Student-Centered Institutional Structures & Policies

A key lever for improving student outcomes is designing institutional structures and policies that enable faculty, staff, and administrators to create environments where all students have the opportunity, resources, and support they need to learn and grow.  By clearly locating the responsibility for change on the university, and not students, institutions can begin to address barriers to success that undermine students’ persistence and achievement in higher education. This work requires building awareness of these barriers among stakeholders across the university (administrators, faculty, staff, and leadership), while developing a shared responsibility and clear roles for everyone in order to change systems, learning environments, and overall culture. 

SEP institutions worked to establish student-centered institutional structures and policies by establishing communities of practice that engage instructors in improving the classroom experience, and deeply involving students in creating more positive learning environments. Browse the library below to learn more about their efforts.