By TODD GOTTULA
UNK Communications
KEARNEY – When Rubi McCracken graduated from Kearney High School at midterm, she took a semester off before enrolling at the University of Nebraska at Kearney. Starting college after months away from school left her anxious about the return to structured coursework.
“I was nervous about getting back in the rhythm of homework again and everything,” said McCracken, a freshman social work major.
McCracken found her footing through a first-year Loper 101 seminar on relationships in the digital age.
“It’s a more relaxed class with less focus on lectures. It has made my transition easier,” she said. “We are always moving around in groups and talking with people around us. We can talk about a subject for as long as we want. It’s centered around communication, and everyone is involved. I just love it.”
Her experience highlights the impact of UNK’s new Student Advisement and Success Improvement Project, an initiative designed to give students stronger guidance from enrollment to graduation.
The effort aims to expand and improve academic advising so students can chart clear paths to degrees and careers. Key priorities include:
- Comprehensive adviser training to ensure consistent, high-quality support for every student.
- Better access to information for both advisers and students, helping students plan and stay on track.
- More advising capacity through new professional positions and improved systems so students receive timely, personalized guidance.
“This is a campuswide commitment to student success,” said Julie Shaffer, senior vice chancellor for academic affairs. “The work we’ve done over the past two years to study best practices laid the groundwork for a stronger, more effective advising system.”
Built on two years of campus input, the project follows extensive analysis and conversations with faculty, staff and students on how to strengthen academic coaching and mentoring. It aligns with other initiatives in General Education and the Center for Teaching and Learning, all focused on student outcomes.
The initiative is led by Nita Unruh, associate vice chancellor for academic affairs, and Aaron Estes, senior director of the Loper Success Hub, with a steering committee representing all colleges and key student-support areas. Funding comes from a private foundation grant.
Early successes include the Loper 101 seminar now enrolling more than 800 students this fall. The course, co-taught by faculty and staff, helps first-year students build time-management, study and career-planning skills while fostering resilience and well-being.
To strengthen one-on-one support, UNK is adding two professional advisers: one dedicated to transfer students and another assisting students who receive academic alerts. Both positions will be based in Academic Advising and Career Development within the Loper Success Hub.
“UNK is known for the close relationships students build with faculty and staff,” said Kelly Bartling, vice chancellor for enrollment management and marketing. “This project ensures every student has access to the advising and resources they need to thrive.”
A campus celebration recognizing faculty and staff contributions to the project is scheduled for noon to 2 p.m. Oct. 15 in Calvin T. Ryan Library Room 101.
