Student success and OTL partnership opens applications for fall 2026 faculty fellowship

To improve student persistence and outcomes, Wayne State University's Office of Student Success, Support and Engagement (SSSE) has teamed with the Office for Teaching and Learning (OTL) to create the Warrior Gateway Faculty Collaborative. The project is funded by a State of Michigan grant that aligns with the state's commitment to Sixty by 30, aiming to increase the percentage of adults in Michigan with post-secondary credentials to 60% by 2030. Dr. Darryl Gardner, vice provost for SSSE, is the principal investigator of the grant.

Through a two-semester commitment, faculty who teach gateway courses - the introductory, high-enrollment classes students must take before declaring a major - work to redesign components of their courses that could shape a student's academic trajectory early on.

"Student success and faculty success are inextricably linked. By investing in the faculty who lead our gateway courses, we expect to strengthen outcomes for first- and second-year students," said Gardner. "These instructors are uniquely positioned to bridge the gap between the classroom and the vital support services that keep students on the path to graduation."

The first cohort of Warrior Gateway Faculty Collaborative Fellows was selected in winter 2026. In the first semester of the fellowship, faculty work to embed student success services and resources into the structure of their courses. During the second semester, they then implement those changes and track outcomes.

As fellows, faculty get access to educational design experts through the OTL via consultation and development sessions. This gives faculty protected time and space to think thoughtfully about their pedagogy alongside educational specialists. Faculty also have the opportunity to engage with and learn from each other at events like the Warrior Gateway Faculty Collaborative Showcase, where fellows presented their proposed redesigns to each other as well as attendees from the OTL and SSSE.

"At Wayne State, we've long believed that faculty success and student success are deeply interconnected," said Dr. Sara Kacin, assistant vice provost for faculty development and faculty success, and director of the OTL. "This partnership between Student Success and the OTL builds on that foundation by creating space for faculty to reflect on their teaching, connect with resources and colleagues, and intentionally design learning experiences that help students thrive."

Some examples of how faculty are redesigning parts of their courses to embed student success include visits to the Academic Success Center in the HUB and integrating specific learning strategies into the syllabus.

"It was a wonderful experience being able to talk through our ideas and receive insightful input," said Jule Thomas, professor of teaching in the English department, who is already beginning to "soft pilot" some of the strategies in in her spring/summer semester course. "I kept telling everyone at the Showcase that this fellowship is why I love teaching. Just when you think 'you've got this,' you are given opportunities to re-see your pedagogy and strategies in meaningful ways."

In the fall 2026 semester, the collaborative will launch its second cohort while the first cohort completes its final phase. Faculty interested in working hands-on with educational design experts to boost student success should apply for this next cohort. Applications are due July 17, 2026. Applications received by this date will receive priority review, and those submitted after will be reviewed on a rolling basis until all cohort spaces are filled.

More details and the application can be found on the Warrior Gateway Faculty Collaborative webpage.