More Than Grades: How Students Define Holistic Student Success

Abstract

This study examined undergraduate students’ perceptions and definitions of success and implications for higher education. Participants consisted of a diverse group of students from a large urban public university. A team of multidisciplinary researchers conducted a qualitative study adopting a phenomenological approach. Results show that students believed success to be a personal, expansive, and transformative journey with a focus on the future. Students’ perceptions of success build upon institutionally defined metrics of success, highlighting personal growth, wellbeing, tenacity, the ability to give back to communities, and progress toward career goals. Our research illustrates that students’ views of success are not ubiquitous. In order for student success initiatives to be successful, we recommend that institutions examine student beliefs within their own student populations. This study offers institutions new opportunities to be relevant and responsive to the unique needs of students in their particular student bodies.