ARISE Course

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The Academic Advocacy course, ARISE: Transforming Higher Education through Innovative Retention & Graduation Techniques, is offered via USF’s Corporate Training and Professional Education. In the course participants learn about the ARISE model developed from over 10 years of experience with the Academic Advocacy and Care Management practices at the University of South Florida (USF) for the purpose of improving our retention and graduation outcomes for students. This meaningful and rewarding work played a significant role in changing the University of South Florida’s student success trajectory. 

This model keeps students at the center of the work. The culture values building trust, communicating with integrity, and taking responsibility. We operate via strategic collaborations, connections, innovations, and outreach.

The online, asynchronous course introduces the Academic Advocacy ARISE model: Assess, Relate, Inform, Situate, Educate. During each discussion you will be able to consider implementation from a variety of lenses based on the resources, practices, and culture of your specific institution as well as the strategic goals you wish to address.

Program Details

•   Format: Online
•   Dates: Rolling registration- join when you are ready
•   Times: Sessions are asynchronous and completed within 30 days of registration
•   Modules: 4
•   Fee: $175 and includes cost of completion badge
•   Location: Online

Program Highlights

• Turning data into action for proactive interventions
• Applying techniques for total population monitoring and targeted outreach
• Engaging outreach planning that connects with students
• Enhancing policy, process, and practice with student-centered lens
• Creating collaborative culture around initiatives
• Setting student success priorities for equitable outcomes for all students

In the News

Course Overview

This course engages participants in reflecting on the importance of having a clear model for student persistence to structure efforts toward relevant areas of need. Moving through the ARISE model, participants develop strategies and workflows to apply to their specific institutional needs. This culminates with an action plan for adopting the ARISE model into their student success efforts. Most people complete this four-module program in approximately four hours. Participants will be able to access the content for 30 DAYS after registration to complete the certificate program.

Participants need to have a basic understanding of higher education systems and student success before beginning this course.

IN THIS COURSE YOU WILL LEARN

 

    Register for the       ARISE course here.

 

Instructor

The instructor for the course is Leslie Tod. With a career spanning over three decades in higher education, Leslie Tod, M.A., stands as an experienced contributor to student success through her academic instruction, advising, and leadership. Her journey took her to the United Kingdom, where she managed course development and external review for an interdisciplinary faculty as a senior instructor at the Manchester Metropolitan University. She gained accolades for graduating one of the highest-ranking cohorts in the college’s history before returning to the University of South Florida and her home department of Communication. This return eventually led her to an appointment as the inaugural Academic Advocate at the University of South Florida in 2013, a role that laid the foundation for the successful development and growth of the Office of Academic Advocacy.

Under Leslie's guidance as Director, the Office of Academic Advocacy has evolved into a dynamic department with a team of nine exceptional Academic Advocates. These professionals have played a pivotal role in driving the institution's advancements in performance-based metrics and making a tangible impact on the university's overall achievements.

Recognized for her thought leadership and insights in academic advocacy, Leslie has been invited to present at regional, national, and international conferences. Her engaging sessions offer a compelling glimpse into the innovative strategies and best practices that have shaped the success of Academic Advocacy at the University of South Florida.

Leslie Tod's wealth of experience, transformative leadership approach, and dedication to fostering student success make her an ideal partner for institutions seeking to achieve new levels of advancement.