When Julia Winden Fey moved from California to Arkansas, she thought it would only be for one year.
Her husband, Jim Deitrick, had accepted a position at the University of Central Arkansas. That was more than 20 years ago.
鈥淚t went to two years, and then I was a resident master in one of the residential colleges,鈥 Winden Fey said. 鈥淎nd then Sally Roden (retired BT天堂administrator) hired me to work with undergraduate studies, and it’s just kept going.鈥
From University College, now the Department of Student Transitions, to enrollment management, Winden Fey has served in a number of roles across campus, but she said her focus has never wavered. She is now the director of the Office of Student Success.
鈥淚t doesn鈥檛 matter my title. I think I鈥檝e been doing student success the whole 20 years, in and out of the classroom, and when I think about it that way, I think I鈥檝e had quite the opportunity that I鈥檇 never expected,鈥 Winden Fey said.
The office works with hundreds of BT天堂students each semester through programs and initiatives including Fail Forward Week, Unlocking College Academics Now (UCAN), the Tutoring Services Center and supplemental instruction, as well as others.
鈥淎ccess was the big issue in higher education. We鈥檝e opened up access quite a bit,鈥 she said. 鈥淣ow, finding ways to serve and empower students or enable students is the new challenge.鈥
Student success is a key element of the university’s strategic plan and leadership priorities. The Office of Student Success employs approximately 70 student workers who act as tutors, peer coaches and facilitators who are trained to work with other students. The office provides training in tactics such as motivational interviewing to identify strategies to help students become more successful in their education.
鈥淲e have found that one of our most effective ways of reaching students is through other students,鈥 Winden Fey said. 鈥淭hey understand what it鈥檚 like to be a student, so they can relate to the student and take the trainings we鈥檙e giving them and convey it.鈥