Observations and Next Steps:
Over the past five years, Middle Georgia State University (MGA) has made significant progress in promoting student success through strategic initiatives aimed at enhancing persistence, retention, and graduation rates. This progress is reflected in the improved one-year retention rates for both associate and bachelor’s degree-seeking first-time, full-time (FTFT) students, comparing the 2020 and 2024 cohorts (Tables 3–4 in the Appendices). The number of undergraduates enrolled in 15 or more credit hours also increased by 2.6% from Fall 2024 to Fall 2025 (Table 5). Additionally, 84% of undergraduate credit hours attempted in Fall 2024 were successfully completed (Table 6). Course success rates continue to trend upward, reaching 81.6% overall in Fall 2024.
MGA’s academic support infrastructure includes a range of tutoring services offered through the Student Success Centers, the Mathematics Academic Resource Center, the Writing Center, and various departmental tutoring centers. These services are delivered both in-person and online, and include peer tutoring, supplemental instruction, and embedded tutoring. Peer mentoring is also available for students enrolled in learning support courses.
Enrollment in learning support courses has grown to represent 9.6% of MGA’s Fall 2025 student population. In response, the University has expanded its team of academic success coaches to provide targeted support to these students. This initiative has yielded promising outcomes and continues to serve as a vital resource for students identified as at-risk.
This year, MGA is prioritizing efforts to improve persistence and retention among its freshman cohort. The First Year Experience (FYE) program will be reimagined and strengthened to better serve incoming students. The Light Your Path initiative, which offers a holistic guided pathway for freshmen, will play a central role in enhancing the FYE program. Cross-divisional collaborations with Student Affairs and Enrollment Management will further reinforce and expand the University’s commitment to FYE.
One of MGA’s most pressing challenges remains increasing student engagement. To address this, the University has launched the Knights Academy, an initiative designed to foster a stronger sense of belonging among students. In addition, a variety of co-curricular events—organized by academic schools, peer mentoring groups, Student Life, success coaches, and academic advisors—are being implemented to support this goal.
