Student success remains my No. 1 priority at MTSU.
Through the years, we have established a number of proven strategies to boost our students’ ability to persist to graduation.
Here are some updates:
Advancing Student Success through Integrated Academic Support
Through intentional, student-centered academic support initiatives, the Office of Student Success continues to advance the University’s commitment to persistence, engagement, and degree completion by meeting students where they are and providing timely, integrated support across learning environments.
The inaugural Raider Study Rally drew more than 100 students to a high-impact, finals-focused event led by the Office of Student Success. The event brought together academic tutoring, supplemental instruction (SI) leaders, learning assistants (LAs), and learning support resources in a single, welcoming space, advancing the University’s commitment to student-centered, integrated support structures outlined in Strategic Plan 2035, which promotes persistence and completion. By proactively engaging students at a critical point in the semester, the event strengthened help-seeking behaviors and academic confidence. The Raider Study Rally also demonstrated the power of cross-unit collaboration and established a scalable model for expanding equitable, high-touch academic support that advances student success and institutional goals.
Building on this momentum, the Office of Student Success continues to strengthen academic support through embedded, peer-led models that extend beyond co-curricular programming and directly into the classroom experience. During Fall 2025, the learning assistant (LA) program continued to grow, with 20 learning assistants working alongside six instructors across CHEM 1110, BIOL 1110, and MATH 1000. These LAs played an integral role in the classroom by facilitating active learning, supporting student engagement, and providing instructors with valuable feedback on how students were interacting with course material. Each week, LAs participated in training with Katy Hosbein, assistant professor of Chemistry, to strengthen their skills in facilitating learning, building classroom community, and serving as approachable peer mentors. In addition to their classroom roles, LAs met weekly with instructors to reflect on student progress, refine course activities, and develop strategies to enhance student learning. As the program enters its fourth academic year, it is now housed in and supported by the Office of Student Success, following earlier support from the College of Basic and Applied Sciences, the departments of Chemistry and Biology, and the Tennessee Board of Regents.
The Office of Student Success also awarded Peer Mentor Scholarships to nine students in recognition of their academic excellence and demonstrated leadership at MTSU.
Blue Raider Academic Advising Network and Advisor Mastery Program
The Fall 2025 semester marked a strong start for the Blue Raider Academic Advising Network (BRAAN) and the Advisor Mastery Program (AMP), with continued emphasis on advisor development, collaboration, and student success.
AMP professional development programming focused on leadership development, including adaptability, strategic thinking, decision-making, problem-solving, and emotional intelligence. These skill areas support advisors in navigating complex student situations and evolving institutional expectations while maintaining a student-centered approach.
Since the start of the fall semester, AMP has offered 16 training and professional development events. Advisor engagement remained high, with 97% of academic advisors participating in at least one AMP event. From Aug. 25 through Dec. 11, academic advisors completed 20,987 advising appointments, supporting 14,801 unique students. Advisors also contributed to national and regional conversations on advising and student success through conference presentations and professional engagement. The fall semester included continued progress in advisor career advancement, with three academic advisors promoted to advanced academic advisor. Together, these efforts reflect a collaborative and leadership-driven academic year and establish a strong foundation for continued advisor development and student success in Spring 2026.
University Studies
The University Studies Department continues to report strong outcomes in prescribed courses and undergraduate programs. Of the 2,756 enrollments in prescribed courses during Fall 2025, more than 82% were successful. This achievement is particularly notable given that approximately 75% of these students were first-time freshmen. The Integrated Studies undergraduate program also continues to produce graduates at one of the highest rates on campus, with 77 graduates in the Fall 2025 class.
During Fall 2025, the department welcomed two new tenure-track faculty members, Megan Hardin and Leigh Johnson, who bring extensive experience and expertise to the University.
Christina Cobb was named president-elect of the National Organization for Student Success and will be formally voted in at the organization’s national conference in February. Cobb also serves as president of EducateHer, an organization dedicated to educating and uplifting women of all ages.
Members of the MTSU community are invited to participate in the upcoming EducateHer Professional Development Day.
Adult Degree Completion Program
MTSU continues to expand its commitment to adult learners through several new initiatives. This past semester marked the rollout of the EAB Adult Degree Completion Program Communication Plan, a targeted outreach strategy developed in collaboration with partners at EAB. Early results indicate continued growth in inquiries from prospective adult students, signaling increased interest in returning to finish a degree at MTSU. The University also introduced a dedicated adult learner version of the New to Blue orientation, launching in Fall 2025. This customized experience highlights services, resources, and support systems designed specifically for adults balancing education with work, family, and other responsibilities. As this orientation continues to evolve, it will serve as an essential guide for adult students throughout their MTSU journey. Together, these efforts strengthen the University’s ability to meet adult learners where they are by offering timely information, personalized guidance, and a clear pathway to achieving academic goals.
MTSU’s Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) program continues to serve as a powerful pathway for adult learners to translate real-world experience into academic progress. For nearly two decades, the program has recognized college-level learning gained outside the traditional classroom through work experience, military service, and professional training. To date, 1,381 students have completed the PLA process, earning 29,069 credit hours, an average of 24 credit hours per student. PLA has also expanded into graduate studies, with 55 portfolios approved and 252 graduate credit hours awarded.
The program remains a national model for recognizing learning that occurs beyond the classroom.
Corporate Partnerships
MTSU’s corporate education partnerships are entering 2026 with strong momentum. The Fall 2025 semester delivered significant gains, with enrollment rising 33% over Fall 2024.
Graduation numbers also increased, with 53 corporate partner employees earning MTSU degrees in 2025, bringing the total number of program graduates beyond the 100-graduate milestone. This progress is carrying forward into the new year. Spring 2026 enrollment has already reached 87 students, positioning the program to exceed prior spring totals.
GraduateMT
The GraduateMT program continues to change lives through its commitment to supporting adult learners returning to college. What began in 2018 as an initiative to reengage students who had stepped away from college has grown into a transformative effort that demonstrates it is never too late to complete a degree. To date, more than 1,700 students have returned to MTSU and earned their diplomas through GraduateMT.
Dual Enrollment
Dual enrollment (DE) experienced another record-breaking enrollment for Fall 2025. In Fall 2025, there were 2,586 (duplicated) students in DE courses. By headcount, DE students represent 8.75% of all MTSU undergraduate students. DE has become a major part of the enrollment portfolio, with students at 19 partner schools enrolled in 136 course sections. About two of every three DE courses are instructed by MTSU faculty and the other third by qualified high school adjuncts.
Beginning in the spring term, a new aviation partnership with Sumner County Schools will allow students from several Sumner County high schools to participate in a cohort taking two AERO courses each semester at the Innovation Center in Hendersonville. Aerospace courses also will be offered at Tullahoma High School for the first time.
Summer and Winter Sessions 2025–26
MTSU summer sessions provide a comprehensive and balanced selection of high-quality academic course offerings to support undergraduate and graduate degree progress, encourage innovation, and remain academically integrated and financially viable components of the University.
Over the past five years (2021–25), summer sessions have included 66,535 enrollments across more than 6,900 courses. Summer offerings consist of nine sessions: four three-week sessions, two five-week sessions, two six-week sessions, and one full-term 12-week session.
Over the past five years, summer sessions have generated nearly $97 million in total revenues, with nearly $38 million earned by faculty and about $59 million generated for the general fund.
Now in its sixth year, the winter session offers online- only, accelerated coursework during a three-week term over the holiday break. Between 2020 and 2024, the winter session recorded 4,083 enrollments across 288 courses. Winter 2025–26 included more than 65 courses with a projected enrollment of 840-plus. Winter sessions have become an important part of curricular offerings, serving students, faculty, and the institution.