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Strategic Priority 1
Strategic Priority 1
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Enhance Student Succe​ss Across the Student Life Cycle

Strategic Priority 1 encompasses five individual objectives which may be viewed by clicking on each below.

Strategy

Conduct a comprehensive review of current college and university programs to identify gaps and opportunities for fostering early community engagement.

Tactics

  • Undergraduate Students
    • Assess and improve Premier DePaul and Transition DePaul orientation programs for CSH students, with a focus on the broader student experience.
    • Develop CSH-specific onboarding activities to address identified gaps, including opportunities to engage with sustainability initiatives on campus.
  • Graduate Students
    • Evaluate and enhance the graduate orientation program for CSH.
    • Introduce a peer mentorship program for new graduate students, incorporating themes of environmental and social responsibility in science and health.
  • Community Building
    • Enhance CSH Fest as an annual signature event, increasing student engagement, career resources, and alumni/donor participation, while integrating sustainability themes (e.g., green initiatives, reducing event waste, and sustainability-focused research showcases).
    • Boost participation in the Undergraduate STEM Research Showcase by involving alumni, donors, and industry, including representation from sustainability and environmental science professionals.

Metrics

  • Student Lifecycle and Retention
    • Complete a CSH-specific student lifecycle gap report by March 2025.
    • Address 80% of identified gaps by Spring 2026 with new programs and efforts.
    • Annually calculate retention rates and four and six-year graduation rates of the Comprehensive Student Success Retention Initiative (CSSRI) participants, aiming for a 10% increase in retention and graduation rates.
    • Reduce student melt by 5% by 2029.
  • Engagement amd Participation
    • Increase scholarship applications by 15% annually.
    • Increase CSH Fest attendance by 10% annually, maintaining 75% satisfaction in community and belonging.
    • Increase STEM Research Showcase attendance, student participation, and alumni/donor/industry involvement by 10% annually through 2029, including sustainability-focused professionals.

Strategy

Offer targeted training and resources to equip faculty and staff with the skills to support student success.

Tactics

      • Mental Health Training
        • Partner with University Counseling and Psychological Services to deliver two annual training sessions on mental health, targeting 50% faculty/staff participation throughout the year.
      • Financial Literacy Training
        • Collaborate with Financial Aid to provide two annual training sessions on financial literacy, also aiming for 50% faculty/staff participation over the course of the year.
      • Sustainability in Student Support
        • Provide faculty and staff with training on how to integrate environmental sustainability into coursework, research projects, and student success programming.
      • Resource Hub
        • Develop and maintain a comprehensive resource catalog of student services on the Operations Hub, ensuring accessibility and regular updates, including resources on sustainable campus initiatives and environmental responsibility in STEM fields.
      • Inclusive Teaching
        • Create and promote resources for inclusive teaching and culturally relevant pedagogy.
        • Encourage faculty participation in the Student Success Summit and introduce an Excellence in Support of Student Success Award.

Metrics

      • Training and Engagement
        • Achieve 50% faculty/staff participation in mental health and financial aid sessions by the end of the academic year.
        • Conduct a student satisfaction survey to assess the effectiveness of financial aid sessions and resources, with a target of 80% satisfaction.
        • Achieve 50% faculty/staff participation in mental health, financial aid, and sustainability training sessions by the end of the academic year.
      • Resource Utilization
        • Publish the resource catalog by Autumn 2025, with 50 unique visits in the first 6 months.
        • Achieve an 80% satisfaction rate in accessibility and usefulness through a student satisfaction survey conducted within the first year of the catalog's launch.
      • Inclusive Teaching Impact
        • Develop 10 inclusive teaching resources by Autumn 2028, with 50% annual faculty utilization.
        • Attain 80% positive feedback on inclusive teaching practices from faculty and students.

Strategy

Strengthen collaboration with the Career Center and Alumni Relations to integrate career readiness into CSH culture.

Tactics

  • Alumni Engagement
    • Organize quarterly alumni speaking engagements and enhance alumni participation at CSH Fest, the Undergraduate STEM Showcase, and other events by involving them in interactive panels, mentoring sessions, and collaborative workshops.
    • Identify and engage alumni working in sustainability, environmental health, and green innovation fields to participate in career panels and mentorship programs.
  • Career Development
    • Implement career and research workshops tailored to CSH students' needs.
    • Launch a Career & Life Design (CLD) course for CSH undergraduates by December 2025.
    • Develop professional development sessions for graduate students, focusing on both academic and industry career pathways, including careers in sustainability-related fields.
    • Create industry spotlights series in partnership among CSH faculty, Advancement, Alumni Relations, and the Career Center, featuring emerging careers in environmental science, health, and sustainability.

Metrics

  • Alumni & Community Involvement
    • Organize four alumni speaking engagements annually with 80% student satisfaction.
    • Increase alumni and community participation in CSH Fest and the Undergraduate STEM Showcase by 10% annually, including sustainability-focused professionals.
  • Career and Professional Development
    • Conduct quarterly career and research workshops with 50% attendance from targeted student groups, such as juniors, seniors, and graduate students.
    • Achieve a 15% improvement in career readiness through pre- and post-workshop surveys.
    • Enroll at least 30 students in the CLD course by the end of SQ 2026.
    • Conduct quarterly graduate professional development sessions with 50% participation.
    • Develop industry spotlights series by December 2025.

Strategy

Boost marketing and fundraising efforts to attract more qualified graduate students and secure financial support.

Tactics

  • Marketing Campaigns
    • Launch targeted marketing campaigns to enhance the visibility of graduate programs locally, regionally, and nationally.
    • Highlight graduate research opportunities related to sustainability and environmental health in recruitment materials.
  • Fundraising
    • Collaborate with Advancement to develop and implement a fundraising campaign for graduate scholarships and research.
    • Promote and secure grants for research and community engagement projects focused on social and environmental justice.

Metrics

  • Marketing Impact
    • Launch four major marketing campaigns annually, with a 15% year-over-year increase in inquiries and applications.
  • Fundraising and Scholarhsips
    • Increase funds for graduate scholarships and research by 15% annually.
    • Establish three new scholarships annually, with a 10% increase in recipients.
    • Promote five research and community engagement projects annually, with a 15% increase in participation and funding.

Strategy

Implement DEI initiatives across the curriculum, research, and community engagement to create a more inclusive environment for CSH’s diverse student body.

Tactics

  • DEI Integration
    • Collaborate with IRMA to establish and integrate DEI metrics for tracking student achievement gaps, including disparities in environmental and sustainability education access.
  • DEI Certification
    • Develop a CSH DEI certificate program, including implicit bias training and inclusive teaching practices.
  • Student Success Spaces
    • Fundraise and create student success spaces focused on supporting underrepresented students, incorporating sustainability-focused resources and initiatives to create eco-friendly, accessible learning environments.

Metrics

  • DEI Implementation
    • Establish and publish comprehensive DEI metrics by year-end, with annual actionable insights.
    • Achieve 90% participation in the CSH DEI certificate program by 2025 by all faculty and staff.
  • Student Achievement and Support
    • Reduce DFW rates in barrier courses for African American and Latine students by 50% by 2029.
    • Double enrollment in CSSRI programs among African American and Latine students by 2027.
    • Raise $500,000 for student success spaces by 2025, with increased utilization by underrepresented students.
    • Improve students’ reported sense of community and belonging by 15% by 2027.

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