About Us

We are located in the Memorial Student Center (MSC) and actively and intentionally engages practices to benefit the transition, persistence, and post-graduation outcomes of students. The department collaborates with campus units and stakeholders to provide students with social integration opportunities through holistic engagement and development.  Every student brings their own experiences and goals that guide their behavior, values that orient and drive their commitments, and ways their experiences, norms, and values are communicated.  The department’s transition, persistence, and skill development opportunities engage and support students in becoming and remaining incorporated in the intellectual and social life of the university which results in their academic and personal success on campus and beyond.

DMS work hinges on the interplay of student departure, student involvement, student transition, and student belonging, 1) to persist to graduation, students need integration into formal (academic performance) and informal (faculty/staff interactions) academic systems and formal (co-curricular activities) and informal (peer-group interactions) social systems, 2) the quality and quantity of a student’s involvement in formal and informal social systems on campus has a direct impact on the amount of learning and personal development they experience, and 3) the feeling student’s have of connectedness or feeling cared about, accepted, valued by, and important to and within the campus community positively correlates with motivations to achieve.

Thus DMS provides and supports avenues for social integration through both co-curricular efforts and peer interactions that result in meaningful connections and social belonging.   These activities also contribute to the university’s undergraduate learning outcomes through opportunities for growth in critical thinking, effective communication, team and collaborative work, and opportunities for intentional interaction and engagement.  While students are encouraged to explore leadership opportunities in the university’s more than 1000 student organizations and programs, DMS opportunities incorporate an integration approach to support student success in ways students’ feel personally passionate about where they can work and learn together from and with peers.

• Developing competencies – We help students grow the personal and interpersonal skills they need to succeed—now and in the future. Through intentional co-curricular learning, peer engagement, and collaborative experiences, students develop skills that are essential to navigating the academic environment, building relationships, and preparing for life beyond graduation.  When students build these competencies, they grow their ability to participate fully in both academic and social life—and to thrive long after college.
• Fostering Meaningful Connections – We know that students succeed when they feel they belong. Our programs are designed to help students form authentic, lasting connections with peers, mentors, and the university community.  Whether through peer-led programming, shared experiences, or guided engagement opportunities, students are supported in emotional and social well-being while also supporting transition, persistence, and development.  Meaningful connection isn’t just about being involved, but about feeling visible and valued in their college experiences.
• Advancing Student Success – We support students not only in staying enrolled, but in feeling empowered to achieve their academic, personal, and professional goals.  Our department creates opportunities for students to:
  • Navigate their transition into college life confidently
  • Strengthen their persistence through community, coaching, and skill-building
  • Prepare for post-graduation outcomes through reflection and applied learning

Department initiatives are rooted in research: the more students are meaningfully integrated into academic and social systems on campus, the more likely they are to persist, learn, and succeed.