SCENES FROM THE UNIVERSITY
A STUDENT-READY COLLEGE THAT PUTS PEOPLE FIRST New undergrad college expands crucial, formative access By Nicholas A. Love
National Louis University (NLU) is preparing to reconfigure and expand in order to make more room for undergraduate students. Aarti Dhupelia, VP of Strategic Initiatives at National Louis University, is leading the charge into a new undergraduate college that will be defined by NLU’s signature four-year undergraduate experience. Inspiration for this new move came in part from the Pathways at NLU program. Many of the strategies built out into this program have been effective in helping nontraditional and vulnerable students succeed in the classroom. These students are staying in class and persisting year over year at rates higher than local and national benchmarks for this demographic of student. The core concept for this new undergraduate college is a shift in focus from enrolling college-ready students to ensuring programs are student-ready, opening the door for even more nontraditional undergraduate students. “Get students to and across the finish line… as opposed to just letting them drop out,” explained Dhupelia. Student-ready means doing some things differently than you might remember when you were in school. The new undergraduate college will include interactive instruction in the classroom instead of large-forum lectures, online coursework that’s more engaging (and more affordable) than stacks of textbooks, advising and coaching that targets a student’s personal, academic and career goals, and a little extra support for any student who isn’t quite hitting the mark in class. “I think it’s the right thing to do. I think for each of us as individual human beings, and for NLU as an institution, and for all of us as a society — I think it’s the right thing to do,” asserted Dhupelia about the move to a student-ready college. “I believe that education is the single-greatest driver of success in one’s life, and it is the greatest lever for social and economic mobility. I think everybody deserves access to a high-quality education, and I think higher education today is closed off to far too many students.”
For Dhupelia, this isn’t just a moral issue. It’s an issue of practicality. In her experience, a student-ready college provides the kind of support that means students will actually enjoy their time in college. “It feels great to be great at something,” she argued. “Students will show up if they are enjoying themselves. Students will show up if they feel supported and if they feel connected.” These future undergraduate students are going to have a better shot at crossing the finish line to complete their degree and have some fun while getting there. In the process, they’re building the kinds of relationships that can last much longer than their four years at NLU. “People are going to drive your learning. They’re going to help you find your path. They’re going to support you along your path. They’re going to become your friends — students are building lifelong friendships here — they’re going to serve as role models. And they’re going to help to empower students to be successful on their own, over time,” said Dhupelia.
“I love being a part of NLU. It’s another place where I can actually be myself and just shine.” —Emontra Jordan, 2017 student
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National Louis University VIEW | FALL 2017
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