Winter 2025
February 21, 2025Winter 2025
February 21, 2025Newsletters
Spring 2025
A Message from OAMI's Interim Co-Directors
To our amazing community,
We have reached the end of the 2024-2025 school year, and it has been one full of many challenges but also many great accomplishments and highlights. Recognizing OAMI’s impact on student success, the Office of the Provost has announced further expansion of our SuccessConnects holistic support program, the M-Connect transfer student support program, and the First-Generation Gateway. We are excited to strengthen these key contributors to our mission of aiding students in their academic journeys, while helping them develop the skills and perspectives necessary to thrive after graduation.
In this edition of our OAMI Impact Update, you’ll learn about the Student Celebrations that mark the the culmination of the academic year, along with a retrospective of the many achievements in SuccessConnects and our SAMI student grants initiative. While the summer means our office is not nearly as full of students studying and connecting with their communities, we will be busy developing plans for growing OAMI and strengthening our partnerships with our far-reaching community.
While our small team of committed staff has an outsized impact across campus, we continue to rely on the generosity of our ever-expanding family of supporters and alumni. Thank you for helping us continue this important work.
With gratitude,
Sharon Burch and Hector Galvan
Interim Co-Directors
OAMI’s Student Celebrations create a joyful space to celebrate graduates’ accomplishments
Each year during the exciting season of Spring Commencement, OAMI has the privilege of hosting graduates and their loved ones for our Student Celebrations. All graduating students are invited to attend these events, which recognize and honor the wide breadth of experiences and identities on campus. Here, their ambition and accomplishments, along with those of faculty, staff, and other community members, are commemorated within culturally resonant ceremonies. From First-Generation graduates on stage sharing stories of their family’s sacrifice to staff and faculty receiving awards that highlight their impact on generations of students, generosity and gratitude fill these spaces.
In many ways, these events are like nothing else on campus. They bring together different communities to celebrate students and their achievements across all schools and colleges, including some from the Dearborn campus. But they are also unique because they are shaped by students and their vision. The celebrations are developed, coordinated, and executed by student-led committees with OAMI staff support. Students determine themes, artistic designs, keynote speakers, performers, and other elements that make these events deeply meaningful. The committees also give any student, regardless of class level, the opportunity to build skills in areas like team collaboration, marketing and communication, and event planning.
Here is just a small selection of photos from this year. Learn more about the celebrations and see all the photos that capture these unforgettable moments on our Celebrations pages.
Thank you, Chief Diversity Officer Tabbye Chavous!
Despite a busy schedule the week of commencement, Dr. Chavous joined OAMI for all of our Student Celebrations. Under Dr. Chavous’ leadership, OAMI has expanded the reach and resonance of these celebrations. The impact of her leadership will be an enduring catalyst in the lives of so many. Thank you, Dr. Chavous! We wish you all the best in your future endeavors.
SuccessConnects continues to expand its supportive community and access to student resources
Preparing for a year of student support
With SuccessConnects, OAMI's academic success and community resources program, we’re ready to help students at every level of their undergraduate journey. OAMI staff work with Freshmen and transfer students, while experienced students (Juniors through post-graduates) work with Sophomores and above. Each success coach works one-on-one with students to help them define and achieve goals in every aspect of their college experience.
To ensure a productive school year, our office spends the summer evaluating the previous year’s student feedback and participation metrics to determine the most impactful approaches and where there is room for improvement. We’re also busy training our coaches based on the latest student success research.
During the SuccessConnects Kickoff, students reconnect and meet new peers while learning about the program and its benefits.
When the school year starts, it’s always full of excitement, anticipation, and uncertainty, no matter what level of university students are starting. That’s why the SuccessConnects Kick Off is such an important and energizing way to begin the year. The event brings all of our students together to connect with each other, meet the staff, and have fun. This is the core philosophy of the program – welcoming our participants into this supportive community to share opportunities, resources, and a sense of belonging.
The impact of SuccessConnects
Building on OAMI’s long history of college preparation and increasing student retention, SuccessConnects was launched in 2016. Since then, the program has seen significant growth not only in terms of participants but also campus reach and program efficacy. From 2022 to 2024, there was a 74.4% increase in registration, with an average six-year graduation success rate of 90%. SuccessConnects has also partnered with other programs on campus and in southwest Michigan, including Wolverine Pathways, MI-LSAMP, and Detroit Promise.
Higher-level undergraduates get the unique opportunity to work with a Graduate Success Partner. Here, a GSP shares a little bit about herself and offers advice during the kickoff event.
Ultimately, though, the individual impact on students is what drives OAMI and the program forward. As one student said, “Joining the program helped me feel less alone. It made me feel seen, understood, and supported. The sense of community and belonging I found through SuccessConnects gave me the encouragement to keep pushing forward, especially during stressful times in nursing school. Knowing there are people and spaces on campus that truly care about students like me has made a big difference in my college experience.”
Recognizing the program’s growing impact, the Office of the Provost is looking to expand SuccessConnects as part of its mission for more robust student access and opportunity. The increased support will allow more students to join our community, connect with resources, and further their dreams of attaining a college degree.
SAMI grants help Philippine Culture Night entertain and inform the campus community
SAMI Student Grants play a large part in OAMI’s mission of supporting students in exploring multiculturalism and educating others on topics meaningful to them. The initiative provides funding for individual students and student organizations to create projects or events designed to educate and enrich the campus community. Additionally, they provide funds so that students can attend and present at conferences, allowing them to broaden the impact of their research and studies.
In the video below, you’ll hear from committee members Kayla Talampas and Saarim Iqbal. They’ll introduce you to Philippine Culture Night (PCN), which features creative performances and educational talks spotlighting the many peoples and traditions of the country and its diaspora. You’ll also hear how their SAMI grant helped them make this year’s PCN one of the most successful yet.