The achievement of KPIs 2 and 7 brings the total number of completed KPIs to five, meaning Northern has already accomplished half of the Student Affairs Strategic Plan’s key performance indicators during the first year of a five-year planning cycle. The spring 2026 ACUHO-I/Benchworks Resident Assessment also identified opportunities for improvement. KPI 6 calls for at least 55% of students to report satisfaction with campus dining by 2030. Current results show satisfaction at 39.3% in 2026, down from 47.6% in 2022. In response, Student Affairs, Dining Services, and Sodexo will work collaboratively to identify concerns and implement improvements before the next ACUHO-I/Benchworks assessment in spring 2028. The early achievement of five strategic KPIs demonstrates meaningful momentum toward the goals outlined in the Student Affairs Strategic Plan. While work remains in several areas, Northern’s results reflect a strong commitment to data-informed decision making, student success, campus safety and continuous improvement. Additional information is available at northern.edu/student-affairs-strategic-plan, including the public KPI Dashboard, which provides transparent updates on institutional progress. Printed copies of the plan are available in Student Center Suite 222. To request a presentation for your department or organization, contact Jerilyn Mielke at jerilyn.mielke@northern.edu or call 605-626-3007. A YEAR OF SUCCESS Student Affairs achieved 34 Key Results during the first year of its updated Strategic Plan (2025-30), which utilizes the Objectives and Key Results (OKR) planning model. This approach breaks large strategic priorities into measurable, achievable milestones that promote transparency, accountability, and progress. Objectives define the division’s broad goals related to student success, recruitment, and retention, while Key Results provide measurable outcomes that track progress toward those goals. By focusing on specific Key Results each semester, Student Affairs maintains momentum and advances its strategic priorities in a deliberate and measurable way. Objective 1. Advance Student Success Key Result Description Status Key Result 3 Working with Institutional Research and the Student Success Center, create a predictive retention model and assign each FTFT incoming student a retention predictor score with tailored interventions. In Progress. Retention Model Built. Need to assign each FTFT incoming student a retention predictor score with tailored interventions. Key Result 4* With the Student Success Center, create an institutional Graduation Report that will provide insight for key staff and administrators on progress toward our 38% graduation goal. ACCOMPLISHED Key Result 6* Work with the Student Success Center to provide access to Navigate for Student Affairs employees who work directly in retention efforts. ACCOMPLISHED Key Result 8* With partners, host a “100 Days Until Graduation!” event to promote applying for graduation. ACCOMPLISHED Notes: 1. Rows with astrisk in yellow include key results that have been accomplished. Objective 2. Enrich the Residential Experience Key Result Description Status Key Result 13 Fully implement StarRez (student housing platform) to automate occupancy management, facilitate everyday business processes, and improve communications to provide students with exceptional housing experiences. Nearing Completion. Will go live July 2026. Key Result 14 Administer the Benchworks Residential Assessment in Spring 2026 and 2028, use the results to identify additional efforts to improve the residential experience. In Progress. Reviewing Data and Preparing to identify specific interventions. Key Result 17* Increase student satisfaction with the timeliness of repairs in the residence halls from a mean of 4.95 (2024) to 5.15 (all-institution mean) by 2026, as measured by the Benchworks Residential Assessment. ACCOMPLISHED Key Result 29* Design and launch the Dean’s Residential Scholarship Program, awarding the first cohort of recipients by Fall 2026. ACCOMPLISHED Notes: 1. Rows with astrisk in yellow include key results that have been accomplished. Student Affairs Annual Report Executive Summary 2025-26 4
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