University of Missouri

Student Success

Student success begins with recruitment and aims to improve student experiences and retention rates, ultimately leading to improved graduation rates and success beyond MU.

The goals for student success were planned by the Strategic Enrollment Management Planning Committee and the Student Experience Planning Team. They aim to address the full student experience at MU.

Goals and Strategies

Increase annual number of undergraduate, graduate/professional degree programs to 10,000 by 2023.

• Annually review degree programs
• Strategically add new programs based on demand
• Add online and distance learning opportunities
• Lifelong learning will be encouraged through support for MU staff to pursue degrees as well as continuing education opportunities for alumni.

Enhance student access and increase annual size of new undergraduates to 6,000 by 2023.

• Increase enrollment by offering competitive scholarships for new students, enhancing campus visits, and making the transition process easier and more affordable for transfer students.
• Make education affordable for all students and inform them about financial aid and scholarship resources.
• Bring top scholars and high-achieving students to MU by offering competitive fellowships and scholarships.
• Each school and college will develop a graduate/professional student enrollment plan, and MU will fund PhD research in priority fields.
• Graduate students will be recruited who can assist faculty research to support MU’s strategic research goals.

Shape graduate/professional student enrollment to align with MU's strategic goals and meet state, regional, national and international student & employment demands.

• Each school and college will develop a graduate/professional student enrollment plan, and MU will fund PhD research in priority fields.
• Graduate students will be recruited who can assist faculty research to support MU’s strategic research goals.

Promote excellence and inclusion through teaching and student academic experiences in and out of the classroom.

• The Teaching for Learning Center will offer programs and resources to support teaching excellence.
• The Task Force to Enhance Learning and Teaching has been convened to propose a campus-wide multi-measure approach for the evaluation of teaching; to propose a system to support, recognize, and incentivize teaching excellence; and to establish a plan to measure the long-term impacts of these changes on student learning and success.
• Educate faculty on creating a more inclusive classroom experience.

Increase first year undergraduate student retention to 93% by 2023.

• Train and support student advisors
• Engage faculty in monitoring success and early intervention techniques in first-year classes
• Create a Student Success Council reporting to the Provost.

Enhance the first-year experience to create an individualized plan to personal and academic success.
• Communicate with students and provide them with resources throughout their first year through faculty, advisors, resident assistants, and peer success networks.
• Implement web-based orientations to welcome graduate/professional students.

Increase student engagement and sense of belonging through support, community and mentorship.
• The definition of student engagement will be expanded to include not just membership in student organizations, but also student employment and undergraduate research.
• The Office of Student Employment will be established to offer employment opportunities and measure outcomes and competencies.
• Offer mentorship opportunities across departments and into the community.
• Residential life will become a multi-year experience to enhance student engagement and success.

Respond to student health and wellness needs through easily accessible and integrated services.
• The Wellness Resource Center will be the main source of health education and activities.
• Programs will be coordinated to better serve students who need referrals between services and develop a single access point for health, well-being and counseling services.
• All students should have access to these services and wait times will be reduced during peak demand.

Improve 4-year undergraduate student graduation rates to 55% and 6-year graduation rates to 74% by 2023.
• Identify obstacles to graduation, develop outreach to communicate with non-returning students and ease transfer between schools and colleges.
• Create a central advising unit for undecided students.

Ensure 95% of undergraduate and graduate/professional students are employed or in graduate school with 6 months of graduation by 2023.
• Career advising plans will be integrated with academic advising to enhance career readiness for undergraduate students.
• Expand career support programs and create individual development plans for graduate students
• Offer off-campus opportunities, such as internships, study abroad programs, and increase interaction with employers before graduation.
• Increase awareness of post graduate education by connecting students with appropriate graduate program directors on campus.