Access & Success

Goal

Improve outcomes for W&M’s undergraduate, graduate/professional student body, faculty and staff

University KPIs

Academic Affairs

• Student Success
• Post-Graduation Income Levels
• Applied Learning Opportunities
• Enrollment-Pell Composition

Student Experience

• Student Engagement with Academic Support Resources
• Student Engagement with Health & Wellness Resources

Suggested KPI to add: Faculty and Staff Retention Rates

Objective 1

Increase undergraduate student enrollment from historically underrepresented and underserved populations via strategies that benefit all

Strategies 2025

1. Make application process simpler and clearer
2. Increase scholarship support to promote affordability
3. Increase yield for first-generation, low-income, veterans and transfer students
4. Enable new points of entry to a W&M education to achieve “smart growth” for all cohorts

Milestones 2023-2025

1. Yield increased for gateway initiatives: W&M Pathways (January admit) and Commonwealth Partners programs (Virginia Pell)
2. Yield is up for first-generation and transfer students
3. Yield doubled for Virginia Pell students in the fall of 2024, reaching the Vision 2026 target of 20%
4. Met the +600 enrollment target in 2023

Objective 2

Increase student retention and academic success

Strategies 2025

1. Identify barriers to academic progress
2. Provide a funded internship or other applied learning experience for every student
3. Expand career pathway initiatives, engaging alumni
4. Seek philanthropic support to enhance learning

Milestones 2023-2025

1. Academic progress: doubled tutoring participation rate after the program was made free to all in 2023 via philanthropy
2. First to second year retention rates lag slightly behind elite peers, due to transfers; further work needed
3. One Network participation for current student cohort: >2K in year 1
4. Tracking as of 2025: internship participation rates; undergraduate departments with credit-bearing internships

Objective 3

Recruit and retain top graduate and professional students

Strategies 2025

1. Grow new online, continuing and executive education programs to reach professional and lifelong learners
2. Design new postdoctoral programs in high-demand professions
3. Connect graduate and professional students with programs that provide faculty and alumni mentors

Milestones 2023-2025

1. School of Computing, Data Science & Physics
2. Batten School of Coastal & Marine Sciences

Objective 4

Recruit and retain outstanding faculty and staff

Strategies 2025

1. Leadership coaching for high performers to retain top talent
2. Institute regular exit interviews and climate surveys to improve workplace experience
3. Improve recruiting of veterans and employees with disabilities
4. Increase the referral rate for open positions
5. Campus renovations: ensure that accommodations for students, employees, and the public are accessible and that signage is visible

Milestones 2023-2025

1. Leadership development participation for faculty and staff has increased hugely with the Democracy Initiative’s Professional Development Days: 80% participation last year