Behind the data: the team that drives Student Success Analytics at JMU

Student success is driven by the dedication and hard work of dukes. When students need additional support, the Student Success Analytics (SSA) team is here to help connect them with the resources they need. This past summer, two new team members joined SSA, bringing technical expertise and behind the scenes improvements to help strengthen the support available to students, staff, and faculty. 

“What draws me to SSA is the opportunity to contribute to the mission of improving the student experience at JMU and helping ensure students have the support and resources they need to be successful throughout their academic journey,” new Data Engineer, Siddharth Wandile said. 

Wandile joined the team this past summer as a data engineer with Infrastructure & Database Support in Information Technology. This role helps turn complex student data into insightful and easy to use dashboards. Even though he is still relatively new to the department, there have already been many opportunities to learn.  

The SSA Data Lake Initiative is something Wandile is especially excited about. The initiative helps those across campus obtain information that is helpful to student ventures. With these efforts, the data is no longer just a collection of numbers, but rather a tool used to support faculty and staff helping students access resources. This allows advisors to move beyond reactive support approaches and instead engage students before challenges become barriers.  

“Student success is a university-wide effort, and I’m excited to be part of a team that brings people together around that shared goal. I enjoy working with colleagues across JMU to make navigating the university a more accessible and supportive experience for students.”- Student Success Systems Coordinator Austin D. Van Horn said. 

Van Horn directly works with second year, study abroad and graduate students here at JMU. Monthly mass check-ins are sent out to these groups of students. These communications have one goal – understand and help dukes. Reaching out directly to these students allows students to ask for assistance during their time at the university, which ultimately leads to student success. 

Student Success Analytics is looking to do just that. Both Van Horn and Wandile contribute enormous amounts of help to make this program possible. The passion behind the scenes allows for more student accessibility across campus. 

Van Horn is also a new addition to the team at SSA. He states that he is excited to learn more about the different ways SSA supports students. This support includes finding and closing student success-based retention gaps as well as improving the overall retention rate here at JMU. 

These initiatives are focused on using data to strengthen connections between students and the resources designed to support them. By equipping advisors with accurate, easily accessible information, the team is helping create more meaningful interactions across campus. 

As the team continues to grow, the impact is clear: data has become more than just a compilation of confusing information. Now, it is an important tool for staff to better understand students’ needs so they can access the resources they might need. With the help of innovative minds like Wandile and Van Horn, departments like Student Success Analytics ensure that every student has the guidance and support that guides them to success.