Student Success Conference 2026: About
The 3rd Annual Student Success Conference is an event for Rutgers University–New Brunswick faculty and staff. The conference is a collaborative initiative between Student Affairs and Undergraduate Education, with a committee comprised of representatives from all corners of the university.
About the Student Success Champion Awards
The Student Success Champion Award recognizes exceptional faculty, staff, and a team or department whose work contributes to the university's mission of enhancing student success.
Nominate a Student Success Champion
This award will celebrate individuals who exemplify the goals and priorities outlined in the Academic Master Plan and promote student success. Award recipients demonstrate outstanding commitment to transforming the student experience in ways that prioritize belonging, well-being, and overall success.
Nominations are due by Friday, January 30, 2026.
Nomination Eligibility and Criteria
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- All full-time and part-time faculty or staff members at Rutgers University–New Brunswick who support student success through their role are eligible for this award.
- Any department, office, or team within Rutgers University–New Brunswick that has collectively made a significant impact on student success is eligible for this award.
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- Nominations can be submitted by peers, supervisors, or students. Both awards allow for self-nominations.
- Nominators will choose one or more of the following contributions and then be asked to expand on the contribution in depth.
Individual Awards
- Demonstrated dedication to creating an inclusive and supportive environment that promotes student belonging and success.
- Significant contributions to initiatives that support student well-being and success, including academic advising, mentoring, learning and instruction, counseling, career development, or financial literacy.
- Active involvement in projects that support on-time graduation which helps reduce student debt
- Commitment to developing high-impact learning opportunities for students, including organizing workshops, career-readiness programs, and experiential learning experiences.
Team/Office/Department Awards
- The team or department demonstrates collaborative efforts to support the University's goals of creating an equitable and inclusive student experience.
- Programs or services developed by the team have made substantial improvements in student outcomes, particularly in terms of retention, graduation rates, reducing student debt, and post-graduation success.
- Contributions to expanding high-impact learning opportunities that enhance students' academic and professional readiness.
- A clear commitment to student success that aligns with the principles of the Academic Master Plan, including initiatives that focus on belonging, well-being, and preparing students for a diverse, global workforce.
Previous Student Success Champions
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2025 Staff Recipient: Kendrick Myles, Assistant Manager with the Office of Financial Aid
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2025 Faculty Recipient: Ana Paula Centeno, Associate Teaching Professor with the Department of Computer Science in School of Arts and Sciences
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2025 Team Recipient: School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, Office of Academic Programs
The call for proposals has ended.
Submittors will be notified of the status of their proposal mid-December via email.
Call for Programs
Shape Student Success
Programs for consideration are due no later than Friday, October 24, 2025, at 1 pm, and should focus on those topics relevant to the student success objectives outlined in the Academic Master Plan, including: creating a welcoming, equitable, and supportive learning environment for all students; prioritizing on-time graduation with minimal debt for all students; and expanding high-impact learning opportunities to best prepare students for future success. Each session will run for 50 minutes.
Session Formats
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There will be four different session formats for the conference. Each is described below and some include topics requested by last year’s participants or committee members. Each session will run for 50 minutes.
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Teach your colleagues about a concept, idea, skill, or strategy that can help them to serve students more effectively.
Sample topics for this session type: Using a coaching framework to supervise student employees, Automating processes with Power Automate, Managing projects using agile strategies.
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Present a successful program, initiative, or teaching practice; include ways for colleagues in other areas to adopt best practices from your experience. Proposals should include specific outcomes and metrics demonstrating success within one of the AMP objectives.
Sample topics for this session type: How a pre-college program improved student sense of belonging during their first year enrolled, Improved communication skills as a result of a course-based experiential learning intervention
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Address a current issue of interest in higher education through meaningful dialogue across roles and departments. Proposals should include a description of the strategies used to engage participants and advance the conversation.
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Share research you’ve done that relates to the AMP student success objectives.
Submit a Proposal
Submission Form
Submit a conference proposal using the available Qualtrics form.