Highlights

To improve course supply/demand and remove bottlenecks in time to degree planning, the Strategic Course Scheduling group created two-year course planning guides for all courses in the bulletin, standardized a baseline waitlist policy for all undergraduate courses, and purchased Ellucian SmartPlan to auto generate four year degree plans and course demand analytics.

Roster

Chair

Bernard Hamm - University Registrar

Executive Sponsor

Hernan Bucheli, Ed.D. - Vice President for Strategic Enrollment Management and Student Success

Members

Janice Babb - Senior Research Analyst, Institutional Research and Decision Support
Sarah Banwarth - Director, Facility Planning & Operations Department, School of Business
Ashlee Christakos - Research Analyst (SEMSS)
Stevara Clark, Ed.D. - Interim Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs, School of Social Work
Gretchen Comba - Teaching Professor, Associate Chair, Department of English, College of Humanities and Sciences
Katherine Drumm, Ph.D. - Assistant Vice President University Academic Advising & Technology
Heather Evans - Senior Educational Specialist, Department of Counseling and Special Education, School of Education
Elizabeth Fagan, Ph.D. - Associate Chair, Department of Focused Inquiry, University College
Jason Fish - Assistant to Department Administration, Department of Chemistry, College of Humanities and Sciences
Jeannie Friedrich - Student Admin Coordinator, Department of Physics, College of Humanities and Sciences
Alison Jones, Ed.D. - Associate Vice President for Academic Operations and Strategy, Health Sciences
Elise Kepus - Senior Associate Registrar
Erin McGhee - Assistant Director, Undergraduate Student Services & Advising, Wilder School
Mary Metzger - Academic Affairs Coordinator, School of the Arts
Jo Murphy - Department and Community Engagement Coordinator, Department of Forensic Science, College of Humanities and Sciences
Alexandra Reckendorf, Ph.D. - Associate Professor, Associate Chair, Department of Political Science, College of Humanities and Sciences
Jennifer Rivers, Ed.D. - Assistant Dean of Student Affairs, College of Engineering
Krista Scott, Ed.D. - Interim Assistant Vice President for Summer Studies
Rebecca Segal, Ph.D. - Professor and Chair, Department of Mathematics, College of Humanities and Sciences
Jackie Smith-Mason, Ph.D. - Sr. Associate Dean, Director of Academic and Faculty Affairs, Honors College
Seth Sykes, Ph.D. - Associate Vice President for Transfer Initiatives and Programs
Emily Watkinson - Lab Supervisor, Department of Biology, College of Humanities and Sciences
Crystal Williams - Senior Assistant Registrar

Highlights

Developed DFW Dashboard for gateway courses and student success dashboard for Deans and Department chairs to better understand student success metrics and action plans for risk variables.

Roster

Co-Chairs

Catherine Ingrassia, Ph.D. - Dean, College of Humanities & Sciences
Maggie Tolan, Ed.D. - Senior Associate Vice President of Student Success

Executive Sponsors

Andrew Arroyo, Ed.D. - Senior Vice Provost for Academic Affairs
Mangala Subramaniam, Ph.D. - Senior Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs

Members

D'Arcy Mays, Ph.D. - Associate Dean, College of Humanities and Sciences
Michal Coffey - Director, Campus Learning Center
Brian McTague - Director, Writing Center
Christina Draper - Program Manager & School Liaison, Office of Continuing and Professional Education
Chris Marcoux, Ph.D. - Director of Analytics, Institutional Research and Decision Support
Juliana Rasnic - Director, Humanities & Social Behavioral Advising, College of Humanities and Sciences
Shelley Bowers - Associate Director, Declared Advising, University Academic Advising
Scott Robinson - Director, Advising, College of Engineering
Anthony Meloro - Senior Advisor, University Academic Advising
Jake Branigan - Associate Director, Academic Advising

Departmental Representatives

Rima Franklin, Ph.D. - Interim Vice Provost, VCU Life Sciences
Maryanne Collinson, Ph.D. - Chair, Department of Chemistry, College of Humanities and Sciences
Lee Franco, Ph.D. - Chair, Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences, College of Humanities and Sciences<brNick Wong, Ph.D. - Director of Introductory Mathematics, Department of Mathematics, College of Humanities and Sciences
Kevin Allison, Ph.D. - Chair, Department of Psychology, College of Humanities and Sciences
Stephanie Barnhouse Walcott - Undergraduate Program Director, Department of Forensic Science, College of Humanities and Sciences
Gary Tepper, Ph.D. - Senior Associate Dean for Academic & Faculty Affairs, College of Engineering
Preetam Ghosh, Ph.D. - Interim Chair, Department of Computer Sciences, College of Engineering
James Wiznerowicz, DMA - Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, School of the Arts
Alena Hampton, Ph.D. - Associate Dean for Academic Affairs & Student Success, College of Health Professions
Katy Hanggi, Ph.D. - Chair, Department of Focused Inquiry, University College
Joan Rhodes, Ph.D. - Director of Educator Preparation, School of Education
Jody Symula, MFA - Assistant Dean for Student Affairs, School of the Arts
Bonnie McCoy, MFA - Chair, Department of Theater, School of the Arts
Jana McQuaid, Ed.D. - Associate Dean for Academic Programs and Student Success, School of Business
Jay Adams - Director of Undergraduate Studies, Robertson School of Media and Culture, College of Humanities and Sciences
Stephanie Odera, Ed.D. - Director, BSW Program, School of Social Work

Highlights

Increased access to professional health programs (e.g. Nursing added 100 seats for Spring 2025; Medical Lab Sciences is first program to pilot direct entry starting in Fall 2026)

Roster

Chair

Alison Jones - Associate vice president for Health Sciences Academic Operations and Strategy

Members

Justin Brooks - Data Engineer and Analyst, IRDS
Roger Butler - Director of Admissions Operations
Amber Cummings - Associate Director Academic Advising
Alena Hampton - Associate Dean of Faculty Affairs
Elizabeth Heck - Transfer Coordinator
Marion Manski - Director, Division of Dental Hygiene
Hunter Patrick - Director, Budget & Research
Megan Rapchick - Assistant Dean, Office Student Success

Highlights

• Researched retention and traffic flow patterns through undeclared major
• Developed a new discovery program for students coming in as "undeclared" majors.
• Worked with Advising NISS group to create a “transition” advising team, housed under the Discovery Advising Team, that will work with high credit change of major/out of major programs/students - to minimize change of majors and provide quicker time to degree pathways.

Roster

Chair

Ashlyn Anderson - Executive Director, University Academic Advising

Members

Justin Brooks - Data Engineer and Analyst, IRDS
Cathryn Coffey - Associate Director, Discovery Advising
Zach Hilpert - Director, Interdisciplinary Program
Hunter Patrick - Director, Budget & Research

Highlights

• Developed a model to create a new Student Success financial support team within the Student Financial Management Center focused on caseload/case management risk variable identification and continuity of support.
• Added additional technology and data personnel to help improve technology solutions as well as identify more at-risk students, earlier.

Roster

Co-Chairs

Norm Bedford - Associate Vice President Student Financial Services
David Allen, Ph.D. - Associate Vice President for Budget and Treasury

Executive Sponsors

Meredith Weiss, Ph.D. - Senior Vice President for Finance and Administration and Chief Financial Officer
Jay Davenport - Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations
Faye Belgrave, Ph.D. - Vice President for Inclusive Excellence and Chief Diversity Officer

Members

Hernan Bucheli, Ed.D. - Vice President for Strategic Enrollment Management and Student Success
Katherine Drumm, Ph.D. - Assistant Vice President for University Advising and Technologies
Gary Halliday - Senior IT Developer (SEMSS)
Marcus Mickle - Director of Administrative Systems, Technology Services
Susan O'Shea - Assistant Vice President Administration and Operations (SEMSS)
Hunter Patrick - Budget Director, Office of Budget and Resource Analysis
Amy Pridemore - Executive Director of the VCU Financial Success Center by Virginia Credit Union, School of Business
Colette Reid - Interim Associate Director Student Financial Management Center
Aimee Selleck - Job Location and Development Coordinator, VCU Career Services
Kristin Smith, Ed.D. - Director of Enrollment Research and Evaluation (SEMSS)
Ed Stables - Senior manager, Cash & Collections Services, Treasury Services
Seth Sykes, Ph.D. - Assistant Vice President Transfer Initiatives
Evan Udowith - Director, Financial Aid and Scholarships (SEMSS)
Kittinun Wongsirikul - Scholarship Coordinator (SEMSS)

Highlights

• Completed comprehensive data collection (9 focus groups; 1600 survey respondents) to assess our student communication channels, message impact, and opportunities to expand AI/chatbot technology.

Roster

Co-Chairs

Mike Flanigan Ed.D - Associate Vice President Strategic Initiatives and Project Management
Jimmie Gahagan, Ph.D. - Associate Vice President for Transformative Student Experiences

Executive Sponsors

Grant Heston - Vice President for Enterprise Marketing and Communications
Hernan Bucheli, Ed.D. - Vice President for Strategic Enrollment Management and Student Success

Members

Lauren Braun - Director, Orientation and Transition Programs (SEMSS)
Kristen Caldwell - Executive Director, DAR Communications, Development and Alumni Relations
Jennifer Carmean - Assistant vice president for content and storytelling, Enterprise Marketing and Communications
Kelly Coldiron - Director, Enrollment Experience (SEMSS)
Alexis Finch - Director of Communications, College of Humanities and Sciences
Jonathan Fuller - Director, First and Second Year Experiences (SEMSS)
Vann Graves - Associate Dean, Brand Strategy and Communications, School of Business
Christal Holmes - Director, Enrolled Student Communications (SEMSS)
Elise Kepus - Senior Associate Registrar
Beck Oh - Program Manager for LGBTQIA+ Initiatives, Division of Student Affairs
Jennifer Pulver - Director of Marketing & Communications, College of Engineering
Josh Skillman - Director, Communications & Marketing, Division of Student Affairs
Hannah Steighner - Assistant Director, Service & Support Management, Technology Services
Nathan Tersteeg - Senior Advisor, Art Foundation (SEMSS)
Katina Velentzas - Coordinator of Strategic Initiatives (SEMSS)

Highlights

• Created a new transition advising team to support high-credit change-of-major students; Received a new $200k NISS Quality of Care grant recognizing our advising expertise and providing additional development as national leaders
• Standardized the Continuum of Care experience across the university to ensure systematic approach across a decentralized campus.
• New investments continue to lower advising/student ratios to ensure a high level of engagement/access.

Roster

Chair

Katherine Drumm, Ph.D. - Assistant Vice President Advising and Technologies

Executive Sponsor

William Nelson - Sr. Vice Provost for Academic Administration and Operations

Members

Ashlyn Anderson - Executive Director, University Academic Advising
Krystal Andrews, Ph.D. - Director of Student Success, School of Education
Sarah Burton-Everette - Director of Advising and Retention, School of Social Work
Eliza Callahan - Director of Academic Advising, College of Health Professions
Alaina Campbell - Director of Advising - Sciences, College of Humanities and Sciences
Whitney Carswell - Director, Transfer Center
Nick Garcia - Associate Dean, Student Success, School of Pharmacy
John Hendershot - Director of Academic Advising, School of the Arts
Zach Hilpert, Ph.D. - Director of Interdisciplinary Studies, University College
Jared Johnson - Senior Academic Advisor, Honors College
Marion Manski - Associate Professor of Dental Hygiene, School of Dentistry
Kasey Mattison - Director of Student-Athlete Support Services
Karen Meister - Senior Academic Advisor, School of Education
Vinnie Merida - Executive Director of Advising, School of Business
Megan Rapchick - Assistant Dean of Student Success, School of Nursing
Juliana Rasnic - Director of Advising, Humanities and Social Sciences, College of Humanities and Sciences
LaToya Robinson - Associate Registrar
Scott Robinson - Director of Advising, College of Engineering
Steph Vennetti - Director of Undergraduate Student Services and Advising, Wilder School