Commitment 1 | Foster Student Success
Since its inception, administrators, faculty, and staff at WSSU have emphasized student success. Since 2009,
WSSU has experienced an 18.5% percentage point gain in student success, which places the university in
the “Top 3” among all UNC System Schools trailing only UNC Charlotte (23% gain) and North Carolina State
University (19.8% gain). According to UNCF’s report Transforming Generations: Social Mobility Outcomes for
HBCU Alumni (2021), WSSU ranks among the “Top 10” of all historically Black colleges and universities with the highest national average success rates. With a success rate of 75.2%, WSSU is ranked #5 among all HBCUs. When compared to Ivy Plus Institutions, WSSU scores comparably to Harvard University, the University of Chicago, and Duke University.
Despite these rankings, WSSU has adopted a bold proclamation—“Until the university retains and graduates
100% of it students over a sustained period of time, we have significant work to do with student success.” By
increasing student retention and completion rates, WSSU will improve attainment gaps between male and
female students and increase degree efficiency. WSSU employees will work more collaboratively with families
to reduce the student debt load. WSSU commits to increase enrollment among non-traditional populations
such as Veterans, adult learners, community college transfers, and readmit students.
Strategies 〉
- Enhance academic and student support services.
- Integrate recruitment and retention practices.
- Develop creative financial options to reduce student debt load.
- Integrate high-impact practices throughout each student’s academic journey.
- Employ experiential learning and cultural responsiveness across disciplines and programs.
