Fairmont State University joins the Gardner Institute's Student Experience Transformation Effort

Fairmont State University has joined the John N. Gardner Institute for Excellence in Higher Education’s (Gardner Institute) “Transforming the Postsecondary Experience” initiative. The Gardner Institute is a leading national non-profit organization that focuses on teaching, learning, student success, and completion.

Launched in 2023 with an inaugural cohort of 11 institutions, this effort aims to close performance gaps and improve student success outcomes. This includes efforts to eliminate obstacles like family income and first-generation student status as the best predictors of who is successful and graduates from college.

“Working with the Gardner Institute has been transformative. Their collaborative approach challenged us to think critically, align across divisions, and keep students at the center of every decision. It’s more than a partnership—it’s a catalyst for meaningful change,” said Dr. Janna Bredeson, Vice President of Student Affairs at Fairmont State.

The effort focuses on the critical first two years of students’ college education. Gardner Institute research shows that at least 76% of all attrition occurs sometime during or immediately following a student's first two college years. Through a systemic redesign process, institutions that participate in the effort can develop and implement plans over five years to close student performance gaps, enhance teaching and learning practices, and promote student success.

“My experiences with the Gardner Institute as an invited guest to their case study writer's retreat and at the Gardner Institute Symposium have been nothing short of stellar. I am thrilled that we can partner with them in the Transforming the Postsecondary Experience initiative, made possible through the support of the Title III grant,” said Dr. Valerie Morphew, Assistant Provost for Teaching and Learning Innovation at Fairmont State.

Dedra Cobb, a Student Success Coordinator at Fairmont State, will serve as the "liaison" for Fairmont State University and the Gardner Institute. As part of the partnership, Fairmont State will be engaging in several of the Gardner Institute's redesign processes and community practices. Cobb will serve as the project manager for each of these, including the Curricular Analytics Community.

The Curricular Analytics Community is designed to involve faculty and staff in a process that leverages improvement science and curricular analytics tools to support curriculum redesign in higher education. By using curriculum mapping and visualization tools, institutional teams can identify opportunities to reduce complexity and test curricular changes that improve student persistence. High curricular complexity has been consistently linked to lower retention rates, longer time to degree, and unnecessary credit accumulation for students.

“It is a true honor to serve as Fairmont State University’s lead for the Gardner Institute partnership. This collaboration gives us the opportunity to learn, grow, and innovate together. Ultimately, our work is united by a commitment to data-informed decision-making that empowers us to better serve our students,” said Dedra Cobb, Student Success Coordinator for Fairmont State.

Over the next five years, the institutions in the third “Transforming the Postsecondary Experience” cohort will collaborate closely with the Gardner Institute to create and execute strategies that help more students thrive and complete their degrees.

“Partnering with the Gardner Institute enables Fairmont State University to enhance student success and persistence through data-informed strategies and collective planning,” said Pamela Stephens, Assistant Provost for Advising and Retention Initiatives. “Through evidence-based practices and collaborative engagement, this partnership strengthens our capacity to improve student outcomes, enhance academic quality, and fulfill our mission of providing transformative educational experiences for all students.”

The initiative has been made possible, in part, through the generous support of Ascendium Education Group, the Gates Foundation, ECMC Foundation, The Greater Texas Foundation, the Lumina Foundation, and The Kresge Foundation. These philanthropic partners share the vision of creating a higher education experience where all students can thrive–aligning with Fairmont State's own Vision of being a Great Place to Learn.