The University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) has shared updates on the Chancellor’s Student Success Initiative, which was launched last fall. The initiative aims to increase the six-year graduation rate by 10 percentage points over the next decade and eliminate gaps in enrollment and graduation.
Since the previous Student Success Initiative began in 2012, UIC has made significant progress in broadening access and improving student outcomes. From 2014 to 2024, various projects were implemented with support from the Office of Project Management for Student Success Initiatives.
The new Chancellor’s Student Success Initiative seeks to enhance coordination and support for students, aiming to improve their time to graduation through innovative learning opportunities and responsive supports.
An executive committee led by Interim Senior Vice Provost for Academic Programs, Student Success and Effectiveness Nikos Varelas will provide strategic direction for the initiative. The committee's responsibilities include advancing progress toward goals, recommending project priorities, and developing strategies focused on recruitment, degree pathways, financial support, advising, academic support, teaching innovation, research opportunities, career preparation, and health.
Upcoming College Success meetings will bring together leaders from various sectors within UIC to review outcomes and develop strategies for improvement. These collaborative meetings are part of ongoing efforts to foster a student-centered culture at UIC.
Karen Colley, Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at UIC expressed appreciation for the campus community's partnership in this initiative. She emphasized its importance to both the initiative's success and that of UIC students.