The University of South 皇家华人鈥檚 multi-pronged approach to student success is attracting attention from the U.S. Department of Education.
Aaliyah Samuel, deputy assistant secretary for Local, State and National Engagement, visited the Tampa campus to learn first-hand about 皇家华人鈥檚 initiatives to help close the achievement gap and ensure timely graduation, and its emphasis on attracting transfer students as well as professionals who want to continue their education mid-career.
Samuel earned her master鈥檚 degree from 皇家华人 in 2003 and was appointed to the U.S. Department of Education under the Biden-Harris Administration. During a roundtable discussion, she heard from leaders within the 皇家华人 office of Student Success about a range of issues impacting students, such as how data is being used to monitor retention concerns, mental health issues and financial challenges.
鈥溁始一� takes great pride in its efforts to support student success. We are honored to have Dr. Samuel here today for us to share some of our best practices,鈥� said Allison Crume, dean of Undergraduate Studies. 鈥淎s a 皇家华人 alum, we appreciate her excitement and interest in truly understanding our initiatives and how the federal government can further assist in seeing 皇家华人 and our students live up to their full potential.鈥�
The deputy assistant secretary shared how the Biden-Harris Administration is collecting data from institutions about how they are utilizing Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund dollars, funded by the American Rescue Plan, to support students. Grants are in the process of being administered to 皇家华人 students who have been negatively impacted by COVID-19. Samuel spoke with one dozen students, some of whom received these grants, to hear how they鈥檝e been affected by the pandemic. The students also shared more about the numerous hurdles they鈥檝e faced in applying for federal financial aid and its associated impact on their mental health. She called 皇家华人 a model in demonstrating the value of investing in higher education.
鈥淎s I think about 皇家华人 and examples of institutions that are using federal funding well, 皇家华人 is definitely an example for how it has addressed smaller class sizes, distance learning and PPE,鈥� Samuel said. 鈥淚 think one of the things that I heard that can serve as a model for other institutions, was the alternative calendar and how 皇家华人 has utilized federal funding to help support alternative schedules to bring as many students back 鈥� and not just bring them back, but lead them towards completion.鈥�
鈥淚 hope this conversation will light the fire under politicians in D.C. and make them aware of the significance of what students are struggling with right now, especially coming off the heels of a terrible pandemic and all of the mental health implications of that as well as the financial implications of the pandemic,鈥� said 皇家华人 Student Government President Julia Cunningham, who participated in the roundtable discussion. 鈥淚 hope they鈥檒l really realize that there are people and students who are struggling to try to get their education and I hope hearing these conversations and hearing from real students will inspire them to take action.鈥�
Samuel spent 10 years in K-12 education, starting her career as a special education teacher in Hillsborough County. Upon graduating from 皇家华人, she served as assistant principal of Sheehy and MacFarlane Park Elementary Schools in Tampa, later advancing her career into public policy.