The Division of Student Success at UT works to engage each scholar’s experience by supporting their unique strengths and goals. By working with UT faculty and staff, Student Success helps each scholar understand how their strengths contribute to their academic dreams, career paths, and personal well-being.
The UTCSW Office of Student Success and Advising adheres to the same mission as the larger university. At the college level, the team consisting of Director Amanda Gandy, Advisor Bee Clevenger, Advisor Margaret Huffstetler, Advisor Kristin Pearson, and Student Success Coordinator Gina Middleton, bring very different strengths to their work with students.
All the advisors have had professional social work experience before beginning their student success work. The team engages students and supports them as they work toward their degrees. With a focus on academic and professional development for all students, the team works closely with Program Directors, Faculty, and Field Teams to help students be effective, well-informed social work practitioners who feel prepared to start or advance their social work careers.
The Student Success team works as champions for the students, supporting them through complex challenges and celebrating their successes. The team supports BSSW and MSSW students with an individualized approach, assigning each student in the program to one advisor. To assist the PhD and DSW students, the focus is on bringing in expert programming to support their academic and professional aspirations.
The UTCSW students receive unique advising experiences that cater to their specific needs. For the BSSW students, this could mean working through Vol Core course decisions and academic planning or helping them work through MSSW program options. For MSSW students, this could be discussing study abroad, the different certifications offered in the MSSW program, looking over a resume or job offer, or connecting a student to resources. Other times the team might be discussing parking, how to find something in Canvas, or where the best restaurant is for brunch. There is rarely a typical day for the Student Success team, but this dynamic group is always there to answer questions or find the person who has the answer. All members of the UTCSW advising team approach students with a strength-based, solution-focused mindset with an emphasis on modeling social work values.
Each semester the team offers career and professional development along with listening sessions to better understand the students’ needs. Every spring MSSW graduating students are provided access to salary negotiation workshops and licensure prep materials to prepare them for the job market.
“I think we have a unique position since we are the only group of people that will work with a student across their entire academic careers,” said Gandy. “We don’t have the positionality of an instructor or program director and can truly be a safe space for students to work through challenging situations. We are experts on resources that students may need.”
The outcome of this team’s dedication and individualized approach is a 94% retention rate among BSSW and MSSW students, one of the highest retention rates on campus. This is a prime example of implementing structures and practices that support a culture where everyone matters and belongs.
