Ten “student success coach” positions at the University of Utah are being eliminated as the school seeks to restructure how it does advising and make legislatively-required budget cuts and changes, the Salt Lake Tribune reports.
The university’s student success coach initiative began in 2022 and expanded the following year after the program showed a “noticeable growth in student retention,” the newspaper states. In subsequent years, however, participation waned and the program ultimately stopped making a difference, the Salt Lake Tribune article states.
The cuts come as a growing number of universities – including flagships such as the Univrsity of Utah – are being forced to eliminate positions, put off construction projects and scale back operations due to budget constraints. Some smaller schools – particularly in New England – are shutting down altogether.
The cuts also come at a time when per-pupil spending in higher ed has dropped by 1% – the first decrease since 2012 – according to a state higher education finance report.
Getting advising right is key for institutions of higher education, particularly those that struggle with retention and graduation. Some institutions, such as the University of Georgia, have had success with using predictive analytics and “intrusive” advising to get or keep students on track.
