Engage Faculty in Student Success

Nearly 40 percent of first-time students drop out, costing colleges more than $16.5 billion each year. Faculty are a proven driver of student success and retention, yet with 64 percent reporting burnout, many lack the capacity to consistently provide the support students need to persist.

This paper explores how institutions can unlock faculty’s full potential by embedding student support into everyday workflows and leveraging technology to scale impact. It highlights the five moments where faculty engagement matters most: onboarding, early academic intervention, momentum building, career preparation, and graduation. With the right systems in place, institutions can protect faculty capacity while enabling them to deliver timely, personalized support that boosts retention, strengthens belonging, and helps more students graduate.