Launched in the Fall 2015, the Project Rising Tide Student Success Initiative is a collective and collaborative (campus-wide) workshop series hosted by the Office for Academic Affairs and Student Affairs Divisions. Attendees are faculty, staff, and administrators coming together to share, ideas, improve on existing practices and innovate. In addition, the creation of the Capstone Center for Student Success will provide academic coaching and advisement support for freshman in Crimson EDGE (Education Guarantees Excellence). EDGE is a two-semester program to help students manage the transition to a university academic environment. The Capstone Center for Student Success opened in May 2016 on the third floor of Russell Hall; starting in Fall 2017 the Capstone Center also advises all undeclared freshmen.
The objective of the initiative is to increase institutional year-to-year student retention percentages; increase 6-year and 4-year graduation percentages so that our students reach even higher levels of excellence and success in their academic endeavors at The Capstone and to further The University of Alabama’s mission and vision in creating environments that ensure all students have opportunities to be successful.
The objective of the initiative is to increase institutional year-to-year student retention percentages; increase 6-year and 4-year graduation percentages so that our students reach even higher levels of excellence and success in their academic endeavors at The Capstone and to further The University of Alabama’s mission and vision in creating environments that ensure all students have opportunities to be successful.
What Is the Project Rising Tide Student Success Initiative?
Mission
To further The University of Alabama’s mission and vision, the Capstone is committed in creating environments that ensure all students have opportunities to be successful.
Definition of Student Success
Students at The University of Alabama are successful when they engage in meaningful ways with their peers, the community, and their academic environment, while setting and attaining academic, personal, and career goals. They will exhibit strong critical thinking and analytical problem-solving skills, engage in collaboration with others, accept responsibility for their decisions and actions, and apply knowledge in real world contexts. These students will be self-aware, resilient, responsible, and will understand and demonstrate a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Successful students will gain the experiences, knowledge, and skills to contribute to the state, the nation, and the world through their chosen profession and civic involvement.
Vision
Project Rising Tide, a component of Student Success at The University of Alabama, uses evidence-based learning strategies to develop our students’ critical analytical skills enabling our students to achieve their academic goals while becoming lifelong learners.
Our Role
The University of Alabama commits to identifying the individual needs of our students and offering the support and programs necessary for them to achieve success. To assist students effectively, we will communicate and share consistent information about available resources and opportunities. We value all students, and we will provide environments that encourage lifelong learning and demonstrate respect for diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Measuring Success
The University of Alabama will identify and utilize multiple measures to gauge student success and will use this information to make decisions about programs and services to improve student engagement as well as retention and graduation rates.
