Over the past several months, Portland State University partnered with the National Institute for Student Success (NISS) to conduct a comprehensive Diagnostic & Playbook review of our student success practices. This process involved analyzing institutional data, surveying and interviewing campus stakeholders, and benchmarking PSU against national best practices.
The result is a set of evidence-based, scalable recommendations that build on PSU’s strengths while addressing the barriers that most impact student progression, retention, and graduation. The Playbook outlines practical steps that will allow us to:
- Scale-structured first-year supports
- Leverage academic outcome data to improve course design and scheduling
- Standardize advising systems and training
- Strengthen student financial supports
These recommendations are aligned with PSU’s 2025–2030 Strategic Plan and provide a clear roadmap for achieving our goals of improved persistence, equity in outcomes, and sustainable enrollment growth