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COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS AND SCIENCES

RETENTION AND STUDENT SUCCESS

When hardships impact a student’s ability to be successful, we work with their academic team to reduce/eliminate obstacles and expand opportunities.

The Retention and Student Success team provides leadership and guidance to students, faculty, staff and parents in promoting academic success. We are committed to helping our students succeed, which is rooted in our Villanova values.

VERITAS: To get reliable and up-to-date information, we gather input from all members of the student's academic support team. This also includes details obtained from the student during our initial one-on-one meeting.

UNITAS: We bring together information, expertise, and perspectives of the students' support team along with the input from the student to develop solutions, create new paths and redesign academic plans.

CARITAS: We continue to be committed to openness, continuity and fairness in our service delivery, engagement with the student's academic team and decision making.

"As I've run a number of businesses over the years, I've viewed customer retention as job #1. To see that same mindset infused into academics brings a smile to my face. But to actually experience the caring, guidance and support of the Office for Undergraduate Students in working through challenging issues my son was having was extraordinary”

– CLAS Parent

Office for Undergraduate Students

Charisma Presley-Dougherty
Director of Retention and Student Success
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Stephanie Stefanik
Retention and Student Success Specialist
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Dr. Taunya Marie Tinsley
Transitional Age Development Coach
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Betty Patch
Success Coach
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STUDENT JOURNEY STORIES

MEET JAYLENE

I came to college, excited to learn new things and have new experiences, but unfortunately, I didn’t utilize my time in the best of ways. The OUS team, in particular the Director of Retention and Student Success, here at VU showed me that I’m not alone in my academic struggles and I can make changes. Having a group of students who are in a similar situation as you, as well as a mentor who consistently checks in on you, motivates you to reform and figure out what truly works for you.

MEET BASIL

Entering Villanova as an undecided major, I was overwhelmed with deciding a career path I wanted to pursue. I didn’t want to make a bad decision, because it could affect my whole college career. It was a stressful time, but I knew I needed extra help and support. I decided to meet with my academic advisor more, met with CASA advisors throughout freshman year, and talked with professors in the courses that interested me. It was through these countless conversations that I began to discover what I was passionate about.