University of Dayton's Student Success Network: A Holistic Approach to Student Development

Navigating the world of higher education can feel overwhelming, especially for students just beginning their academic journey. The University of Dayton (UD) recognizes this challenge and has implemented a comprehensive Student Success Network to support students in various aspects of their academic and personal development. This network encompasses a range of programs and initiatives designed to provide students with the resources, guidance, and experiences they need to thrive during their time at UD and beyond.

Holistic Advising: A Foundation for Success

Every undergraduate student at UD is paired with a holistic advisor who guides their academic and personal journey. Holistic Academic Advisors engage in National Association of Academic Advisors (NACADA) informed, mission-centric academic advising through providing positive, meaningful interactions with undergraduate students that contribute to student belonging, encouraging whole person success, retention and persistence through graduation. Informed by its Catholic and Marianist mission, the University is committed to the dignity of every human being. Informed by this commitment, we seek to increase diversity in all of its forms, achieve fair outcomes, and model inclusion across our campus community.

These advisors serve as a primary point of contact for students, helping them navigate curricular requirements for graduation, identify academic and career resources, and encourage meaningful engagement in campus life. Holistic Advising with UDayton Global empowers students to gain and expand their knowledge and pursue opportunities to achieve academic, personal, and professional goals. holistic advisors partner with students to promote their holistic development. UDayton Global takes a proactive and intrusive approach to advising. Students meet their holistic advisors during orientation and advisors reach out directly to request additional meetings throughout the semester.

The university is committed to supporting traditionally underserved student populations, as is demonstrated by its being a member of the prestigious American Talent Initiative, aimed at increasing access and success for Pell-eligible students.

Faculty Micro-Mentoring Program: Discipline-Specific Guidance

Within the School of Business Administration (SBA), the Faculty Micro-Mentoring Program offers students direct access to expert faculty for one-time, discipline-specific mentoring sessions. While students often benefit from informal guidance from faculty during office hours or at student organization meetings, there are moments when a quick, focused mentorship session is needed. The SBA Faculty Micro-Mentoring Program formalizes this process, ensuring that all SBA students have a clear pathway to access faculty expertise for discipline-specific questions. Holistic Academic Advisors, the primary source of guidance for undergraduate students, refer students to faculty micro-mentors through the Student Success Network. This system ensures that students can receive the expertise they need without delay, complementing the ongoing mentorship they may already have with faculty.

The Micro-Mentoring Program is designed to give students the tools they need to succeed both academically and professionally. “I’m deciding between two job offers. “I am deciding between two different minors. These are just a few of the many questions faculty micro-mentors can help students navigate, providing invaluable insights that students may not easily find elsewhere. This initiative not only benefits students but also deepens the relationship between students and faculty. The program allows faculty members to share their expertise in a structured and efficient way. Faculty micro-mentors will undergo annual training on mentoring techniques and Student Success Network protocols, ensuring they are well-prepared to support students. By equipping students with personalized guidance and fostering meaningful faculty-student connections, the SBA Faculty Micro-Mentoring Program helps students make confident, informed decisions. This program is more than just mentorship - it’s a direct investment in the success and future of every SBA student.

Anna Capaci, a senior accounting student in the School of Business Administration, notes that "Faculty members at UD, especially in the School of Business, are incredibly approachable and genuinely invested in students' success." Marsha Keune, Ph.D., senior associate dean of the SBA, highlights the rewarding nature of these interactions: “From our faculty perspective, these are the fun and rewarding topics to discuss with students; this is why many of our faculty became faculty. As the SBA continues to innovate and provide new resources for student success, the Faculty Micro-Mentoring Program stands out as a key initiative, ensuring that no student has to navigate their academic or professional journey alone.

Experiential Learning: Connecting Theory to Practice

At UD, students gain real-world experience on campus, in the Dayton area, and around the globe. Through high-quality academics and real-world experience, Flyers are prepared for successful futures. UD students engage the world and immerse themselves in their future career. That way, when graduation arrives, they aren't entering the real world for the first time.

Internships and practical training connect theory with practice, reduce student stress, and build confidence. Through the Transformative Talent Internships On-Campus program, students are taking on short-term projects that build confidence and skills while supporting important initiatives. The pilot aimed for 30 placements and delivered 47, creating thousands of hours of hands-on experience. As Lorelei Lachambre, Graduate Work-Integrated Learning Specialist, explained, “When we first developed the program, we knew there were staff across campus with side-of-desk projects they just could not get to. These internships are accessible and impactful, designed for students balancing research and coursework. They also help campus teams move forward on projects that matter.

For students, internships during college become truly impactful when they offer hybrid flexibility. Equally, a stipend also makes a huge difference. For students, it’s not just financial support but also a mark of acknowledgment that our time and efforts are valued.

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Resources for Academic Success

UDayton Global partners with the Office of Learning Resources to offer tutoring support services. Appointments can be scheduled by phone. Shorelight’s Center for Academic Success (CAS) has many free resources for students who need help adjusting to their new life or just have a question about the courses they are enrolled in. Maybe they need to improve their academic skills or study habits or need help preparing for an exam or presentation? There are also short eLearning courses available on topics ranging from Citation Basics to Preparing for an Interview-and everything in between!

Career Development: Shaping Your Narrative

Career theorist Mark Savickas reminds us that people don’t just find careers, they construct them. The challenge is that we’ve trained students to chase credentials instead of crafting their narrative. The future of work won’t reward hoop-jumping. Education is most powerful when it aligns with industry. Real innovation doesn’t happen in classrooms alone.

A new initiative at the University of Dayton offers faculty advising through the form of micro-mentors, who provide specialized and individual support for student questions related to careers, internships and more. Students can also build experience, develop their skills and challenge themselves by volunteering, taking part-time jobs and internships, or participating in a student society.

Financial Support and Affordability

The University of Dayton is launching a new pricing model for Complete Digital Access (CDA), a program to improve affordability and help prepare students to engage on day one. CDA is a flat-rate course materials program that automatically provides all undergraduate students with access to their required digital and print materials before the start of classes. In the past, students were charged per course material; they now can access all required materials for a flat rate of $299.99 per semester.

Embarking on your educational journey in the United States shouldn’t come with the roadblock of finding a co-signer for financial aid. Shorelight recognizes this hurdle and has proactively partnered with premier financing organizations such as MPower Financing, and Prodigy Finance. It is more common to be awarded a scholarship and grants to be awarded prior to enrolling in an American university.

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Health and Well-being

When you visit the Student Health Center, the amount is charged to your UD student account, accessible through Porches. You are not required to pay that balance. The health center submits a claim to insurance (Wellfleet) on your behalf. If you have paid the charges for your visit to the health center, you will receive a refund through Porches. Please make sure that your bank account is linked to your Porches account for electronic refunds. Students will be automatically re-enrolled in Wellfleet health insurance. Yes, Dental & Vision coverage is included in UDayton Global’s student insurance.

To protect your health, safety, and finances, the university requires international students to possess health insurance coverage for you and your family. Coverage must meet university standards, be active while you are enrolled (including vacations) and be verified every semester.

International Student Support

International Student and Scholar Services provides students and exchange visitors with immigration advising, workshops, and orientation, as well as social and extracurricular activities. ISSS extends its services and support to international faculty and research scholars and their dependents.

All Graduate students are required to stay in graduate housing. You may apply for a social security number ONLY if you have been offered a job on-campus or if you have been granted practical training (CPT or OPT) employment authorization (keep in mind that practical training options are generally not available to new students). After receiving a job offer, submit the ISSS Immigration Process Request form. This form will give ISSS the information we need to create the Social Security letter. Bring the form to your employer to sign. On Campus Employment: This is a benefit available to all students maintaining valid F1 status. It is not necessary to obtain special work authorization from USCIS to work on-campus; however, you must obtain an on-campus employment certification signed by an ISSS advisor to submit to Human Resources. Optional Practical Training (OPT) is a period during which undergraduate and graduate students with F-1 status are permitted by the USCIS to work towards getting practical training to complement their field of studies once they have completed their program of studies. “Optional Practical Training (OPT) is temporary employment that is directly related to an F-1 student’s major area of study. Eligible students can apply to receive up to 12 months of OPT employment authorization before completing their academic studies (pre-completion) and/or after completing their academic studies (post-completion).

Preparing for Arrival and Enrollment

Spring 2026 orientation for all new students will begin from January 7th. Orientation is an important and mandatory program that will introduce you to the academic, social, and cultural life at the University of Dayton. The orientation will be in-person you will receive a detailed orientation schedule closer to the start of orientation. Course schedules can be viewed in Porches (porches.udayton.edu), UD’s online student portal.

Submit your official transcripts and/or credit-by-exam results no later than two weeks prior to arrival for final and official review of your transfer credits. Importantly, you should submit official transcripts as early as possible to ensure your final transfer credits are posted prior to arrival. If you have completed credit from International Baccalaureate (IB), Cambridge A Levels, and/or Advanced Placement (AP), students are highly advised to submit their official exam transcriptions as soon as the official score(s) are available. Collect course descriptions and/or course syllabi. Confirm that all official transcripts have been received by the Office of Recruitment & Admissions prior to arrival. Once completed, your final transfer credit evaluation will be visible on your UDayton degree audit. Upon arrival, attend your required academic orientation. The UDayton Global team will be present for additional support. We are excited to welcome you - please introduce yourself and say hi! Register for classes. Follow up and ensure all materials have been received.

To open a bank account, you will be asked for a number of supporting documents for your application. National banks are those such as Chase, Wells Fargo, and Citibank. Like banks, credit unions accept deposits, make loans and provide other financial services. Online banking means managing your bank accounts with a computer or mobile device. This includes transferring funds, depositing checks and paying bills electronically. Because there are no physical locations, often times fees are lower and interest rates are higher than at national banks.

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