The USF College of Public Health (COPH) Academic Affairs and Student Success team received a USF Student Success Award for Academic Excellence.

The Student Success Awards honor individuals and teams who have made exceptional contributions to the university’s student success movement. According to the Student Success website, the Academic Excellence Award is “bestowed on an instructor, department or college for outstanding contributions to improving student success and learning outcomes by implementing technologies, techniques, practices or programs that transform the student experience in the classroom.”

The college’s Academic Affairs and Student Success team was nominated for the award by Dr. Janice Zgibor, a COPH professor and associate dean for academic affairs. 

“Students face many challenges in the best of times, but they were particularly challenged during the pandemic,” wrote Zgibor in her nomination materials. “Having a designated person to address these issues allowed us to make sure those students in need were referred to the relevant resources, whether it was counseling, food resources, academic services, etc. Also, during the pandemic, our entire academic affairs and student success team made sure students had what they needed to transition to remote learning. Additionally, this team supported the faculty during the transition by reaching out to students who were struggling to address any issues the student may be having.”

Zgibor went on to praise the office for decreasing the number of issues that arise with students meeting graduation requirements while admitting the largest master’s degree cohort in the college’s history. “This team continues to amaze me on a daily basis with the efforts they make to go above and beyond to assist students while maintaining the highest levels of integrity,” she added.

Dr. Somer Burke, director of Student Success and Assessment within the college’s Academic Affairs and Student Success office, said she and the team were “flattered” and “excited” to receive the award.

“It really is an honor and a privilege to be able to serve and support the amazing students at the COPH,” Burke, an alumna of the college, said. “At the college, our motto is practice your passion. Thus, while our students are busy practicing their passion for public health, we, as a team, get to practice our passion for our students and their success.”

The team received the award at a Student Success Awards luncheon held April 20.

Story by Donna Campisano, USF College of Public Health