Persistence Advocacy
Overview
Student Academic Success Services (SASS) champions the goal of providing comprehensive support networks for every student at UNF. As a part of that initiative, Persistence Advocacy was introduced to provide an additional layer of support to students who may be facing persistence challenges. Specifically, Persistence Advocates focus on student populations identified as having an academic or institutional challenge that would inhibit their retention, timely progression, and/or graduation.
About the Program
The program’s mission is to advance student persistence through initiatives targeted at retention, timely progression, and graduation. Advocates interact with students, faculty, and staff to address both individual and systemic needs. On an individual level, advisors and other staff members refer students to the program to work on specific problems requiring additional help. Advocates also proactively identify and contact students, setting up early outreach and intervention plans. On a system-wide level, advocates actively review and evaluate programs, policies, and populations to make recommendations to administrators on persistence efforts. These reviews often involve working with diverse units on campus and gathering a wide array of information.
FAQ for Faculty and Staff
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What is the difference between an Academic Advisor and the Persistence Advocate?
The Persistence Advocate's job is not to:
- Manage a set population of students based on major or classification
- Counsel students on course, major, or degree selection
The Persistence Advocate's job is to:
- Proactively identify students who may be at-risk and intervene
- Advocate for students on procedural matters that impact persistence
- Work with students to develop academic action plans to meet their goals
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How will the Persistence Advocate work with me to support students?
Faculty and staff members are encouraged to refer students encountering persistence challenges to the Advocate via email. The Advocate assess the student’s situation and develops a plan to address their individual needs in concert with other appropriate units. Notes are added in the student’s advising history for your reference when appropriate.
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When should I refer a student?
Please refer a student to the Advocate if they are an FTIC undergraduate and meet any of the following:
Need help:
- Building academic skills, such as time management, study habits, note taking, etc.
- Preparing for their desired major
- Dealing with a complex university issue, such as financial aid or housing problems
- Navigating a university policy
Are at risk of:
- Being placed on probation
- Not qualifying for their desired major
- Not implementing their “plan B”
- Transferring to another university
- Failing or withdrawing from a class (escalated early alert)
Contact Information
To make referrals, or if you have questions, please contact us at sass@unf.edu or by phone at 904-620-5891.