Small Faculty Actions, Big Impact: Fulbright Session Focuses on Student Success

A timely nudge from a faculty member can make the difference between a student persisting or falling behind. Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences is working to ensure faculty are prepared to make those moments count. 

Faculty gathered for a conversation-focused session, "It's Not Too Late for Our Students—Let Us Show You How You Can Help," designed to provide practical strategies for connecting students with campus resources. The session is part of the Fulbright Learning Community, a faculty development initiative designed to strengthen teaching effectiveness, encourage collaborative engagement and promote student success.  

The central message: Faculty plays a critical role in helping students connect with support services.  

Angela Williams, teaching assistant professor in Fulbright Student Success, shared insights from her work with students navigating academic challenges. She identified six common barriers that prevent students from seeking help: believing they should already understand the material, feeling pressed for time, lacking awareness of available resources, worrying about peer perception, assuming they can manage independently and believing it is too late to improve. 

By recognizing these patterns early, Williams emphasized, faculty can intervene at critical moments in the semester. "Something as simple as saying, 'I noticed you seemed uncertain about this—here's a specific resource I want you to check out,' can completely change the trajectory of a student's semester," Williams said. "A brief, personalized message pointing students to a few concrete resources can make all the difference." 

The session also introduced key campus tools. Jami Padgett, 360 program adviser and instructor, highlighted the Strategic Outreach Advocacy and Retention (SOAR) program, which allows faculty to refer students for additional support. The program offers success interventions, major exploration coaching, first-year transition programs and financial education programs for undergraduate students. Chris Borntrager, coordinator of the Writing Studio, emphasized how easily students can access tutoring and writing support through the Penji app. 

"When a faculty member personally encourages a student to get help, students listen," Williams said. "That message can be exactly what moves them to act." 

Facilitated by Lynn Meade, teaching associate professor in Fulbright Student Success, the session reflects Fulbright College's broader commitment to equipping faculty with strategies that support student success. 

The Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences is a vital public good. We provide a transformational education that prepares all students to lead and thrive in a complex world. Our research, scholarship, and creative expression address society's great challenges and push the boundaries of human understanding. Fulbright College brings the world to Arkansas and Arkansas to the world.