Perimeter College Hosts Statewide Student Success Conference

COVINGTON, Ga. – More than 100 faculty from the University System of Georgia, the Technical College System of Georgia and private colleges, converged on the Georgia State University Newton Campus recently for the Georgia Organization for Student Success (GOSS) regional conference.

It was the first time in two years that the group met, and the first regional meeting hosted by Perimeter College. Among the conference participants were more than 60 Perimeter faculty who came to seek ways of improving student success and to network with their colleagues.

The program was led by Andrea Hendricks, Perimeter College senior director of online initiatives and current GOSS president, and Dr. Jen Colatosti, Alpharetta interim chair of English and GOSS president-elect.

With the theme of “Recalibrating Student Success,” the day-long conference covered 16 breakout sessions. Topics included “Awaken the Champion Within: Taking Students from Average to Greatness,” to discussions of what the term “compassionate pedagogy” means.

In his breakout session, Dr. Scott Ross, an assistant professor of business at Perimeter College, encouraged his audience to help their students “think like champions.”

He also gave the group his take on the ‘essentials to student success,’ including helping students understand their gifts, as well as understanding a need for self-discipline.

“We have to encourage students to have a winning mindset,” he said. “Trying to change behaviors without changing mindset is not going to work,” he said.

Dr. Cynthia Y. Lester, Perimeter interim dean, welcomed the group during the conference luncheon. “Participating in this conference as a higher education professional shows you are serious about student success, and I thank you for making it a priority to be here,” she said.

“My hope is that you leave feeling energized, connected and even more committed to developing professionally so you can make a positive difference to those you serve and teach.”

In addition to the conference concurrent sessions, seven smaller networks of GOSS members were launched during the meeting, to address issues from equity access and inclusion to student support.

“The GOSS organization is unique in that it brings together higher education professionals from every aspect of an institution, every discipline, and every sector to assist educators in making a positive difference in the lives of students,” Hendricks said. “The GOSS membership collectively has nearly a thousand years of experience in higher education.

“The hope of the GOSS executive board is that we can utilize the body of knowledge and experience of this professional organization to solve some of the issues related to student success in our state,” Hendricks said.