Student Success Starts with Purpose: Strategies for Supporting First-Year Students - On Campus Podcast

Many students arrive on campus excited about college but are uncertain about their future. They may be undecided about a major, unsure about career goals, or struggling to understand how their education connects to a larger sense of purpose. In this episode of On Campus, we welcome Dr. Kate Lehman, Executive Director of the National Resource Center for the First-Year Experience and Students in Transition at the University of South Carolina, for a conversation about how colleges and universities can help students find direction early in their academic journey. Drawing on her research and experience, Dr. Lehman explores why purpose is a critical driver of student engagement, persistence, and success. She discusses how institutions can support exploration without overwhelming students, the role of faculty and first-year programs in helping students connect learning to future goals, and why career readiness should begin long before graduation. The conversation also examines the relationship between purpose and belonging, offering practical strategies for helping students build confidence, make informed decisions, and create meaningful connections to their education from day one.  Links:Navigating Online and Hybrid Teaching - https://about.citiprogram.org/course/navigating-online-and-hybrid-teaching/Introduction to Program Assessment - https://about.citiprogram.org/course/introduction-to-program-assessment/Explore CITI Program's full Course and Webinar Catalog: https://about.citiprogram.org/course-catalog/?reset=true