    Imagine This is Our Future: Participatory Curriculum Design and Information Literacy in First Year Seminar Design
    Presenter - Timothy Stock, Professor of Philosophy and Tina Plottel, SU Libraries
    Tracks – Classroom Wins/Curriculum/High Impact Practices
    Classroom: PH 274

    A session showcasing the implementation of a collaborative, semester-long information literacy assignment in a First Year Seminar and its outcomes, and brainstorming opportunities for future-forward participatory curriculum design for First Year Seminar instructors.

    Thriving as a Veteran/Military Affiliated Student: Transition, Benefits, and Community
    Presenter – Shannon James, Assistant Registrar for Special Populations
    Tracks – Engagement and Belonging/ High Impact Practices/Transitioning to a Four-Year University
    Classroom: PH 349

    An overview of transitioning to academic culture, who are these students, VA education benefits and how to create a sense of belonging within higher education.

  • 11:35 – 12:20 p.m. Morning Breakout Sessions #2

    Guiding Students Forward: An Introduction to the Navigate360 App
    Presenter – Heather Holmes, Center for Student Achievement
    Track - Student Success Related Technology
    Classroom: PH 251 – Room Capacity 36

    This session, designed for faculty and staff, will highlight how the Navigate360 app supports student success and streamlines communication. You will gain insights on how students use the Navigate360 app to manage schedules, appointments, and academic tasks. Explore features like class schedule, appointments, hand raise, study buddies, holds, journeys and others. The session will help attendees better understand how the Navigate360 platform and app foster a coordinated care network and increase communication to keep students informed about deadlines, resources and opportunities. The presenter will share data on student usage, feedback, and how faculty can interact with students through the app.

    Challenges and Triumphs While Hosting Strategies for Success Workshops with first-generation students
    Presenter – Allessia Owens-King, Social Work
    Track - Engagement and Belonging
    Classroom: PH 277 – Room Capacity 36

    This presentation will review the challenges and triumphs of facilitating the Strategies for Success Workshop series on SU main campus. The Strategies for Success Workshops were designed to support first-generation students as they navigate a wide range of challenging experiences. The workshops reviewed skills and resources to help students navigate challenging situations and manage competing demands. Seminar topics included, but were not limited to increasing self-awareness, stress management, time management, test anxiety, and setting personal boundaries. Additionally, the workshops were intended to foster a sense of belonging on campus and enhance student-faculty interaction, both of which are known to improve student retention.

    Impacts of Mnemotechnics and Study Groups on Student Performance
    Presenter – Jacques L. Koko, Conflict Analysis and Dispute Resolution
    Multiple Tracks – Classroom Wins/High Impact Practices
    Classroom: PH 275 – Room Capacity 36

    Study groups and mnemotechnics or mnemonics represent traditional strategies used to enhance learning processes and outcomes. By relying on scholarly evidence and content analysis, this presentation examines the impacts of mnemotechnics and study groups on student learning process and outcome. The author performs a content analysis on a random sample of 100 course evaluations, and he follows up with participant-observations to discuss the potentials of mnemotechnics and study groups for student success in the classroom and beyond.

    Finding Me-Time & Happiness
    Presenters – Seth Endicott (Center for Student Achievement) and Viktoria Basham (Clarke Honors College)
    Track - Student Well-Bring
    Classroom: PH 348 – Room Capacity 44

    Whether keeping up with academic rigor and expectations, taking on extracurricular activities, working, or handling other responsibilities, students often make little time for themselves. ‘Me-time’ is a buzzword that students hear, but don’t understand. This workshop, based on Covey’s The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teenagers, breaks down ‘me time’ into four categories—body, brain, heart, and soul, and explains how each aspect of the self relates to the person’s overall happiness. Though the book was intended for teenagers, we have found through our experiences that many of the concepts are applicable to people of all ages and all walks of life. For example, we feel that it is important for all college students to nurture their body, brain, heart and soul, regardless of age in order to achieve fullness and happiness. The workshop offers activities that students can engage in, in order to nourish each one of the four aspects of the self. Students will be asked to reflect on their current ‘me time’ and make a better plan going forward. What activities are students currently (not) engaging in in order to keep their bodies, minds, hearts, and souls happy? What activities can students commit to better nourish each aspect of a happier self? This presentation is meant to give faculty and staff the tools to promote holistic happiness to their students, or for faculty, staff members and students to use for their own holistic benefit.

    Writing Strong Recommendations for Student and Alumni Success
    Presenters – Kristen Walton (History and Nationally Competitive Fellowships), Andrew Martino (Clarke Honors College), Charles Overholt (Admissions)
    Tracks – Academic Support/High Impact Practices/ Preparing for Life after SU
    Classroom: PH 349 – Room Capacity 34

    Different situations require different styles of recommendations and many writers of recommendations write more general letters that might not support our students and alumni success in their future or present. Recommendations need to have different foci, whether they are for jobs, graduate programs, or fellowships and scholarships - and within those categories, the selection committees often have diverse priorities. With Charles Overholt from our SU admissions team, who has read a multitude of recommendations, Dean Andrew Martino of the Honors College who has written and read recommendations for students, and Kristen Walton of the fellowships office, who has served on multiple national screening committees and been trained on writing recommendations for fellowships, we will use an interactive approach to help faculty and staff learn best practices for writing these recommendations.

    Creating Safe Spaces: A Student Affairs Collab
    Presenters – Tiffany Arrington and Helena Brummitt
    Tracks – Classroom Wins/Student Well-Being
    Classroom: PH 274 – Room Capacity 30

    Gain basic classroom behavior management skills and receive resource information that support faculty when there are disruptions in the classroom, whether in-person or online. Learn how to use a syllabus to create standard-of-behavior expectations (universal design) and properly address and document behavior concerns within the learning environment. Will include a brief overview of the following resources: SACS (student accountability process), SUCARES (case management), CARE Team (behavior intervention team); SUPD. The presentation will focus on empowering faculty members and the importance of collaboration if and when concerns arise.

  • 12:30 – 1:45 p.m. | Lunch & Affinity Group Conversations

    (box lunch available starting at 12:15)

    • Advising, Mentoring, and Coaching (PH 351)
      Using people‑centered practices that guide students through academic, personal, and professional decisions. How can we help students navigate college with confidence?
    • Belonging and Campus Climate (PH 249)
      Creating an environment where all students feel valued, included, and connected. How can we make sure that cultural signals, policies, and practices are inclusive and welcoming on a daily basis?
    • Career Readiness and Experiential Learning (PH 251)
      Helping students build the skills, experiences, and networks that prepare them for life after graduation. How can we increase opportunities for internships, work‑based learning, classroom‑to‑career connections, and employer partnerships?
    • Data-Informed Student Success (PH 274)
      Using data ethically and effectively to improve student outcomes. How can we enhance our use of predictive analytics, dashboards, equity‑minded data practices, and turn insights into action?
    • Early Alert and Intervention (PH 275)
      Identifying students who may be struggling and connecting them with timely, meaningful support. How can we better communicate concerns and reduce barriers to help‑seeking?
    • Mental Health and Well-Being (PH 277)
      Promoting holistic well‑being and creating a campus culture that supports mental health. How can we support our students and empower them to care for themselves and each other?
    • Retention and Academic Momentum (PH 348)
      Helping students stay enrolled, progress efficiently, and reach key academic milestones. How can we ensure that policies, course pathways, and structures keep students here and moving toward completion?
    • Teaching and Learning Innovation (PH 349)
      Creating instructional practices and learning environments that enhance engagement, equity, and achievement. How can we support our faculty in the implementation of active learning, digital tools, inclusive pedagogy, and new approaches to course and curriculum design?
  • 1:55 – 2:40 p.m. | Afternoon Breakout Sessions

    Who Are We Talking To? Building Smarter Communication in Navigate
    Presenters – Sarah Timko-Jodlbauer and Maura Pagano, Academic Advising Center
    Tracks - Academic Support/Student Success-Related Technology
    Classroom: PH 248 Computer Lab

    This session is organized to guide participants through the importance of identifying the right audience and using Navigate to deliver targeted, meaningful communication. We will begin by discussing why finding the right audience matters, followed by an overview of how Navigate can be used to build and manage effective communication plans. The session will conclude with practical examples and takeaways that participants can apply immediately. By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

    • Identify and define target student audiences based on specific goals and needs.
    • Understand the key components of a Navigate Communication Plan
    • Apply best practices for improving engagement through strategic outreach

    SAP 101 for Student Success Partners
    Presenter – Ronnie Webb, Financial Aid Counselor
    Track - Academic Support/ Student Well-Being
    Classroom: PH 251

    Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) determines whether students keep their financial aid—but it also offers early indicators of who may be struggling academically, financially, or personally. This session reframes SAP as a student-success opportunity rather than a punitive rule.

    RIS Librarians’ Greatest Hits: Focused on Student Success
    Presenters - Emily Zerrenner, James Parrigin, Elizabeth Workman, Tina Plottel, Erin Weber, and Katie Delezenski – Research and Instructional Services at SU Libraries
    Tracks – Academic Support/Curriculum/Engagement and Belonging/High Impact Practices/Student Well-being
    Classroom: PH 348

    Faculty Librarians from the Research and Instructional Services unit of Salisbury University Libraries will discuss the impact of academic library services on student success. Their talk will include statistics and student stories that demonstrate the value of Information Literacy Instruction, research assistance in various avenues, and fostering well-being.

    Credit Report...What's that?
    Presenter – Paul DeCock, Housing and Residence Life
    Tracks – Personal and Professional Care (for Faculty and Staff)/Preparing for Life After SU
    Classroom: PH 275

    In this session you will learn what goes into a credit report, how to read one, and other financial decisions for early in your career.

    Apex of Advising
    Presenter – John Anello, Academic Advising Center
    Tracks - Academic Support/ Engagement and Belonging
    Classroom: PH 277

    This interactive presentation is for all faculty and staff who advise our students – either formally or informally. It will teach you how to reach the summit in advising practice. We will review the 6 phases of appreciative advising (disarm, discover, dream, design, deliver, and don't settle) and how to apply them.

    Academia and the Age of Entanglement
    Presenter – Sarah Roth, Physics
    Track – Curriculum/High Impact Practices/Student Success Related Technology
    Classroom: PH 249 – Room Capacity 44

    Is the Age of Information over—and if so, what comes next? As scholars increasingly describe our moment as the Anthropocene, the Age of AI, or even the Age of Entanglement, higher education faces a pressing question: Are our curricula still built for a world that no longer exists? In Salisbury University’s centennial year, we have a unique opportunity to reflect on a century of academic evolution while imagining the next hundred years. This session explores how universities have historically responded to paradigm shifts—from monastic scholarship and classical liberal education to industrial-era specialization, the postwar expansion of higher ed, and the digital knowledge economy—and what the next leap may require. Grounded in a data-informed review of SU’s course catalog, scheduling patterns, and enrollment trends from 2022–2025, we will examine how well our current structures align with emerging workforce needs: technological fluency, integrative learning, adaptability, and career readiness. We will also consider whether the coming epoch demands a more anti-disciplinary approach—one that transcends traditional silos and cultivates students who can navigate complexity, collaborate across domains, and create value in an interconnected world. SU’s centennial invites us not only to celebrate our past but to design a curriculum ready for the next century.

  • 2:50 – 3:40 p.m. | Student Success Snapshots (PH 156)

    Seth Endicott - Faculty Partnerships Through Coaching Referrals & Classroom Workshops

    The CSA's success coaching program and classroom workshops will be highlighted. This session is meant to provide a better understanding of how the success coaching program works and the theoretical framework behind it. It will also provide a better understanding of the Navigate referral system and guidance on when it is appropriate to refer a student to success coaching. I will discuss our classroom workshops and inform faculty on how to schedule and collaborate with me to build a workshop tailored specifically towards their class's academic needs. This session is meant to be informative and designed for faculty to get a better understanding of our services and how we can create a productive partnership focused on student success.

    Heather Holmes - Success by Design: Crafting Purposeful Student Journeys

    Journeys are the newest Navigate360 features, seamlessly integrated across the student, faculty, staff, and reporting platforms. Journeys are comprised of institution-specific steps to help guide students through essential milestones and foster proactive and collaborative planning. Guide your students through essential goals and milestones by designing a Journey. Sample Journeys will be shared during this session.

    Ronnie Webb - SU Scholarship Portal Overview

    A brief overview of the SU Scholarship Portal and the AcademicWorks platform. What kinds of opportunities are available for our students? How do they apply? How can campus partners connect with the Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships to add new opportunities to the portal?

    Jennifer Nyland - Successful Notetaking with Cornell Notes

    Demonstration of Cornell note-taking system

    Terry Pasano – Get to Know Your University Dietitian

    UDS Nutrition Services seeks to participate as a tabling resource at the Academic Success Summit to highlight the connection between nutrition, learning, and overall academic success. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet Salisbury University’s Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) and learn about the unique, free, evidence-based nutrition services available to the Salisbury University community. The table will share how the University RDN supports student focus, energy, and well-being, and how these services are also available to faculty and staff as part of a campus-wide approach to academic success and wellness.

    Heidi Fritz – Handling Academic Misconduct: Helpful Hints from the Academic Policies Committee

    Sometimes, students make poor choices that result in academic misconduct. Addressing such incidents can be stressful for both students and instructors. However, if educators approach suspected misconduct situations thoughtfully and methodically, they can become powerful opportunities for student growth. In this snapshot, I review APC best practices for approaching students about suspected misconduct, finding the teachable moment, and avoiding common errors in filing an academic misconduct report.

  • 3:45 – 5:00 p.m. | A “Spirited” Discussion & Prizes (Poster/Tabling Session Continues) - (Atrium Lobby)
    • Amy Jones and Chris Woodall - Looking Back to Move Forward: Using Statistics to Explore Collaborations with SU Libraries' Public Services
    • Brain Steigler, Farren Christ, Connor Pass - Supporting International Student Success and Enhancing Regulatory Compliance
    • Carrianne Cicero – Mentoring Matters: Enhancing Engagement, Retention, and Growth in Higher Education
    • Chrys Egan, Angela Lookabill - Center for the Advancement of Faculty Excellence (CAFE)
    • Hannah Prouse - Racing the Clock: Time Management and Stress Among College Students with Disabilities
    • Holly Thompson, Myrana Ruzigamanzi, Alex Mattie - Engaging the Graduate Students at SU: the Past, Present, and Future of GSC
    • Mary Katherine Taylor - How to Develop an Updated and Adaptable Training Course through the MyClasses Platform
    • SU Libraries - SU Libraries Student Success Bookmobile
    • Terry Passano - Get to Know Your University Dietitian