Knoxville Hosts National Student Success Conference Amid Record Retention Rate
Knoxville, TN – The University of Tennessee at Knoxville (UT) is stepping into the national spotlight this week as it celebrates its impressive retention rate of 91.9% for first-year students, a record achievement accomplished in 2024. The excitement doesn’t stop there; UT is also hosting the Student Success US 2024 conference, which will welcome more than 200 institutions to its iconic campus from October 28-30. This nearly sold-out event, in partnership with prominent higher education publications, showcases UT’s ongoing commitment to enhancing student success.
A Season of Celebration
This conference is a testament to the hard work and innovative strategies that have been implemented at UT, especially within the newly established Division of Student Success. According to Vice Provost for Student Success Amber Williams, being recognized as a host for this event is a remarkable achievement. She described the campus as “cutting edge” in its approach to student retention, something that brings her both pride and emotion. To see 97% of students academically thriving is a heartwarming validation of their efforts.
Key Speakers and New Strategies
UT Chancellor Donde Plowman and Provost John Zomchick are among the featured speakers at the conference, where they will share their insights and strategies for helping students thrive. The spotlight will be on the collaborative approach that has helped improve retention rates dramatically over the last few years.
Breaking Down Barriers
Before arriving at UT in January 2020, Williams spent 17 years at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where she oversaw significant enrollment increases. When she joined UT, the university aimed to achieve a 90% retention rate, but their efforts stagnated around 86%. One major hurdle was the tendency for faculty members to work in “individual silos” rather than collaborating towards a common goal. Williams, however, was determined.
“People were like, ‘We can’t get there. It’s an unrealistic goal,’” she recalled. “I remember early on I kept saying: ‘Yes, we can. All we have to do is break this down to individual people.’” From that moment, a new strategy focused on meeting students where they are in their lives was set into motion.
The Vol Success Team
Central to this approach is the Vol Success Team, which assigns three dedicated professionals—an advisor, an academic coach, and a financial aid counselor—to each student. This team works together to ensure students feel supported throughout their time at UT. The revamped orientation process helps students acclimate to campus life and introduces them to their support team right away.
Williams noted, “By building these relationships, students who miss classes or assignments feel encouraged to reach out rather than slipping through the cracks.” Over the past four years, academic coaching appointments skyrocketed from 3,277 to 12,352, demonstrating the program’s growing impact. In addition, there were 54,000 advising appointments conducted in 2023 alone.
A New Era of Success
Seeing the retention rate climb from 86% to 91.9% while the number of enrolled students grows each year is no small feat, creating quite a buzz not only on campus but throughout the higher education community. Williams noted that it’s unusual to see such rapid progress in just a few years, which adds to the excitement surrounding the conference.
Tailored Support for Every Student
Another key factor in UT’s success is its emphasis on tailoring programs to meet the diverse needs of various demographic groups. For instance, first-generation students often require different types of support than their more experienced peers. To that end, in August, the division launched Student Success Express, a pilot program offering student support during evening hours.
Looking ahead, they plan to launch Vol Edge in January, aimed at equipping students with life and career readiness skills to help them graduate with confidence and prepare for the workforce or graduate school.
Future Developments
In five years, Williams hopes to see around 50% of UT students involved with Vol Edge. Additionally, a $108 million Student Success building is set to open in fall 2027, featuring classrooms, study areas, and lounges—all designed with students in mind and intended to serve as the “academic living room” of the campus.
As the campus gears up for what promises to be a fantastic conference, Williams remains laser-focused on student needs and success. “I’m really proud of what we’ve done,” she said, adding that the accolades are merely the icing on the cake. The real treasure lies in supporting students as they work towards achieving their dreams.
