The Impact of Undergraduate Research on Student Success - August 12, 2026
I often get asked a certain set of questions about undergraduate research by students and parents at info-sessions: “How can undergraduate research shape professional and personal skills for students? What skills will this give students who are not pursuing academia in the future?”
Relational Wellbeing as a Framework for Academic Advising - July 14, 2026
Much of what we read about wellbeing points us inward with questions like “How do I get well?”, “How do I find balance?”, or "How do I find happiness?” While these questions are important, they don’t always paint the whole picture of what it means to flourish.
Three Roles, One Vision: How the BMP's Integrated Support Model Helps Students Thrive - May 20, 2026
When students enter the Biomedical Master's Program, they arrive with ambition, curiosity, and often a lot of uncertainty. They're navigating a rigorous 32-credit curriculum, exploring career paths in medicine, research, or industry, and figuring out who they want to become. No single person can address all of that. That's why the BMP doesn't ask them to rely on just one.
Making Space for Rest in Our Work - May 4, 2026
As Global Advising Week and the spring semester wrap up, we want to take a moment to recognize that everyone deserves rest. While we know that every advisor, mentor, and staff member works hard, we also want to remind you that rest is not something you have to earn. In our interactions with students, we often share this sentiment, but with increasing demands, expanding workloads, and the responsibility we carry in supporting our students, it can be challenging to incorporate rest into our own practice.
Behind My First Summit: A Lesson in Encouragement - March 23, 2026
When it comes to supporting students, I try to live by the philosophy that a person’s value never fluctuates based on their performance. It means no one needs to earn kindness, consideration, or support—or the right to happiness and success. However, in academic and professional settings, it’s often harder to turn this philosophy inwards when you feel the need to justify your own worth.
Behind the Scenes of Student Success: How Directors of Advising Are Driving Impact Through Advising Coordination - February 3, 2026
Across the University, the undergraduate directors of advising are quietly doing some of the most important work in advancing student success and retention. Their collective efforts tell a powerful story of leadership, flexibility, and a commitment to students.
Why Mentoring Matters More Than Ever - January 13, 2026
In recent years, undergraduate students’ needs have evolved significantly. They seek academic confidence, career clarity, and guidance on navigating challenges. All of which hinge on feeling a sense of belonging.
Driving Student Success: Early Insights from the Advising Coordination Project - December 16, 2025
Over the past several years, our Student Success Team has committed to exploring how we can better foster an environment where every student thrives. Here’s a look at the data, the stories, and the strategies driving our work, including early wins discovered from the first year of the Undergraduate Academic Advising Coordination Project.
What David Yeager Taught Us About Motivating the Next Generation - December 9, 2025
On November 19, 2025, the University of Pittsburgh welcomed Dr. David Yeager, one of the world's leading researchers on adolescent motivation and author of the book 10 to 25, the Science of Motivating Young People, for a conversation on what it really takes to help young people thrive.
Building a Shared Advising Experience at Pitt: What We’re Learning Together - December 3, 2025
Over the past several weeks, we’ve hosted workshops with program advisors, resource advisors, and faculty mentors. Each session had the same goal: to bring people together for real conversations about how our advising roles connect, where they overlap, and how we can more effectively create a seamless, student-centered experience.
Building Momentum: Lessons from Our First “Big 5” Intervention on Early Progress Reporting - November 17, 2025
As part of the Undergraduate Advising Coordination Plan, we’ve launched a series of five key advising interventions: our “Big 5.” The first to roll out focused on Early Progress Reporting.
Moving Forward Together: Insights from the Advising Coordination Project and Professional Development Day - October 16, 2025
It’s exciting to hear from individuals—staff, faculty, and administrators—across Pitt on how the Advising Coordination Project has impacted them to date and what they anticipate in months to come. We are eager to share some of that feedback.