South College

Melanie Yerk

Leading with a Student-First Mindset

My leadership approach has shaped the way I support student retention and engagement in almost every aspect. I select team members in faculty and student support capacities that truly have a heart for educating students. Many skills can be taught and developed, but having a true passion for developing students into graduates and to ultimately becoming successful professionals in their field is a gift. Many possess that gift, and those are the individuals that I surround myself with and choose to hire as part of my faculty and student support teams.

In my role as the Dean of Academic and Student Services, I model student-centered behaviors and attitudes and always put students at the center of decisions. My team members notice this and align with this student-centered approach. This behavior from academic leadership, faculty and the student support areas is noticed by students and allows them to have a great student experience. Culture and attitudes from leadership permeate to the students, and it is important that we allow our students to know that they are at the heart of all that we do.

Removing Barriers to Graduation

Some of the greatest challenges that institutions face in helping students persist through graduation are often related to student’s life challenges. Throughout one’s program of study, it is inevitable that some type of life event will most likely occur. Students often face challenges with either time commitments or financial resources to persist in their program through graduation. Institutions are challenged with identifying the most appropriate and feasible financial aid package for students to allow their program to remain affordable through graduation. They are also faced with providing students with tutoring and student support staff to support optimal study skills, assist with personal issues and to provide community resources mental health, housing, food needs that may be needed throughout their academic journey. By creating a culture of an academic support team where students remain at the center of the academic, financial aid, student support services and school administration, institutions are able to assist students with many of these challenges that arise throughout their program of study.

“We must believe in our students in order for them to believe in themselves.”

Made for Today’s Learners

Curriculum design may better reflect the needs of today’s adult and distance learners by including hybrid or remote options that include resources to assist campus-based and distance learners. Lectures that are audio or video recordings that are available to students to watch prior to a class session or listen to while they commute to work/school are great options to support today’s learner. Curriculum may also be designed to “flip” the classroom and provide learners with an opportunity to learn or refresh skills that are going to be presented in either live or remote lectures. This allows adult and distance learners to better conceptualize the content that they will be expected to learn when presented in the course lectures and corresponding content.

From Enrollment to Graduation

Academic leaders should work with incoming students as they are able to set the students up for success in their programs of study. If students have individualized learning preferences or styles, it would be helpful for the academic leaders to best understand this prior to the student beginning classes. If those needs are identified early in their program, that is also very helpful for academic leaders, specifically Program Deans and Directors, to know so that they may support individual student needs as early as possible. As student needs change throughout their program of study, it is essential that they work with the Student Affairs or Student Services Departments at their institutions to create optimal study habits and academic plans to support their entire academic journey through graduation.

Creating a Culture of Belief

I have learned that the relationships that we build with our students is invaluable. As academic leaders, we set the tone for culture and morale among our department. This should always be positive and student-centered. It is essential that we hire and retain team members in faculty and student support staff roles that believe in student success and foster the culture of adapting and overcoming obstacles. We must believe in our students in order for them to believe in themselves. With a strong support system and good relationships with our students, they are far more likely to persist, graduate and become successful professionals in their fields of study. Changing the trajectory of our students’ lives by providing them with an education is one of the greatest things that we can do as professionals and academic leaders.