Fayetteville State University (Fayetteville, NC)

Fayetteville State University (FSU) was cited as one of 20 schools nationwide that create a campus culture that fosters student success. This list was compiled in order to identify diverse institutions that do a good job of educating students. The listing of colleges appeared in the August 29 edition of USA Today. "They all add value to the student experience," said George Kuh, an Indiana University professor who led a team of 25 researchers to compile the list. The USA Today article noted that what sets these schools apart is that when factors such as the academic quality of the students they admit are taken into account, the institutions have above-average graduation rates and do an outstanding job of involving students in their education. Research has shown that student involvement is a key component of academic success.

Three to five researchers visited each school twice for a total of up to six days to determine why students at the schools succeed. The results can be found in the book Student Success in College: Creating Conditions That Matter by Kuh and his colleagues. The institutions listed share what Kuh calls "an unshakable focus on student learning" and create environments designed to promote student success. The institutions, the USA Today article noted, all have clearly defined pathways for student success and make success a shared responsibility of the campus community. The institutions all have multiple safety nets that include early warning systems calling attention to students in academic trouble.

The 20 schools selected for the list were chosen from 700 four-year colleges and universities that participated in the National Survey of Student Engagement from 2000 to 2003. The survey is an annual effort to assess the degree to which students on a number of campuses are actively involved in their education.

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