The launch of a targeted student-support program has yielded significant gains in academic success and retention among fully online students, Metropolitan State University of Denver’s Online Learning team reported to the President’s Cabinet last week.
The initiative, which includes a mandatory first-year seminar, scholarships and personalized coaching, led to a 0.5-point increase in participants’ average GPA, surpassing that of in-person students, said Bridget Wetzel, senior manager for Online Student Services.
The program also contributed to a 5% increase in retention and higher levels of self-reported student engagement.
Wetzel said her office has awarded $1.7 million in scholarships since 2022, which is especially important to online learners’ success.
“When you look at our students, many of them are single parents,” she said. “Many of them are working full-time jobs. Many of them have competing priorities. So these scholarships are very essential to them and their success.”
Navigating a complex federal landscape
Fresh off a week of meetings in Washington, D.C., President Janine Davidson, Ph.D., acknowledged the ongoing complexity of the federal policy landscape, including the elimination of three federal grants, a pending inquiry by the Colorado Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights Colorado Committee inquiry, and the federal budget-reconciliation process.
Despite these challenges, the University has remained focused on its mission and grounded in its core values, Davidson said. Thanks to the work of Vice President for Government Affairs Kaycee Gerhart and the Office of Immigrant Services, MSU Denver has continued to support its community by hosting dozens of workshops, town halls and Q&A sessions; providing legal assistance and resources; and engaging in behind-the-scenes advocacy.
Policy updates: Pay and naming rights pass; professional development recommended to sunset
The Cabinet advanced Naming Rights and Supplemental Pay policies to Davidson for review, while Human Resources recommended to the Cabinet that the Professional-Development Policy sunset. The Anti-Hazing Policy, which requires all University employees to report instances of hazing, was introduced for a first read.
Statutorily required to be in place by July 1 to comply with the federal Stop Campus Hazing Act, an interim policy has been implemented and will remain in effect until the full proposal is reviewed and brought forward for a second read at the August Cabinet meeting.
Other updates
- Provost Matthew Makley, Ph.D., shared plans for a pause in new academic policies for the 2025-26 school year and for new curriculum changes in 2026-27 in anticipation of the University’s Fall 2027 Higher Learning Commission reaccreditation review.
- Director of University Strategy Meredith Jeffers, Ph.D., reiterated plans for a streamline to center our work around Strategic Plan goals of enrollment, retention, graduation and postsecondary outcomes.
- Student Affairs presented efforts to support parenting students through the Family U cohort.
Roadrunner Shoutouts: faculty, staff and student excellence
Each Cabinet meeting concludes with Roadrunner Shoutouts, and this month’s honorees exemplify MSU Denver’s commitment to access, leadership and student support.
Faculty: J. Renee Trombley, assistant professor and faculty fellow for the Justice-Impacted Student Initiative, was recognized for her restorative-justice leadership and advocacy for students impacted by the legal system. Trombley’s work “is so important to MSU Denver’s open-access mission,” noted her nominator, Elise Krumholz.
Staff: Emily Burnell, office manager in the Vice President for Student Affairs Office, was praised for creating a “bright, welcoming atmosphere” and supporting staff and students alike. Nominator Thuy Phan shared that Burnell “cultivates a positive workplace for our team of 230+ colleagues.”
Student: Camille Rawinski, a standout work-study student in the School of Hospitality, was celebrated for her leadership across three roles: work-study assistant, event-staff lead and teaching assistant. As she prepares to graduate with a 4.0 GPA, her nominator Stephen Barela called her “a positive example to others” and a role model to her rural hometown community in the San Luis Valley.
