Spire Magazine 2021

Mov ing the Needle

PREPARING FOR THE NEXT CENTURY OF SERVANT LEADERS

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The project engages the campus community with a campus wide/campus-owned, collaborative approach. Credo provides direct support, assistance, and full partnership. The focus of their work will use data, proven research, and campus input to identify those things that can have the greatest impact and opportunity on students’ success. The Credo Project Lead, Dr. Michelle Samuels-Jones, Vice President for Student Success, and the Project Manager for Student Success, Ryan Hopkins, work directly with the Bluefield University Co-Leadership team of Dr. Marshall Flowers, Provost, and Dr. Darrin Martin, Dean of Academic Support. The Moving the Needle project is mobilizing our university community to seek excellence in operations and policies that contribute to the retention of students” said Dr. Flowers.

The project began with the Credo leadership hosting an overview of Moving the Needle with the Bluefield University Executive Leadership Team and the BU Credo Project Leads. During this initial session a high level of discussion took place focused on student success, needs, opportunities, and campus culture. In addition to working with Credo, the institution is also associated with an ACA member institution as part of the initial cohort, Carson Newman University. By working alongside a cohort member with a common goal, the institutions are given the opportunity to learn from each other, with common connections such as vision, mission and association. The cohort members will benefit from peer networking and professional development. The ultimate results of this collaboration are expected improvement in retention rates, a corresponding increase in institutional net revenue, and the strengthening of each institution’s mission and culture. .

s the landscape of higher education continuously changes, Bluefield University is learning and adapting. To prepare for the next century of servant leaders, Bluefield University has partnered with Credo, a higher education consulting firm based in North Carolina, whose primary focus is on helping small independent colleges and universities thrive by focusing on long-term student success and retention. Bluefield University is focusing on areas of building student success including; needs, opportunities, and campus culture. Dr. Beth Rushing, Appalachian College Association (ACA) President, in collaboration with Credo leadership, offered ACA member institutions the opportunity to participate in a cohort- based student success initiative designed to increase student retention. Bluefield University applied to be part of the initial cohort and began the six-year project, Moving the Needle (MTN), in September 2020.

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