VisionThe Second-Year Experience initiative seeks to engage with the broader students in transition community and develop into a national leader in SY student success. | Research FocusDuring the second year (SY), the number of students receiving D's, F's or Withdrawing (DFW) from courses central to progressing in their declared major increased notably. While the second year is a time when students make important academic and social decisions, they perceive themselves as having less institutional support during this time. |
Our Approach
The University of Texas at Austin supports and advances student success in the SY and beyond by:
- Providing students, staff and instructors with impactful, accessible data to drive SY decision-making.
- Creating pedagogical interventions, built with exemplary instructors as partners.
- Providing first and second-year students and their advisors with intuitive, well-designed resources to guide second and third year course selection decisions.
- Supporting and institutionalizing peer mentorship/mentoring opportunities.
- Making information about existing second-year academic and social supports accessible to first and second-year students have at times when consequential academic and social decisions are being made.
Recent News
Second Year Experience Symposium (Spring 2025)
Members of the CTL community present during the annual SYE Symposium, "Decoding the Second Year Experience," at the Thompson Conference Center, University of Texas at Austin (April 10, 2025).
SYE Leadership
Heather Mikkelsen Wright, Assistant Director, UT Center for Teaching and Learning
SYE Researchers (2025-26)
Taharka Anderson, UT African and African Diaspora Students Doctoral Candidate, ‘26
Ibrahim Bawa, UT International Relations and Government Graduate, ‘26
Alice Kurima Newberry, UT Cultural Anthropology Doctoral Student, ‘26
Samantha (Sam) Tonini, UT Sociology and History Graduate, 26.
Dulce Alonso, UT International Relations and Government Graduate, ‘24
Taharka Anderson, UT African and African Diaspora Students Doctoral Candidate, ‘26
Ibrahim Bawa, UT International Relations and Government Graduate, ‘26
Alice Kurima Newberry, UT Cultural Anthropology Doctoral Student, ‘26
Monica Obregon, UT Educational Policy and Planning M.Ed., 24; University of Colorado Educational Foundations Policy and Practice Doctoral student,28
Jasmine Wright, UT Plan II Honors Graduate, ’24, UT Journalism Masters Student, ‘26