National Institute for Student Success Implementation at VCU
During the 2023-2024 academic year VCU partnered with the National Institute for Student Success (NISS) to conduct a comprehensive assessment of our student success practices. President Rao charged our community with fully implementing the NISS recommendations in an expeditious manner. During the 2024-2025 academic year, an implementation steering committee and seven work groups were launched to implement the playbook recommendations.
Moving into year two of implementation a NISS leadership team has been charged with implementing the remaining deliverables.
Milestones
- Spring 2024 - NISS delivers final written report
- Summer 2024 - Steering committee and work groups kick-off
- Fall 2024 - Research and data collection
- Spring 2025 - Develop implementation plans
- Summer 2025 - Hire and onboard new staff to support NISS initiatives
- Fall 2025 - Launch NISS initiatives (i.e, SmartPlan, transition advising team, student success financial team, journey mapping/communications plan)
- Spring 2026 - On-going metrics monitoring and evaluation
David Allen, Ph.D. - Associate Vice President for Finance and Deputy Chief Financial Officer
Ashlyn Anderson - Executive Director, University Academic Advising
Andrew Arroyo, Ed.D. - Senior Vice Provost for Academic Affairs and Interim Dean, University College
Norm Bedford - Associate Vice President for Student Financial Services
Michael Bourgeois, Ph.D. - Associate Vice Provost, Institutional Research and Decision Support
Hernan Bucheli, Ed.D. - Vice President for Strategic Enrollment Management and Student Success
Jay Davenport - Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations
Katherine Drumm, Ph.D. - Assistant Vice President Advising and Technologies
Mike Flanigan, Ed.D. - Associate Vice President Strategic Initiatives and Project Management
Bernard Hamm - University Registrar
Aaron Hart, Ed.D. - Vice President for Student Affairs
Grant Heston - Vice President for Enterprise Marketing and Communications
Catherine Ingrassia, Ph.D. - Dean, College of Humanities & Sciences
Alison Jones, Ed.D. - Associate Vice President for Academic Operations and Strategy for Health Sciences
Marlon Levy M.D. - Senior Vice President for Health Sciences and CEO, VCU Health System
William Nelson - Senior Vice Provost for Academic Administration and Operations
Kathleen M. Rudasill, Ph.D. - Interim Senior Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs
Maggie Tolan, Ed.D. - Executive Senior Associate Vice President of Student Success & Innovation
Beverly J. Warren, Ed.D., Ph.D., FACSM - Interim Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs
Meredith Weiss, Ph.D. - Senior Vice President for Finance and Administration and Chief Financial Officer
Megan Wood, Director of Project Management, VCU Finance and Administration
April 30, 2025
February 26, 2025
January 29, 2029
October 30, 2024
September 25, 2024
July 30, 2025