At Lone Star College-University Park, student success is at the forefront for faculty, staff and administration, with all committed to supporting and guiding students through their educational journeys at the college and beyond. In 2018, LSC-University Park instituted the GradUP call-to-action to move the needle on student graduation rates by 300% in three years. For Dr. Bryn Benford, LSC-University Park professor of geology, helping her students stay focused on and connected to their goals is key to helping them reach graduation.
"GradUP is about creating direction and focus for our students and making sure that the entire campus is focused around helping students stay on track and succeed," said Benford. "This direction and focus ensure that when students leave LSC-University Park, they have a degree or certificate to show for their hard work.”
On the first day of class, Benford manages students' expectations and sets goals with them. She says the same thing at the beginning of every course: "You signed up for this class because you needed it or wanted to take it. You've set a goal for yourself to take and pass this class. My goal is to help you get there. You've committed to this now, and I'm committed to getting you across the finish line."
Benford consistently reminds her students of their goals and guides their vision to graduation. She talks with her students about what they plan to take the next semester, when they plan to graduate and what they plan to do after graduation. She asks her students if any among them are graduating that semester or the next, and her response lets them know she is in their corner. Benford says, “Great. I can't wait to see you there. I'll be the one cheering loudly." Benford wants all of her students to hear that, so every student starts thinking about that moment. She tries to motivate her students to keep their eyes on the prize.
"Professor Benford’s focus on students' goals and her consistent reminders of those goals makes a profound difference in their success in her classroom and throughout their college experience," said LSC-University Park President Dr. Shah Ardalan. "At LSC-University Park, we serve almost 13,000 students, each with individual goals. However, our students are more than numbers, and our faculty, staff and administrators rise to the challenge of mentoring each to their own definitions of success."
Though the COVID-19 pandemic ushered in unforeseen changes to pedagogy in 2020, Benford did not change much about her teaching manner when classes went online versus face-to-face. She continues talking about their goals while employing one-on-one conversations with her students and finding new ways to deliver course content.
"When moving from face-to-face to online classes, I am grateful to have been with Dr. Benford,” said Alyssa Gonzales Rodriguez, a first-year student at LSC-University Park . “She is equally enthusiastic about her subject and her students. She went above and beyond, especially during the initial transition.
Gonzales Rodriguez said that when classes went online, Benford employed interactive websites for labs, discussion boards to answer questions, and videos to elaborate on specific subjects.
“Dr. Benford was also exceptionally responsive when answering students' emails,” she said. “From time to time, she would reach out to students to inquire about how they were doing, personally and academically.? I would certainly recommend her for both face-to-face classes, as well as online courses."
Benford believes that the GradUP goal is attainable when every faculty and staff member focuses on the common goal, and it gets everyone thinking beyond their day-to-day tasks and focusing on a shared purpose.
"GradUP gets at the core of what we are trying to achieve at the community college level,” said Benford. “Many students come to us to earn a degree or certificate. Students are trusting us to help them achieve these goals. GradUP puts these goals at the forefront of all our minds. As faculty, we need to remember that their experience and goals are greater than just passing our class."