Engaging Faculty: The Untapped Potential in Student Success

🎓 Lessons from Dr. Frank Shushok, Dr. C.L. Bohannon, and Dr. Dennis Wiese on Building Transformative Campus Cultures

🖊️ Author: David Morales, CEO & Founding Developer, Visualzen

📍 Featuring Insights From:

• Dr. Frank Shushok, President of Roanoke College
• Dr. C.L. Bohannon, Associate Dean of Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, University of Virginia
• Dr. Dennis Wiese, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, UNC Charlotte

🎓 Introduction: Faculty Are More Than Instructors

When we think about student success, we often focus on orientation programs, academic advising, or peer mentorship. But there’s one resource that remains underutilized on many campuses: faculty members.

In this episode of OrientationMatters, I had the privilege of speaking with Dr. Frank Shushok, Dr. C.L. Bohannon, and Dr. Dennis Wiese. Together, we explored how intentional faculty engagement can create meaningful connections, build trust, and foster a sense of belonging that extends far beyond the classroom.

If you’re an Orientation Professional, this blog isn’t just an invitation to rethink faculty engagement—it’s a blueprint for action.

🎯 Insight 1: Faculty Are Architects of Campus Culture

“Higher education isn’t just about preparing students for their first job—it’s about building better human beings and shaping communities.” — Dr. Frank Shushok

Faculty members aren’t just subject matter experts—they’re mentors, role models, and architects of campus culture. Their impact doesn’t stop at the classroom door; it ripples across residence halls, dining spaces, and student events.

✅ The Key Takeaway: Faculty engagement isn’t a “nice-to-have”—it’s an essential ingredient for a thriving campus culture.

🛠️ One Thing You Can Do Today:

• Invite faculty to student orientation sessions and encourage informal interactions (e.g., shared meals, Q&A panels).
• Create faculty mentorship programs to bridge the gap between academic and student life.

🎓 Insight 2: Build Bridges Through Shared Experiences

“Demystify faculty for students. Let them see that professors are human—they shop for groceries, walk their dogs, and face challenges just like everyone else.” — Dr. Frank Shushok

Faculty-student relationships thrive in authentic, informal spaces—a shared meal, a casual Q&A, or a weekly tradition like a faculty-led discussion series.

These moments break down hierarchical barriers, helping students see faculty as accessible mentors, not distant authority figures.

✅ The Key Takeaway: Faculty visibility outside the classroom builds trust and deepens connections.

🛠️ One Thing You Can Do Today:

• Host “Faculty Coffee Chats” during onboarding events.
• Encourage faculty to participate in non-academic campus events like orientation dinners or community service projects.

🎓 Insight 3: Faculty Engagement Must Be Intentional

“We have to stop assuming students will naturally build relationships with faculty. Engagement must be intentional, strategic, and well-designed.” — Dr. Dennis Wiese

Strong faculty engagement doesn’t happen by accident—it requires planning, incentives, and institutional support. Faculty roles in student success must be:

✅ Recognized in performance evaluations

✅ Rewarded through institutional incentives

✅ Embedded in the onboarding and student life strategy

✅ The Key Takeaway: Faculty engagement should be systemic, not sporadic.

🛠️ One Thing You Can Do Today:

• Audit your current onboarding process: Are faculty members intentionally included?
• Develop clear faculty engagement touchpoints throughout the onboarding journey.

🎓 Insight 4: Culture Is Transmitted Through Relationships

“Whether in classrooms, residence halls, or informal gatherings, every interaction between faculty and students contributes to campus culture.” — Dr. C.L. Bohannon

Culture isn’t built through policies—it’s built through consistent relationships and shared experiences. Students who build meaningful connections with faculty are more likely to:

✅ Persist through challenges

✅ Feel a sense of belonging

✅ Advocate for themselves and their peers

✅ The Key Takeaway: Every faculty-student interaction is an opportunity to build culture.

🛠️ One Thing You Can Do Today:

• Encourage faculty to share their personal stories with students during onboarding events.
• Create regular “Faculty Spotlight” events where students can interact with professors outside the classroom.

🚀 One Action You Can Take Today

If you’re an Orientation Professional, here’s something you can start doing today:

Host a Faculty Welcome Lunch during Orientation Week.

• Invite key faculty members to meet students in an informal setting.
• Encourage meaningful, unstructured conversations.
• Follow up with ongoing faculty-student engagement opportunities throughout the semester.

📢 Conclusion: Faculty Are Key to Student Success

The research is clear: students who build strong relationships with faculty are more likely to persist, succeed, and graduate.

But these relationships don’t happen by accident—they happen because campuses design for them intentionally.

As higher education professionals, it’s our responsibility to create spaces where faculty-student connections can thrive—not just in classrooms, but across every corner of campus life.

✅ Takeaway for Today: Faculty aren’t just part of the student success equation—they’re central to it.

Let’s build pathways for faculty engagement that are intentional, consistent, and transformational.

Let’s reimagine faculty engagement—one relationship at a time.

🎥 Want to Learn More?

Watch the full interview with Dr. Frank Shushok, Dr. C.L. Bohannon, and Dr. Dennis Wiese in OrientationMatters Season 2, Episode 8:  “Engaging Faculty on Your Campus."

👉 Explore how VZO supports onboarding success: www.govzo.com/case-studies

Let’s turn simple details into powerful outcomes—together.

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