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Article Type

Professional Proficiency

Article Abstract

Related Issue:

Student data associated with the academic suspension and readmission process at the University of Northern Iowa revealed a number of equity and student persistence issues, highlighting the need to make systemic improvements including the introduction of new data-informed interventions. This article focuses on access and equity issues identified in a review of students who were academically suspended from the University of Northern Iowa, the steps that faculty, administrators, and student affairs professionals across campus took in response to these data, and student outcomes after the implementation of process and program changes. The intervention relies on a cross-divisional approach to addressing the challenges of equity within suspension practices and reframing suspension from a narrative of discipline to one of support. Improvements highlighted include changes to the suspension policy, updated criteria associated with readmission after suspension, and a new post-readmission course and success coaching intervention. Outcomes data will reveal equity-related gains in retention and persistence for students readmitted after suspension, and areas in need of ongoing improvement.

Author(s)

Kristin Woods, Ph.D., is currently the Senior Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Success at the University of Northern Iowa (UNI), which includes leadership of the Offices of Admissions, Financial Aid &
Scholarships, International Engagement, and Student Success & Retention. Her professional experience and research interests include orientation and first-year programs, recruitment and college choice, community college transfer initiatives,
retention and student success, co-curricular assessment, and academic and career services. She holds her Ph.D. from Iowa State University, M.A. from Bowling Green State University, and B.A. from the University of Northern Iowa.

Deirdre Bucher Heistad, Ph.D., has been at the University of Northern Iowa since 2000 and serves as the Executive Director of Undergraduate Studies. The Undergraduate Studies division includes the Office of Academic Advising, Community Engagement,
Study Abroad, the Office of Academic Advising, Honors and Scholars Programs, UNIFI general education, academic assessment, and academic support programs. Dr. Heistad has a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign, a D.E.A. degree
from Paris IV-Sorbonne, and an M.A. and B.A. from the University of Iowa.

Megan Vogt-Kostner works as the Senior Research Analyst in the Office of Institutional Research & Effectiveness at UNI, as well as teaching as an adjunct instructor in the Department of Social Work. In her primary role at UNI she works
alongside campus partners to support their strategies of evaluation and assessment while making data informed decisions. Her main research interests include the assessment of first-year initiatives, student success after graduation, and
campus-wide surveying. Megan has presented at many regional and national conferences on the success of peer led support programs and the effectiveness of data visualization when reporting. Megan holds a M.A. and M.S.W. from the University of
Northern Iowa and a B.A. from Buena Vista University.

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Endnotes

  1. See registrar.uni.edu/application-early-readmission-suspension
  2. See registrar.uni.edu/application-early-readmission-suspension

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