Initiative Inspiration

When generating or iterating on a student success initiative it is incredibly useful to note how other institutions have successfully faced similar challenges. This activity guides you and your team through exploring other institutions’ successful practices by focus area, and supports discussion around how your institution might implement similar practices.

Suggested time: 45-60 mins
Materials: Pens, chosen worksheets
When to use: When your team would like to create a new initiative or examine an existing initiative

Steps

Select the worksheets that most closely relate to the focus areas your team chose to prioritize along your transformation journey. Choose one to focus on at a time, then proceed through the following steps.
Print out the relevant sheets, or share them with your team.
Reflect on the observed practices from other institutions, and use the questions below each to prompt a discussion.
The goal of the discussion is to explore which observed practices resonate most with your team, and to discuss how your institution might implement similar practices or build on the good ideas that other institutions have implemented.
After selecting which practices resonate most with your team, take 15 minutes to brainstorm what your team could be doing in this area, and how your institution might implement something like this. For a deeper dive, the Brainstorming with a Team, Initiative Blueprint, and Planning Next Steps tools are great ideation and planning resources.