Amy Finley has heard a lot of student stories during her 12-plus years at University of Michigan-Dearborn: There’s the student who is struggling to stay awake in his class because he didn’t get enough to eat the day before. The first-generation student who is trying to live up to her family’s expectations. And the ace-student who is ready to take on a leadership role.
She’s learned that the path to graduation is as varied as the students on that path.
“It’s not as easy as saying, ‘We have this one program and it’s going to be able to solve all the issues,’” she said. “We need to have a more flexible approach to student success.”
Finley now will lead that approach as University of Michigan-Dearborn’s recently named director of student success. She has served as interim director of academic support and outreach services since December 2015.
Finley’s new role comes at a time when the university is rethinking its approach to student success. Beginning this fall, Student Success—a unit within Enrollment Management and Student Life (EMSL)—will partner with START—the university’s soon-to-launch advising hub for first-year and transfer students.
“We’re excited about the idea of partnering an EMSL unit with an academic affairs unit to better support students,” Finley said. “We’re looking at this from a student’s perspective and trying to determine what will be most beneficial to them.”
And when it comes to student success, Finley doesn’t see the partnerships ending with START. She said several units already have approached her about future collaborations.
“There is a genuine enthusiasm across campus about retention and student success,” she said. “I think part of that enthusiasm ties back to the Metropolitan Vision. We feel very committed to the region, and we know that 80 percent of our graduates stay in the region—so we know that these are the people who are going to be leading our communities.”
A native of Temperance, Mich., Finley currently is pursuing a Ph.D. in higher, adult and lifelong education from Michigan State University. She earned a bachelor’s degree from MSU and a master’s degree from Eastern Michigan University.
