“Since my first days at Lone Star College-University Park, I have always witnessed staff and faculty going above and beyond for students,” said LSC-University Park professor of education Michael Donnelly. “In terms of GradUP, students are coming to understand the significance of finishing, and not just starting, a degree.”

Donnelly, a 2017 Faculty Excellence Award winner, takes the GradUP mission of raising graduation rates by 300% to heart. As an instructor of EDUC 1300 - Learning Framework: First Year Experience, Donnelly has been at the forefront of communicating the GradUP message to first-time-in-college students at LSC-University Park.

In the course, students learn college-level academic strategies and tools to set goals and succeed in their academic journeys with and beyond LSC-University Park and even into their career paths. In addition, Donnelly continuously imparts to students the importance of momentum in their academics. He believes that the higher the degree they achieve, the more opportunities they will have in their careers and lives. He also teaches students to utilize LSC-University Park’s student support services and Student Life opportunities, all of which now have a virtual component.

With the transition to predominantly online courses due to COVID-19, Donnelly has adjusted his communication with students to suit different styles. In the online environment, he ensures information is shared in a variety of formats because he knows that some students will grasp information by email, while others may retain more with videos. This fall, he has added online “synchronous” courses with scheduled weekly Webex meetings, including his Honors EDUC 1300 course. Donnelly’s wish for his students is that they feel his passion for their success no matter the delivery method or circumstance.

Students have shared with Donnelly that they know LSC-University Park is here to help them, and faculty and staff are working together for them in this cause. Many students tell him about the challenges that their friends are facing at universities, and they realize the advantages of attending LSC-University Park to begin their higher education experience.

Donnelly states he is proud LSC-University Park is doing something profound with the GradUP mission, putting programs and people in place to drive student success, and not just talking about it.

“It’s fun being on an innovative campus and working toward challenging goals,” said Donnelly. “I came to LSC-University Park for this very reason – to focus on helping students.”