During the 2023-2024 academic year, the campus participated in a series of stakeholder feedback sessions to capture the voices of faculty, staff, and students related to advising on campus. That work included a Steering Committee to oversee the listening series and encourage participation. Thanks to the tremendous engagement of the campus, the Steering Committee has gleaned feedback about advising and distilled the recommendations heard into 3 core objectives commencing next:
| What it is | What it isn't |
| An externally funded project | A state-aided line item |
| A one-time infusion of funds to complete specific, targeted work to achieve pre-determined goals of getting more students to degree completion | An ongoing commitment, financially or otherwise, for the institution |
| An intentional project that aims to provide continuous improvements to advising and communication systems | A new software or one-time solution |
| A coordinated effort to improve advisor training and bring more consistency to advising for students | A new software or one-time A diluted approach to advising |
| A project focused on improving the retention of students semester over semester and year over year | A project focused on just in time needs for student success |
| This project is dedicated to improving degree completion rates institution-wide for undergraduate students (Retention) | Focused on recruitment |
This next phase will take place July 2025-November 2026. Identically to the planning period/listening phase, this project is 100% supported by extramural funds.
These 3 objectives will be evaluated by an external evaluation firm, thereby providing real-time feedback, guidance, and/or recommendations on any pivots for the project. It is anticipated that the campus will once again come together collaboratively to take the feedback shared and mobilize action toward advising improvement for student success. This work will be supervised by Senior Vice Chancellor Shaffer and Vice Chancellor Bartling, supported by Associate Vice Chancellor Unruh and Senior Director of the Loper Success Hub, Dr. Estes, together with the Steering Committee with representatives spanning all colleges, the Center for Teaching Excellence, and campus-wide services.
To ensure that campus and community stakeholders can provide input throughout the project, campus forums will be hosted, and a continuous process feedback form will remain live throughout the project.
We anticipate that a project website will be live within the fall 2025 semester, and that other project communications will be shared via email or in the daily electronic campus news quarterly.
UNK expands advising, support; Loper 101 helps first-year students start strong
UNK News, October 7, 2025
