Peggy J. Smith, Ph. D.

Services

• Change management retention partnership

Types of Institutions

• Public

Dr. Smith’s commitment to supporting students’ successful transition to college was formed in her earliest career experience teaching developmental reading and learning skills. Since that time she has worked to address the advising, academic, and personal develop needs of beginning college students. While serving as director of the Academic Development Office at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, her focus was on supporting provisionally admitted first-year students and students on academic probation. Since arriving at Bridgewater State College (MA), Dr. Smith has guided development of comprehensive, centralized advising programs for first-year and undecided students, and learning assistance services to support a campus of nearly 10,000 students. Measures of the success of these efforts in supporting the successful transition of students include a rate of first semester Dean’s List attainment that has risen from 7% to 17%, while good academic standing among beginning students is up from 74% to 84%. In addition, the current rate of first to second year persistence of 78% (up from 70%) is reflected, as well, among students at-risk and those with disabilities. The success of instituted initiatives to support first-year students has been recognized by NACADA and the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education.

Smith's Ph. D. is in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Arkansas.