Higher Learning, HLC’s annual conference, connects representatives across a variety of institutional types and functional areas on campus to share best practices and new ideas. Graduates of the Student Success and Assessment Academies – HLC’s multi-year programs for improvement project planning and development – are a great resource at Higher Learning and beyond for stories of meaningful work accomplished in these areas.  

During Higher Learning 2026, recent Academy graduates were featured during several sessions to discuss what they accomplished in the program and share innovative practices with attendees. 

In a session about Integrating Student Success Into Institutional Priorities, West Shore Community College’s Executive Vice President of Academics & Student Services Mark Kinney discussed the shifting journey of the college’s tutoring center. The initiative had previously struggled to engage students, but through participation in the Student Success Academy, the team developed a pilot project to embed tutoring and peer mentoring into coursework. With support from the president and board of trustees, the program continued to be funded and initial results are promising for improvement of retention and engagement. 

In the Assessment Academy, a common project focus is building support for assessment across campus. In a session on using professional development to promote advocacy in this area, representatives from community colleges discussed the initiatives they’ve built through the Academy to make assessment more engaging for faculty. Jeremy Tutty, Center for Teaching, Learning, and Assessment Director at Maricopa Community Colleges-Chandler-Gilbert Community College, discussed how his team created the “Academy Awards,” a formal event with student-sculpted trophies to recognize faculty and staff for best Assessment practices campus-wide.  

Participants in the Assessment Academy also develop posters detailing their projects, which are exhibited during the conference. Highlights of their work include reviewing and developing new student learning outcomes, organizing and unifying data collection and use processes across departments, defining and mapping co-curricular programs, and more. View the posters. 

Didn’t attend the conference? Assessment Academy graduates have volunteered to share their experience and be a resource for you! Find contact information on page 76 of the Resource Guide. 

Applications are currently open for HLC’s Student Success and Assessment Academies through June 15. Interested in applying, or want to learn more? Attend upcoming informational webinars with HLC staff members that provide an overview of each Academy’s benefits, costs and commitments.